The goal of this analysis is to use the social construction framework to determine 1) whether the Oregon Drug Take Back Program stakeholder group can design a public policy that will ultimately reduce water contamination from the improper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals from the general public, and 2) use the...
Some critics claim that President Trump has downplayed the risks of coronavirus at the onset of the pandemic, describing it merely as flu at a time when other administrative officials in the CDC and HHS were warning of a very grave future with the virus and implored quick action. The...
This work examines the effects of economic growth and energy consumption on CO2 emissions in Idaho for the period between 1998-2020. An econometric analysis is used for this purpose.
Additionally, this study uses the Kaya equation to measure the impact of the growth rate from Gross Domestic Product per capita,...
Concerns over climate change and energy security have spurred governments worldwide to encourage the development of renewable energy. Although public attitudes and macro-politics, in general, show moderate to strong support for renewables- in particular, wind power- largely because of the economic and environmental benefits associated with it. However, local politics...
Rarely does an industry touch each citizen’s everyday life while simultaneously garnering such little public attention as the energy industry does. From the fuel powering our vehicles to the energy flowing into our homes powering our laptops, TV’s and lights the energy industry enables our modern lifestyles, but this is...
While the U.S. energy portfolio increasingly includes renewables, social acceptance of such technologies can pose an important challenge for developers. Using survey data from a random sample of nearby households (n=524), content analysis of coverage in local newspapers, and interviews with various stakeholders (n=14), I explore local social acceptance of...
Public opinion is central to the formation of public higher education, particularly public higher education funding policy. However, extant research indicates that an enormous gap exists between public higher education policymakers and the general public, resulting in misunderstanding and serious challenges for public higher education funding. This analysis builds on...
This study uses multiple regression analysis of a survey of Oregon residents to determine what factors influence an individual’s support for salmon recovery policies in Oregon. Salmon today face a variety of threats, most notably from the ‘four H’s’ (habitat degradation, hydroelectric dams, harvest practices, and hatcheries). Using the social...
The U.S. Forest Service’s Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) seeks to encourage collaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of forest landscapes. Many theorists note a tension between participatory approaches in governance and the certainty and control that science is said to offer. This research explores how collaboration and science are currently...
As climate change forces energy policy to incorporate environmental impacts and fuel diversification into the traditional model of energy security, finding ways to site, develop, and deliver renewable energy has taken on increasing importance across the United States. With no consistent federal framework to implement these changes, much of the...