Becoming Reading Group: reflections on assembling a collegiate,caring collective

ABSTRACT

In neoliberalising universities, collegial and collective practices such as reading groups are often positioned by students, staff and managers as less important than meeting individual KPIs (such as producing research publications, seeking research grants, or meeting the increasing demands of producing quality teaching outcomes.) However, reading groups can be vital for cultivating caring collectives and spaces of collegiality. In this paper we use assemblage thinking to explore 25 years of a Geography reading group at the University of Newcastle. The paper addresses two questions: what does reading together do and make possible; and how might we think about the labours of reading together as a way of building caring collectives. The paper draws on reflections from 24 past and present members of reading group to explore how these kinds of academic practices nourish our working lives.     

Effective mitigation of debris flows at Lemon Dam, La Plata County, Colorado

To reduce the hazards from debris flows in drainage basins burned by wildfire, erosion control measures such as construction of check dams, installation of log erosion barriers (LEBs), and spreading of straw mulch and seed are common practice. After the 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire in southwest Colorado, these measures were implemented at Knight Canyon above Lemon Dam to protect the intake structures of the dam from being filled with sediment. Hillslope erosion protection measures included LEBs at concentrations of 220–620/ha (200–600% of typical densities), straw mulch was hand spread at concentrations up to 5.6 metric tons/hectare (125% of typical densities), and seeds were hand spread at 67–84 kg/ha (150% of typical values). The mulch was carefully crimped into the soil to keep it in place. In addition, 13 check dams and 3 debris racks were installed in the main drainage channel of the basin.The technical literature shows that each mitigation method working alone, or improperly constructed or applied, was inconsistent in its ability to reduce erosion and sedimentation. At Lemon Dam, however, these methods were effective in virtually eliminating sedimentation into the reservoir, which can be attributed to a number of factors: the density of application of each mitigation method, the enhancement of methods working in concert, the quality of installation, and rehabilitation of mitigation features to extend their useful life. The check dams effectively trapped the sediment mobilized during rainstorms, and only a few cubic meters of debris traveled downchannel, where it was intercepted by debris racks.Using a debris volume-prediction model developed for use in burned basins in the Western U.S., recorded rainfall events following the Missionary Ridge Fire should have produced a debris flow of approximately 10,000 m³ at Knight Canyon. The mitigation measures, therefore, reduced the debris volume by several orders of magnitude. For comparison, rainstorm-induced debris flows occurred in two adjacent canyons at volumes within the range predicted by the model.     

The geological and technical characterisation of Ömer–Gecek geothermal area and the environmental impact assessment of geothermal heating system in Afyon, Turkey

. Turkey, located in the Alpine–Himalayan Orogenic Belt, is of great interest because of its abundant geothermal resources. In particular, the Ömer–Gecek region of Afyon is one of the important geothermal fields in Turkey exhibiting high geothermal potential. The stratigraphic sequence, from bottom to top, comprises schist and marbles called 'Afyon metamorphics', Neogene sediments, and trachyte and trachyandesites, which are the products of Afyon trachytic volcanism, and Karakaya basalts. The basalt flows form the latest phase of the volcanic activities. The magma pockets forming the volcanic rocks are the source of heat for the geothermal system. Aquifer rocks forming Pasadagi marbles are aged Palaeozoic. Despite the high geothermal potential, Afyon is one of the provinces in Turkey suffering from air pollution. In order to utilize this potential and reduce air pollution problems, Afyon Geothermal Heating System (AFJET) was initiated in 1994 and put into operation in 1996 with an installed capacity of 10,000 residences out of which 4,453 have been successfully heated. If Tunçbilek–Kütahya coal, which contains 17.56% ash and 1.27% combustible sulphur was burnt instead of utilizing geothermal energy, approximately 768 tons of SOx,78,740 t of CO2 and 4,083 t of particulate matter would have been emitted to the atmosphere. The results obtained from Afyon experience reveal that not only the emission of tremendous amounts of pollutants is eliminated, but also a cheap energy alternative with an environmental friendly heating source is provided.     

Value,Identity and Place: unearthing the emotional geographies of the extractive sector

The practice of natural resource extraction remains a key function of the global economy, and has been the subject of a considerable body of research, across multiple academic disciplines. Growing awareness of the economic, socio-cultural and ecological aspects of extractive practices (and their impacts) have also forced change in the way in which this research is conceptualised. Yet, despite conceptual shifts, a lack of engagement with the felt and emotive dimensions of the extractive sector remains striking. As a complex and highly contested industry, acknowledging emotion is crucial to breaking down problematic representations of the sector as a ‘rational’, ‘economic’ and emotionless space. This paper emphasises the need to engage and prioritise emotional and affective registers when thinking about, and representing, the extractive sector. Specifically, this paper explores the role of emotion in problematising approaches to the material across the sector, as well as in unsettling the often taken-for-granted and highly gendered workplace identities that characterise the sector. Finally, this paper will highlight the importance of validating emotion in legitimising important relationships to place that conflict with extractive practices. In essence, this paper calls for more emotionally attuned approaches to the extractive sector, in order to engage with its profoundly emotive dimensions and impacts.     

Operational Cost Comparison of Several Pre‐Treatment Techniques for OMW Treatment

Olive mill wastewaters (OMWs), which are known to have deep impacts on the receiving water bodies due to their high‐strength contents of organic materials and color, must be treated before discharge. For this reason; a number of research studies have been available in current literature related to the treatment of OMWs. However, no widely accepted treatment alternatives have been proposed yet. The common results of these studies suggest that OMWs must be pretreated prior to final purification processes. This study focuses on the comparison of alternative pre‐treatment processes in the aspect of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and costs of operation. Centrifuging, lime precipitation, acid cracking, and electrocoagulation processes were performed to compare removal efficiencies and operational costs. The COD removal efficiencies for centrifuging, lime precipitation, acid cracking, and electrocoagulation processes were determined to be 30.1, 24.1, 20.0, 53.7%, respectively, with operational costs being $0.30, $0.37, $1.42, and $11.60 per cubic meter of wastewater treated, respectively. The centrifuging process was concluded to be the most appropriate one according to the COD removal efficiency and cost of operation.