Saturday, April 25, 2015
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Department of Anthropology Uses Cultural Model to Study the Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is facing a variety of environmental problems. From declining water quality to sea level rise and development in rural areas, North America's largest estuary is undergoing changes that affect local and regional communities. Various programs at the University of Maryland, College Park study the Chesapeake and the ways to restore and manage the bay.
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science is the main institution for advanced environmental research in the University of Maryland System. It includes five research laboratories including the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons and the Maryland Sea Grant in College Park.
Founded in 1925, the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory is known for its excellence in fisheries science and environmental chemistry. Their research has evaluated the stock of blue crabs and examined how toxins affect the reproduction of turtles in the bay. Environmental research is extremely important to learning about the Chesapeake Bay, but it is not the only method for studying the problems it presents.
While some disciplines focus on the ecological and biological processes that affect the Chesapeake Bay environment, Dr. Michael Paolisso takes a cultural approach to study the issue. As Professor and Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Anthropology, Dr. Paolisso looks at the cultural environmental dynamics surrounding the bay.
Dr. Paolisso's research examines how different groups understand environmental problems and solutions by drawing on different sets of overlapping cultural knowledge. "I think part of the problem is we're not aware that so many of our environmental issues are filtered and understood through cultural lenses. Like, what is pollution to you?"
Many fail to recognize that while environment issues are rooted in natural ecosystems, "their understanding and the value and what they mean to us is cultural." Part of the problem is that people do not understand they are bringing their own set of cultural knowledge and beliefs. People are bringing tacit and stored knowledge about nature and the environment, and this shapes how they see the issues of the Chesapeake.
The value of the Chesapeake Bay is derived from individuals' cultural knowledge and beliefs, and is not tied to any inherent value of nature. In general, people value the bay and want to maintain and restore it, but these individuals are broken into subgroups that cherish the bay for different reasons.
Anthropologists are interested in explicit knowledge, what people say and do, as well as what is implicit and tacit. People bring cultural knowledge to everything they do, without realizing that this stored knowledge . This knowledge is shared, but not always shared equally. Dr. Paolisso is specifically interested in what drives the knowledge to be distributed in one way or another.
The Chesapeake Bay is massive, with over 3,000 miles of coastline and a dearth of problems that need to be managed. There are many stakeholders with different ideas about what the Chesapeake is meant to be and how it should restored and maintained. The department of anthropology at Maryland uses collaborative learning to create discussion among groups and to find common ground.
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| The Maryland Sea Grant office on Hartwick Road |
Founded in 1925, the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory is known for its excellence in fisheries science and environmental chemistry. Their research has evaluated the stock of blue crabs and examined how toxins affect the reproduction of turtles in the bay. Environmental research is extremely important to learning about the Chesapeake Bay, but it is not the only method for studying the problems it presents.
Anthropological Approach to an Environmental Issue
While some disciplines focus on the ecological and biological processes that affect the Chesapeake Bay environment, Dr. Michael Paolisso takes a cultural approach to study the issue. As Professor and Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Anthropology, Dr. Paolisso looks at the cultural environmental dynamics surrounding the bay.
Dr. Paolisso's research examines how different groups understand environmental problems and solutions by drawing on different sets of overlapping cultural knowledge. "I think part of the problem is we're not aware that so many of our environmental issues are filtered and understood through cultural lenses. Like, what is pollution to you?"
Many fail to recognize that while environment issues are rooted in natural ecosystems, "their understanding and the value and what they mean to us is cultural." Part of the problem is that people do not understand they are bringing their own set of cultural knowledge and beliefs. People are bringing tacit and stored knowledge about nature and the environment, and this shapes how they see the issues of the Chesapeake.
The Chesapeake Bay Has Value Because of Cultural Beliefs
The value of the Chesapeake Bay is derived from individuals' cultural knowledge and beliefs, and is not tied to any inherent value of nature. In general, people value the bay and want to maintain and restore it, but these individuals are broken into subgroups that cherish the bay for different reasons.
Some see the Chesapeake as a natural resource to be harvested to support communities, while others see it as a place for recreation like kayaking or bird watching. People like scientists see it as a complex ecological system, while environmentalists want to protect what they view as natural.
Each of these stakeholder groups brings a unique set of cultural beliefs that informs how they view the Chesapeake Bay. While these are just some of the groups that treasure the estuary, Dr. Paolisso believes that everyone in the Chesapeake's massive watershed is a stakeholder to varying degrees.
Stakeholders Bring Explicit and Implicit Beliefs to the Issue
Anthropologists are interested in explicit knowledge, what people say and do, as well as what is implicit and tacit. People bring cultural knowledge to everything they do, without realizing that this stored knowledge . This knowledge is shared, but not always shared equally. Dr. Paolisso is specifically interested in what drives the knowledge to be distributed in one way or another.
By understanding the tacit cultural beliefs that exist among stakeholders, we can understand what is driving the underlying environmental issues. "If we're not aware and understand that we're bringing cultural knowledge, values and beliefs to our environmental problems, then we kind of have blinders on," Dr. Paolisso added. By educating people about the implicit knowledge they are bringing to the Chesapeake Bay issue, it may be possible to foster a solution.
Learning About Other Group's Values Encourages Teamwork
The Chesapeake Bay is massive, with over 3,000 miles of coastline and a dearth of problems that need to be managed. There are many stakeholders with different ideas about what the Chesapeake is meant to be and how it should restored and maintained. The department of anthropology at Maryland uses collaborative learning to create discussion among groups and to find common ground.
In Dr. Paolisso's experience, people know little about others and their views. However, individuals carry implicit knowledge that informs their opinion of other people and groups and often make assumptions. Simply by bringing groups together to learn about each other's beliefs, people can begin to build rapport with one another.
The goal is to create a space for people to recognize and share their own beliefs and cultural views. Once people understand where others are coming from, working together is much more likely and possible, even if disagreements occur. Ultimately, the hope is that collaborative learning will allow different stakeholders to collectively decide the best way to tackle the problems of the bay.
Live Crabs for Maryland Day
While there are many opportunities to see the work of Maryland's Department of Anthropology on Maryland Day, one exhibit will discuss the work on the Chesapeake. Those who attend can touch live crabs and learn about the human dimension of bay restoration and the research being done to add to the literature.
Other Department of Anthropology exhibits include a demonstration on how to make stone tools, an archaeology in Annapolis interactive exhibit and a luncheon for alumni.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Over 40 Percent of American Smartphone Users Have iPhones and Strong Branding has Helped Maintain Their Lead over AndroidS
Apple is America's largest provider of smartphones, according to a report by digital analytics firm comScore. Of the 184 million Americans who own smartphones, 41.3 percent use an iPhone. The study measured aveage ownership from Nov. 2014 to Jan. 2015.
Samsung ranked second in the report, with just under three in ten Americans using smartphones from the South Korean company.
Brand loyalty is created through building trust with consumers, according to Dr. Henry C. Boyd III, Clinical Associate Professor in the marketing department of the Robert H. Smith School of business. This trust is created by delivering on promises the company has made about their products.
Apple creates brand loyalty by making people think they could not live without the iPhone, according to Dr. Boyd.
Google's Android operating system, open source and available to any equipment manufacturers, tops the market at 53.2 percent. Apple's operating system, iOS, is only available on their products, and matches the 41.3 percent marketshare. Apple's strong brand has clearly resonated with children, who greatly prefer the iPhone to any other choice.
Over 50 Percent of Smartphone Seeking Kids Want iPhones
Most children who want smartphones ask for iPhones, and have no secondary brand preference, according to an American Marketing Association survey from Nov. 2014. Only 12 percent of children surveyed preferred a Samsung Galaxy.The study notes that children say iPhones are for 'people like me,' and that their friends have them as well. While different companies offer many types of phone, iPhone is ubiquitous with the Apple brand, and their current dominance may be creating an advantage. Apple is not necessarily doing anything special or unique to appeal to these young people, but is simply maintaining their identity as the premiere smartphone brand.
Apple does not appear to be losing any trust with consumers, consdering their marketshare in the preceding three month was 41.9%, just slightly higher than the current value.
Dr. Boyd details why consumers may want to change brands.
The Most Popular Apps are Available on iOS and Android
While most applications are available on both of these platforms, it is important for developers to consider the differences between users to better tap into the U.S. and global marketplaces. The 15 most popular apps include only three that are platform specific: Google Play, iTunes Radio and Apple Maps.A study from Stanford University published in 2014 found no evidence that developers prefer one platform over another. It noted three main reasons for this discovery:
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| Junior journalism major Daniel Weintraub texts on his phone during class. |
- A small minority of all available applications make up the vast majority of consumer demand
- Apps highly demanded on one platform are highly demanded on the other
- Highly demanded apps have a tendency to multihome, writing for both iOS and Android.
Nevertheless, distinctions among users could have profound effects on how companies market their products for mobile devices.
iPhone Users Have More Money and are Better Educated
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2013 shows that iPhone users have more money compared with the average. While 25 percent of cell phone owners surveyed said they own an iPhone, 28 percent said they own an Android. Almost half of the people who reported a household income of $150,000 or greater were iPhone users.
On the other hand, only 13 percent of cell phone owners whose household income totaled less than $30,000 per year owned an iPhone, while 28 percent of this demographic owned an Android.
Sophomore government and politics major dislikes the restrictiveness of Apple's operating system.
Apple users were also educated for longer. While 38 percent of those with at least a college degree were iPhone users, 29 percent owned Androids. In the same vein, 25 percent of those with less than a high school diploma owned Androids, while 11 percent owned iPhones.
What is most striking may be the discrepancy between the two for African Americans. Only 16 percent owned iPhones, compared to 42 percent who owned Androids.
iPhone Users Spend More on Mobile Commerce
According to a study by Monestate, iPhone users spent $177.5 million on e-commerce in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2014. In the same period, Android users spent $91.3 million. While mobile e-commerce traffic made up 16 percent of the total traffic, it only created 4 percent of the revenue.
A separate study, comScore's 2013 Mobile Future in Focus Report, revealed 23 percent of iPhone users shopped on their phones, compared with 17 percent of Android users. This data has major implications for anyone trying to market a product.
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| Junior supply chain management major Pat Powers on his iPhone. |
More importantly, advertisers and marketers alike should be focusing on optimizing their mobile websites and advertisements to drive revenue. While 4 percent seems like a small slice of the e-commerce pie, it still represents millions of dollars in sales.
The higher traffic number may be showing that people use their mobile devices to scan for potential purchases when they are on the go, but this must not be discounted. Creating easy to use, well designed mobile sites will allow those who prefer to shop on tablets and laptops to browse at any and all times. Doing anything less would be a competitive disadvantage, even if mobile sales are not a key part of a company's revenue.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Big Ten Unanimously Decides to Address Freshmen Athlete Ineligibility with NCAA's Other Conferences
The Big Ten Conference released a statement Tuesday detailing their desire to bring the idea of a "year of readiness" for freshmen to the forefront, in hopes that it can be discussed at the 2016 NCAA National Convention.
The statement, released on bigten.org, notes that the conference wants input and feedback from other "thought leaders" on problems affecting academics on campus.
"Those areas include the potential establishment of a year of readiness for all sports-- or select sports; student-athlete time demands; playing seasons; initial eligibility requirements; and other areas impacting academics on college campuses across the country."
The idea is gaining steam and has already been supported by Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott, ACC commissioner John Swofford and Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby.
Football and Men's Basketball are the Main Sports Being Considered for the New Rule
While the Big Ten says they are open to idea for all sports, it appears that the focus is really on football and men's basketball. These sports generate the most revenue for universities, but also lag behind other sports in academics.
According to an internal Big Ten document, acquired by The Diamondback, football and men's basketball ranked at the bottom of all sports in "graduation success rate" from 2004-2007 and were last in "academic progress rate" from 2009-2013.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby told CBSSports.com's Jon Solomon that ruling freshmen ineligible would greatly ease the transition from high school to college for football and basketball players who have trouble balancing coursework with their game schedule.
Senior Tyler Troise works in Maryland's Gossett Football Team House, and thinks the proposal would improve academic performance.
Though the intentions of this proposal seem valiant, part of the reason may be linked to the 'one-and-done' phenomenon occurring in college basketball. The NBA requires players entering their draft to be at least 19 years old and one year out of high school, while the NFL requires draftees to be out of high school for three years. This results in many of the best basketball recruits attending college for one year and leaving without a diploma.
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott told CBSSports that making freshmen basketball players ineligible would send an important message. "It would demonstrate they're students first on those teams and they're in class and getting grades that would keep them eligible. The reality of one-and-done is it's not even one. It's like half or three-quarters [of a school year] and done."
Freshmen Basketball Players get Drafted at the Top Each Year, But it is not Their Only Option After High School
A freshman has been the number one overall pick in the NBA draft each of the past five years. Freshmen made up 36% of NBA lottery picks in the same span, and an average of 10 true freshmen entered the draft in each of those years, according to CBSSports.com.
Basketball players who do not want to attend college in the gap between the end of high school and the day they become draft eligible can go overseas to play and get paid. Brandon Jennings of the Detroit Pistons played in Italy before entering the draft, and Emmanuel Mudiay, formerly a commit at Southern Methodist University, decided to play in China before entering the draft later this year.
Junior Ryan Bern thinks the proposal is a bad idea because the athletes are focused on becoming professionals.
They can also enter the NBA Developmental League, but both options have drawbacks. If adjusting to college is hard, adjusting to a foreign country and new language might be even tougher. The D-League pays their players, but the top salary is only $25,500, according to NBCSports.com. It is hard
Freshmen athletes were ineligible to compete in the NCAA until 1972, and the idea is not as far fetched as it may seem according to ACC commissioner John Swofford. Making freshmen ineligible could help
"I don't think it's looked upon as radical an idea as it seemed to people five years or 10 years ago because it makes so much sense educationally. We're in a period now where everybody's trying to get a hold of the student-athlete experience and a recommitment, if you will, to balance academics and athletics," he told CBSSports.
The statement, released on bigten.org, notes that the conference wants input and feedback from other "thought leaders" on problems affecting academics on campus.
"Those areas include the potential establishment of a year of readiness for all sports-- or select sports; student-athlete time demands; playing seasons; initial eligibility requirements; and other areas impacting academics on college campuses across the country."
The idea is gaining steam and has already been supported by Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott, ACC commissioner John Swofford and Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby.
Football and Men's Basketball are the Main Sports Being Considered for the New Rule
While the Big Ten says they are open to idea for all sports, it appears that the focus is really on football and men's basketball. These sports generate the most revenue for universities, but also lag behind other sports in academics.
According to an internal Big Ten document, acquired by The Diamondback, football and men's basketball ranked at the bottom of all sports in "graduation success rate" from 2004-2007 and were last in "academic progress rate" from 2009-2013.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby told CBSSports.com's Jon Solomon that ruling freshmen ineligible would greatly ease the transition from high school to college for football and basketball players who have trouble balancing coursework with their game schedule.
Senior Tyler Troise works in Maryland's Gossett Football Team House, and thinks the proposal would improve academic performance.
Though the intentions of this proposal seem valiant, part of the reason may be linked to the 'one-and-done' phenomenon occurring in college basketball. The NBA requires players entering their draft to be at least 19 years old and one year out of high school, while the NFL requires draftees to be out of high school for three years. This results in many of the best basketball recruits attending college for one year and leaving without a diploma.
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott told CBSSports that making freshmen basketball players ineligible would send an important message. "It would demonstrate they're students first on those teams and they're in class and getting grades that would keep them eligible. The reality of one-and-done is it's not even one. It's like half or three-quarters [of a school year] and done."
Freshmen Basketball Players get Drafted at the Top Each Year, But it is not Their Only Option After High School
A freshman has been the number one overall pick in the NBA draft each of the past five years. Freshmen made up 36% of NBA lottery picks in the same span, and an average of 10 true freshmen entered the draft in each of those years, according to CBSSports.com.
Basketball players who do not want to attend college in the gap between the end of high school and the day they become draft eligible can go overseas to play and get paid. Brandon Jennings of the Detroit Pistons played in Italy before entering the draft, and Emmanuel Mudiay, formerly a commit at Southern Methodist University, decided to play in China before entering the draft later this year.
Junior Ryan Bern thinks the proposal is a bad idea because the athletes are focused on becoming professionals.
They can also enter the NBA Developmental League, but both options have drawbacks. If adjusting to college is hard, adjusting to a foreign country and new language might be even tougher. The D-League pays their players, but the top salary is only $25,500, according to NBCSports.com. It is hard
Freshmen athletes were ineligible to compete in the NCAA until 1972, and the idea is not as far fetched as it may seem according to ACC commissioner John Swofford. Making freshmen ineligible could help
"I don't think it's looked upon as radical an idea as it seemed to people five years or 10 years ago because it makes so much sense educationally. We're in a period now where everybody's trying to get a hold of the student-athlete experience and a recommitment, if you will, to balance academics and athletics," he told CBSSports.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
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