Metolo Foyet + Dr. Brian Child
New Open Access paper: COVID-19, Social media, algorithms and the rise of indigenous movements in Southern Africa by Metolo Foyet and Dr. Brian Child in Frontiers in Sociology https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1433998
Short summary of the abstract (disclaimer: generated by an AI that was given the paper’s long abstract). The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically shifted how social movements operate, particularly through the increased use of social media platforms like WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter) to disseminate information and build global networks. This has been especially beneficial for marginalized groups such as the indigenous communities in Southern Africa, who face issues like land rights disputes and environmental degradation. Social media empowers these communities to raise awareness, galvanize support, and engage with a broader audience, including policymakers. However, the study reveals that while social media is a powerful tool, it is often used out of necessity rather than preference. Activists encounter challenges such as platform constraints, privacy issues, and a lack of cultural sensitivity. They also express concerns that maintaining a social media presence can detract from critical fieldwork and lead to social media fatigue. There is a call for platforms that better prioritize mental well-being and align with indigenous cultural practices. This highlights the need for digital innovations that resonate with indigenous identities to ensure their narratives are authentically preserved. The findings suggest that creating culturally sensitive digital spaces could enhance the effectiveness of indigenous activism, necessitating collaboration among policymakers, activists, audiences, and technology developers.
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Jinpeng Wang + Dr. Yujie Hu
Unraveling Hurricane Ian’s impact, by Jinpeng Wang and Dr. Yujie Hu in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment https://geog.ufl.edu/2024/11/12/wang-hu/
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Saba Jawata + Dr. Kevin Ash
Assessing the vulnerability of Cape Coral, Florida, to sea level rise using principal component analysis (2020–2050) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.105014
Abstract of paper: Sea level rise is a consequence of global climate change that has been affecting U.S. coasts with floods and storm surges. Florida is highly vulnerable because it has low-lying topography and coastlines on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The City of Cape Coral, in southwest Florida, has 400 miles of canals that provide waterfront property to the residents. Most of the canals are navigable, and accessible to the Gulf of Mexico. The city is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise because of its canals, located between the Matlacha Pass and the Caloosahatchee River, and development that has occurred in hazard prone areas. In this research, we used the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Sea Level Rise Calculator tool for three sea level rise scenarios for Cape Coral from 2020 to 2050 and created a Cape Coral Vulnerability Index (CCVI) using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). PCA reduced 25 variables to six factors that explained 78 % of the variance in the data. The study revealed that the whole city has a medium to high vulnerability to sea level rise- induced coastal flooding. Projected flooding showed the vulnerable areas for future flooding, whereas CCVI identified the vulnerable populations and their locations in the city. One important finding is that both economically stable and poor communities are vulnerable in Cape Coral. This research has significant implications in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. It can act as a guideline for the city for disaster management.
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