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In this paper we present an optical characterization for quantum dot intermediate band solar cells (QDIBSCs). The cells were developed by growing a stack of ten InAs/GaAs QDs layers between p and n doped GaAs conventional emitters. Electroluminescence, EL, photoreflectance, PR, and transmission electron microscopy, TEM, were applied to the samples in order to test and characterize them optically. The results, derived from the application of the different techniques, showed a good correlation. TEM images revealed a very good structural quality of the QDs, which seem to evolve in shape-strain from the bottom to the top of the stack. Corresponding to the quality observed by TEM, strong signals from EL and PR resolved unambiguously the energy band diagram of the QDIBSCs. By fitting PR data we were able to indentify the coexistence of bands and discrete energy levels coming from the IB material. The PR data evidenced also a strong electric field over the dots, attributed to the space charge region created between the p-n emitters sandwiching the IB material. From EL results, we identified the predominantly radiative nature of the IB material related energy transitions. 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 1-5 September 2008, Valencia, Spain; 298-301

Despite being a global problem, climate change has disproportionately large impacts on non-Western countries in the form of extreme weather events, threats to food security, and displacement of communities. Climate change mitigation is therefore an immediate priority requiring both international and local efforts. Motivating public action is especially important because pro-climate policies require public mandate to be approved and implemented. Behavioural scientists have identified communication strategies that can effectively motivate public support for climate action. However, most of this research has been conducted on Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic (or WEIRD) populations, making it unclear if these strategies can be applied elsewhere. In this perspective, we discuss climate change communication strategies that have been developed on WEIRD samples. These include using partisan messengers, conveying social norms, and citing experts. We posit that these climate communication strategies developed in Western societies may not be applicable in other populations. We then consider the cases of two countries–the Czech Republic and India to discuss how context-specific insights about citizens’ priorities, concerns, and experiences with nature can be used to communicate climate change. We build on these case studies to propose INCLUDE, a framework that can be adopted by communicators such as policymakers, elected officials, scientists, and activists in non-WEIRD societies to develop effective climate communication strategies informed by context specific and culture-specific insights.

The current paradigm of global economics with exponential and continuous economic growth is unsustainable as far as Earth system ecology is concerned. To support the Earth system and boost sustainable development, a functional and operational linkage between global ecology and economics should be established – which we term ‘carbonomics’. The simple basis of ‘carbonomics’ is that the more fossil and non-fossil carbon one has as stocks, and not flows, of carbon, the richer one is. This opinion piece makes some suggestions about how we might establish such a balanced relationship. Consilience, No 17 (2017): Issue Seventeen: 2017

This paper explores the feasibility of adopting ecological based planning in low-income residential development. It explicates that in developing countries efforts by housing authorities have been on housing provision irrespective of the environmental threats to sustainability. As these houses are built, future of urban ecology is under threat. The questions regarding this phenomenon are several: how do low-income populations perceive environmental issues of urban settlements? How capable and willing are the local authorities to embrace and apply ecological based planning in residential development? What are the facilitating instruments of ecological-based planning? What are the prospects of integrating ecological based planning to low-income residential development? What are the restraining factors towards embracement of ecological based planning and how best can they be harnessed towards future ecological cities? The case study of Hatcliffe residential area in Harare shows that there are many challenges to overcome uncoordinated planning approaches, ineffective policies and legislative frameworks, weak institutional settings, financial constraints, outdated planning standards and regulations, poverty, lack of environmental stewardship and lack of political will among others. The study findings call for robust environmental conservation strategies, strong environmental stewardship, responsive institutional and funding mechanism backed by realistic legislative frameworks and robust policy rectification. Tema. Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, Vol 7, N° 1 (2014): Smart Cities Challenges: Smart Environment for Sustainable Resource Management

Sustainability communication is a more and more widespread necessity for marketers because of the increased sensitivity to this topic. The objective of this research is to investigate the way the largest companies in the world communicate their social and environmental commitment: sixteen companies’ websites have been analyzed in order to explore what kind of sustainability communication tools they use. Findings show that the selected companies pay attention to communicate their commitment, also in the case of those suspected to be irresponsible. Risks deriving from greenwashing are also discussed: it can be a danger for long term survival of companies.

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Anthroposophen in der Zeit der Nationalsozialismus 1933-1945. Muenchen: Verlag R. Oldenberg.", "Willer, H., & Lernoud, J. (Eds.). (2014). The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2014: Frick, Switzerland: Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) & Bonn: International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).", "Wrench, G. T. (1946). Reconstruction by Way of the Soil. London: Faber and Faber."]} It was Lord Northbourne (Walter James; 1896-1982) who gifted to the world the term ‘organic farming’. His 1940 book Look to the Land is a manifesto of organic agriculture. In it he mooted a contest of “organic versus chemical farming” which he foresaw as a clash of world views that may last for generations. Northbourne’s ideas were foundational in launching the worldwide organics movement, and the book was a turning point in his own life. This biography relies on primary sources to draw a picture of Lord Northbourne. He was a very shy man, a talented artist, a capable linguist, a keen sportsman and an Olympic silver medallist, a graduate and lecturer in agriculture of the University of Oxford, a lifelong farmer, he was profoundly spiritual, an accomplished author, and as a wordsmith he could be a compelling advocate for his cause as Look to the Land shows. His interest in biodynamics led him to visit Switzerland in 1939 to invite the leading advocate of the times, Dr Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, to present the first conference on biodynamic farming in Britain, and it was in the following year that Look to the Land appeared. Rather than the mechanics or the practices of organics, Northbourne’s book presents the philosophy, the rationale, and the imperative of organic farming. The ideas of his organics manifesto took on a life of their own and were quickly spread globally, with early uptakes in the USA and Australia. Meanwhile, while maintaining lifelong interests and commitments to agriculture and education, Northbourne became progressively more engaged with spiritual matters, and his subsequent writings reflect his growing interest in metaphysics. He translated books by leading perennialist authors Frithjof Schuon, René Guénon, and Titus Burckhardt. Northbourne led a full life, but it is Look to the Land that is his enduring ideological legacy. This biography examines: firstly, the book, its ideas, history, uptake and impact; secondly, Northbourne’s life before Look to the Land; and thirdly, his life after Look to the Land. "He was a man of great vision, decisiveness, quiet humour and kindly authority … who brought to every facet of his widely ranging life a rare sense of harmony and balanced purpose. Above all he was a widely read man of very considerable scholarship with deep philosophical understanding … He was a man of great faith and rare belief who saw 'through a glass darkly' so much more than is given to most of us to see and experience" Duncan Skilbeck (1983, pp.78-79).

Monitoring solid pollutants in wooden biomass can avoid environmental pollution and can offer interesting opportunities of business by transforming wooden industrial wastes into a precious and clean energy source. Objective of this research is the control of solid pollutants in biomass from forest, such as from wood processing enterprises and from wood waste, reached by using FT­IR­ATR technology. The research goes through 3 steps: evaluation of pollutants dynamics within time from contamination and in reference to wood sizes particles, level of detection threshold in pollutants concentration, monitoring (presence and concentration) of pollutants in solid wood, chips, pellets originated from forest. Not contaminated Norway spruce wood was experimentally contaminated with oil and fuels. Preliminary results showed that occurrence, concentration and typology of pollutants were successfully measured with FT­IR­ATR. This research presents part of the study realized within the research project BiQueen, granted by CARITRO Foundation. Proceedings of the 19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-10 June 2011, Berlin, Germany, pp. 320-327

Structural monitoring applications such as corrosion assessment, measurement of concrete temperature or moisture content of critical bridge structures can greatly benefit from the use of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), however energy harvesting for the operation of the network remains a challenge in this setting. We present a multihop vibration-based energy harvesting WSN system for bridge monitoring applications. Our preliminary simulation experiments show that the system is able to maintain energy neutral operation over time, preserving energy with careful management of sleep and communication times.