I have conducted research since my first year of college. With each project I was better able to use my quantitative skills to create compelling arguments and to use my coursework to inform the theoretical framing of my research.
Anna Coleman
University of Pittsburgh
Research
Research Projects
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Abstract:
Past research on the environmental movement has demonstrated the pragmatic approach environmental groups take in their engagement with international governance organizations (IGOs). My research contributes to a discussion of what motivates this pragmatism, with a particular focus on developments since 2013. Drawing from updated data on the behavior of environmental social movements, I suggest that a resurgence in nationalist populism has encouraged connectivity between democratically principled organizations, increasing both pragmatist behavior and connections to NGOs. Still, I find that the location and primary aim of environmental groups as well as their connectivity to NGOs influence how likely a TSMO is to engage with IGOs. Then, based upon a new collection of data on IGOs that environmental groups report ties to, I argue that environmental groups engage with IGOs based upon two types of motivations: 1) the ability to influence their operations and 2) the ability to procure resources. The affiliation and primary aim of IGOs influence what type of opportunities they provide environmental groups. These results are discussed as suggestive of new organizational forms developing as a combination of social movement advocacy and established mechanisms of international governance.
I worked with Dr. Jackie Smith of the Sociology department on this research from the summer of 2020 through my thesis defense in the Spring of 2021. This research serves as a culmination of my studies at Pitt. I used both my quantitative background in statistics and the theoretical framing of global studies to deeply analyze the relationships environmentally focused social movements maintain with international governance organizations. My research was built upon my coursework and particularly my courses in Sociology. The literature I reviewed for this research further deepened my appreciation for the potential of social movement lead globalization and the need for urgent action to address the crises of the global capitalist system.
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Abstract
Faecal valorization is a promising technology that transforms human waste into useful products. The market surrounding products from faecal sludge has the potential to incentivize investment in sanitation systems, thus addressing the shortage of adequate sanitation throughout the world. This study expanded upon research surrounding the economic feasibility of a market based on products from faecal sludge by examining consumer interest in end products from industries that make use of products from faecal valorization. A questionnaire was distributed to members of the Wits University community, posing as a case study in Johannesburg, SA. The questionnaire demonstrated consumer interest in end products and revealed strong preferences for certain products over others. Additionally, the questionnaire identified possible incentives to increase consumer interest. The findings of this study can be used to support the feasibility of a market based on products from valorized faecal sludge, thus supporting innovative efforts to address inadequate sanitation.
[1] Thank you to the University of Witwatersrand for hosting me. Particularly, Dr. Michael Daramola and Dr Olawumi Sadare for their guidance and support during my time in South Africa. An additional thanks to Dr. Michael Aklin for his mentorship and help in writing this paper.
Contact info: atc50@pitt.edu,
IRB approval: STUDY19040409
This project is the research I conducted while abroad in Johannesburg. Again, this research gave me the opportunity to use my statistics skills in applied research.
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Abstract
This research project focuses on establishing platforms for effective communication in Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA, home to the University of Pittsburgh. As the University of Pittsburgh has steadily expanded in size, it has drastically changed the demographics of its surrounding community, Oakland. This change has manifested in many issues for the community ranging from unsafe housing to negative relationships between permanent residents and students. Through surveys, interviews and a literature review, this research project attempts to identify current sources of effective communication in Oakland and implement plans to expand upon them in order to strengthen communication methods and overall community relations.
I conducted this research as a part of the ACT Research Fellowship during the 2018-2019 school year. I worked with the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation to conduct surveys on how students become aware of necessary information. My research informed the founding of the Student Renters Union. This project taught me how to bridge the gap between academia and advocacy and provided me with some background in how to design research as to be most useful for achieving genuine progress. I believe this is a crucial component of global studies research in that academia ought to be used to advance social good instead of operate as a process independent of the reality of our current world.
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Through the FER program I worked as a research assistant for Dr. Lukas Barton. I collected data on yurt movement using Google Maps and overplayed this data with information on animal migration in QGIS. This project was my first introduction to research and GIS. It inspired me to further my study of GIS and demonstrated the way that visual aids can help identify significant trends and relay research findings effectively.
