ABSTRACT
Obtaining visual comfort, satisfaction and well-being in residential interiors are now becoming more important, especially in times of extreme events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It also became important to collect users' evaluations and their own solutions for residential lighting in order to improve the current lighting conditions. For this aim, with a group of international and inter-disciplinary researchers, a comprehensive study was conducted. This study is the last part of a three-stage investigation aimed at increasing our knowledge of the current lighting conditions in residential areas during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. For the current study, an online survey and in-depth interviews were conducted between June and August 2022 in Poland, Turkey, Sweden, and the U.K., with 520 participants. As results of this study show, a correlation was found between daylight satisfaction and its sufficiency. Similar correlations were found between artificial lighting satisfaction, its sufficiency, and its uniformity. The differences between seasons were detected for being very satisfied with daylight quality. Also, the correlation between satisfaction with daylighting and the ratio of windows showed difference among seasons. Stronger correlations between satisfaction with artificial lighting, its sufficiency and uniformity were found in summerterm according to winter-term results. Correlations between artificial lighting brightness - CRI and uniformity weakened in summer-term. Results from open-ended questions and in-depth interviews showed, removing the shading device and augmenting the characteristics of artificial lighting were the mostly done adjustments during the COVID- 19 pandemic. The most prominent theme is visual comfort according to the in-depth interview responses.'
ABSTRACT
Globalization now applies to almost all aspects of life, and it also applies to the world of science. Internationalisation and interdisciplinarity are fundamental determinants of modern research and education. The foremost factor of functioning in the international world of science is the mobility of students and scientists. Considering this context, the objective of this study was to analyse the staff mobility for teaching under the Erasmus+ programme at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (UPWr). The research took into account the mobility of staff for teaching (STA) within the period of the academic years from 2009/2010 to 2020/2021. The methodological approach applied in this study is based on the concept of mobility network analysis and mobility flows. The geo-visualization was prepared with the use of a spider diagram. Using this approach, the connections between spatial locations and domains of scientific activity were analysed. The results show that the mobility flow at UPWr rose significantly after the authorities of the university decided to increase the funding for STA, and eventually was slowed down by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the findings in the geographical aspect show that there were two main regions of destination, which were the Iberian Peninsula and the closest neighbouring countries, where the predominant institutions could be observed. The most mobile group of teachers were the ones representing environment sciences. The STA flow is not reflected in the students' mobility flow. COVID-19 has enhanced the virtual component of learning, resulting in the strengthening of the blended mobility model.
ABSTRACT
The article presents a comprehensive and cross-cutting review of key marine waste issues, taking into account: sources, fate, risks, transport pathways, threats, legislation, current challenges, and knowledge gaps. The growing amount of both human-created waste in seas and oceans and waste reaching marine ecosystems from land is one of today's challenges for the global economy and the European Union. It is predicted that if no decisive steps are taken to limit the amount of this type of waste, there may be more plastic waste than fish in the oceans after 2050. The influence of microplastics and nanoplastics on living organisms remains undiagnosed. Within the international and EU law, solutions are being developed to properly manage waste on board ships and to reduce the impact of processes related to the recycling of the vessels on the environment. Currently, over 80% of ships are dismantled in the countries of South Asia, in conditions that threaten the environment and the safety of workers. After World War 2, large quantities of chemical weapons were deposited in the seas. Steel containers with dangerous substances residing in the sea for over 70 years have begun leaking, thus polluting water. For many years, radioactive waste had also been dumped into marine ecosystems, although since 1993 there has been a total ban on such disposal of radionuclides. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marine waste generation has also been presented as a significant factor influencing marine waste generation and management.