Energy and Environment Institute, University of Hull

This article develops a new approach for using photographic sources that might be of interest to American Studies scholars whose research contributes broadly to environmental education. Over the past forty years of photographic scholarship, scientific and other record images have become relatively prominent as primary sources. This visual material can be used to interrogate past responses to flooding and other environmental events. On the other hand, discourses around social documentary continue to frame how the human impacts of rapidly changing environments are visualised. By comparing two sets of images from the 1930s, the article juxtaposes the approaches of photographers associated with these two conventionally distinct areas to offer a more rounded view of flood photography. The discussion starts with a reflective section detailing how I arrived at my current research project. Following this, the categories of scientific and social documentary photography are described relationally in the context of the agencies of the New Deal, in the process setting out an argument for the contribution that engaged visuality can make to Environmental American Studies. Afterwards, the attention shifts to focus on images from two official contexts. The first example concerns record photography from the Soil Conservation Experiment Station in Bethany, Missouri, whilst the second considers photographs that the Resettlement Administration produced in response to flooding in Posey County, Indiana, in 1937. The article concludes by remarking on some of the implications of this method for how American Studies researchers currently conduct environmentally focused projects.

This paper focuses on the reliefs of the frieze and the parapet of the Athena Nike temple, a small Ionic edifice built on the southwest bastion of the Acropolis in the last quarter of the 5th century B.C. From a close examination of these reliefs and through the study of the relevant modern scholarship and ancient literary sources, I have deduced that these architectural sculptures have many unique elements regarding both their iconography and style. First of all, historical events are depicted on a temple for the first time next to mythological scenes. Secondly, in the sculptural style of the frieze and the parapet we can see a very elaborately carved high relief characterised by a new, very naturalistic rendering of the human body.
The artistic innovations mentioned above are connected to the contemporary historical and political context of Athens. The representation of a battle between Greeks and Orientals at the southern frieze for instance recalls the great Athenian victories over the Persians during the Persian Wars. Additionally, the similarities in the treatment and the depiction of divine and human figures on the frieze could reflect the political ideology of 5th-century Athens that put herself into a supreme, epic world equal to that of the gods. In conclusion, my aim is to show that the reliefs of the Athena Nike temple constituted, both intentionally and unintentionally, a visual record of the political and military history of 5th-century Athens and a unique dedication from the Athenians to their victory goddess who would help them to be successful in the contemporary Peloponnesian War.

The Hephaisteion, the Doric temple of Hephaistos and Athena Ergane, crowning the Kolonos Agoraios hill , at the west side of the Athenian Agora, is the best preserved Doric temple from Antiquity. Despite its Doric order, the sculptural decoration of the Hephaisteion, which was constructed in the middle of the fifth century BC, included two continuous Ionic friezes set over the pronaos of the eastern side and the opisthodomos of the western side. Except for the Hephaisteion Ionic friezes, there are only two other cases preserved in Attica: one from the temple of Poseidon at Sounion and one from the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens. However, only the Ionic friezes of the Hephaisteion have the unique advantage of being preserved in their original position on the temple, with only minor damage and alterations, so that their situation and function can be researched in situ. In this paper I examine in depth all the features of the Ionic friezes of the Hephaisteion, their architectural position, their visibility, their iconography, their audience, their function and the intention of their construction. Through my research, I attempt to show that the Ionic friezes on these Doric temples were not simply an artistic innovation of fifth-century BC architectural sculpture that flourished in the wealthy environment of Periklean Athens, but that eScholarship provides open access, scholarly publishing services to the University of California and delivers a dynamic research platform to scholars worldwide. their architectural order and iconography were used conciously by the city of Athens to transmit pro-Athenian messages and constitute eternal monuments of the Athenian achievements.

This research examines the transport of sculpture in the Eastern and Central Mediterranean during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. From the early 19th century onwards various marble and bronze statues of Classical Antiquity have been discovered in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Some of them come from surveyed shipwrecks such as Antikythera, Mahdia, Megadim and Artemission, while some others have been discovered out of context. Many scholars of Classical Archaeology have analysed several of those finds mainly from an art historical perspective basing the interpretation of their underwater deposition only in possible hypotheses.  The present study though examines the sculptural material found in the Eastern and Central Mediterranean Sea from a maritime archaeological perspective to fill a gap in our understanding of the movement of sculptures during the Hellenistic and Roman times. Through the examination of sculptural material discovered in Greece, Italy, Israel, Turkey, Croatia and Tunisia, I attempt to interpret the various statues within their maritime context while taking into account the geographical location of their discovery. Additionally, I assess the scale as well as the nature of the transport of sculpture which according to the ancient sources was developed as a trading or/and looting activity towards the end of the Hellenistic period (Plutarch 32.2.4; Pliny NH 22.13- 36.33; Cicero Letters to Atticus 1.8.2). Through this research I aim to prove the archaeological significance of the numerous sculptures discovered in the Mediterranean Sea and show the necessity of the investigation, protection and preservation of their underwater context.

This paper presents the results of the 2016 survey project that was conducted on the hulk of the boat Flash, found in Satchell Marsh of the River Hamble, in Hampshire, England. The project was conducted by the author and four other postgraduate students during spring 2016 and was part of the assessment of the 2015-2016 master's degree in Maritime Archaeology at the Center of Maritime Archaeology in the University of Southampton. The boat Flash, which now lies in the intertidal zone of the River Hamble, is a 19th-century fishing boat, possibly a cut-ter or a dry-smack, which was transformed into a hospital boat for the naval training school T.S. Mercury during the last decade of the 19th century. The intertidal site of Satchell Marsh and the archaeological remains of the Flash have been previously surveyed and partially recorded in 2008 and in 2013/2014. The 2016 survey project revisited the site with the objective to record thoroughly the remains of the Flash, understand the form and the construction techniques of the vessel, find archaeological evidence proving the exact dates of its second use as a hospital boat for T.S. Mercury, and comprehend the site-formation processes as well as the rate of degradation of the boat, which has been abandoned and unprotected on the River Hamble since the 1930s. The Flash survey project included archival research but also an on-site archaeological survey for the collection of data that enabled the creation of digital maps, reconstructions of the site, and three-dimensional models and drawings of the boat and important structural parts of it. Additionally, a variety of artifacts (glass medical vessels, thermometers, coins, stamped china plates) were recorded in situ and studied in the lab to establish the dates of use of the boat as a hospital. Finally, the pictures, the plans, and the three-dimensional models of the 2016 project were compared with the 2008 and 2013/2014 survey data to spot several changes that have occurred on the hulk of the Flash in the course of eight years. Therefore, it has been highlighted that the Flash has been subject to heavy erosion and degradation due to the fluvial environment of the site and is in need of constant monitoring and recording to avoid further loss of archaeological material.

The Maritime Transport of Sculptures in the Ancient Mediterranean examines where, when, why and how sculptures were transported on the Mediterranean Sea during Classical Antquity through the lenses of both maritime and classical archaeology. From the 16th century onwards numerous ancient sculptures have been discovered in the Mediterranean from the context of surveyed shipwrecks, unrecorded potential shipwrecks or as isolated finds. Scholars so far have analysed those sculptural artefacts from an art historical perspective, with interpretation of their maritime transportation remaining conjectural due to the problematic recording and the remoteness of their underwater context.
With a focus on the underwater context of already retrieved sculptures, this book aims at comprehending in detail the various circumstances under which ancient sculptural artefacts were carried on board ancient merchant ships and were consequently deposited underwater. Through the creation of an extensive Mediterranean-wide database, with more than 100 known incidents of ancient sculptures found underwater, and the in-depth analysis of three case studies, the Porticello, Mahdia and Favaritx shipwrecks, a new interpretation is presented for this maritime activity. Thereby, new details for the maritime transport and distribution of sculptures during the period of Classical Antiquity are revealed. Finally, the volume demonstrates the importance of the thorough recording of underwater archaeological evidence in the hope of raising awareness and eliminating the salvage of ancient sculptures out of their underwater context, a practice that has been encouraging the illicit trade of such antquities.

Maritime archaeology has been identified as a significant field among the humanities that could contribute to the global sustainable development agenda. This article explores the relevance of maritime archaeological studies to initiatives of climate action. Βy reviewing the contributions of various state-of-the-art projects and by linking their aims and outcomes to specific targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the author highlights the benefits of involving maritime archaeological research in the pursuit of sustainability and climate resilience. This involvement could play a key role in reinforcing human-centred and culturally aware solutions to the current climate change effects that threaten human populations, especially in maritime regions. It is hoped that this discussion will inspire researchers in the humanities, archaeology, and maritime archaeology in particular, to use their expertise within the framework provided by the sustainable development agenda to help build a better future.

This paper presents tangible and intangible data related to traditional shipbuilding on the island of Samos. This shipbuilding activity along with the material culture produced are expressions of local knowledge, namely a system of deep knowledge, understandings and skills developed by individuals and populations specific to the place they live. Through analysis of information recorded during fieldwork in 2022, the significant links between traditional wooden shipbuilding and local knowledge of the Aegean communities are explored. The study closes with future considerations regarding the potential of maritime heritage to support sustainable and resilient ways of living in the Aegean Sea.

1. Challenge 10 of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) calls for the restoration of society's relationship with the ocean. Research suggests that the relationship people have with marine environments can influence their depth of engagement in marine citizenship action, and the important role for ‘marine identity’ in driving that action. Although identity is well-researched, marine identity is a concept novel to academia and a baseline understanding is required, both to grasp the scope of the concept, and to support research into its role in transforming the human-ocean relationship.
2. Here, a transdisciplinary study, endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade Activity and by the EU Mission Ocean & Waters, brought together a multinational community of marine researchers and practitioners to co-produce a baseline conceptualisation of marine identity, drawing on photovoice and deliberative methodology. This paper presents the findings of the co-production process and offers a first introduction in the literature of the multiple variations and formations of marine identity.
3. We find marine identity to be a complex and multidimensional concept, suffused with individual experiences and understandings of the marine environment, based on social and cultural understandings of the ocean, contemporarily and historically. We present real-world examples of marine identity to illustrate key themes that were developed through co-production.
4. Policy implications: We propose marine identity as a catalyst for understanding existing multifaceted and caring relationships with the ocean, as well as the restoration of society's relationship with the ocean. Marine identity research should, therefore, be prioritised in research seeking to contribute to the UN Ocean Decade Challenge 10, as this will support integration of non-material values of the ocean into marine planning processes and policy making, enabling effective responses to Challenge 10's emphasis on integrating traditional/cultural ways of knowing and valuing the marine environment, through diverse marine identities. We welcome research efforts that will further develop the marine identity concept and empirically investigate the relationships between marine identity, marine citizenship, and people's relationships with the ocean.

Flooding is a major risk to lives and properties globally and this risk is increasing because of several factors, not least the increase of sea level and changes to patterns of precipitation due to climate change. Whilst flood management interventions can reduce the risk and the impact of flooding, it is not possible, and never will be possible, to stop flooding completely and this necessitates a public that is informed and equipped to take actions to increase their personal resilience. Successful learning in Geosciences requires 3D thinking yet many of the tools used by educators are 2D visualisations, relying on the student’s individual ability and imagination. There has been an increasing use of interactive 3D visualisations, particularly of geological outcrops, yet the methods used to produce these either rely on expensive equipment or processing using high-specification machines. The 360 Lab uses new functionality offered by state-of-the-art tablets to rapidly capture high-reso...

The Nigeria National Grid as it stands today cannot meet existing energy demand and with surging population explosion and an ever increasing energy demand, alternative energy sources and an efficient management of available energy is becoming the norm. While alternative energy sources like Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are stochastic in nature, they could with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and an Energy Management System (EMS) be incorporated into the existing grid infrastructure to form a Virtual Power Plant (VPP). Complementing this VPP could be an increase in the reach of the grid and an interconnection of existing and would be incorporated components to form an intelligent system. It is envisaged that with such a structure in place, massive load shedding, frequent grid collapse and power outages could be reduced to minimum. This paper examines such system on a micro scale using Independence Hall and its surroundings all in the University of Ibadan as a case study.

Curbing incessant and erratic power supply to halls of residence within the University of Ibadan Campus has been an impetus that has led to an upsurge in the number of proposals all geared towards providing solution to this critical problem. One of such proposals opines the design of a virtual power plant (VPP). In proposing such, the author seeks to address the problem on a double approach -tackle the erratic power supply and reduce carbon footprints. The proposal in achieving these aims takes advantage of the flexibility of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), advancements in Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) and the stochastic nature of evolutionary algorithms (EAs) and artificial intelligence (AI) in creating a frame work for interaction between these components, the end users of electricity and the generation/distribution end. The crucial property of electricity being toyed with in the proposal is the ability of electricity to move in both directions depending on existing potential difference. A problem arising from this brilliant proposal though is the fact that loads have not been grouped or biased. The intermittent and stochastic nature of renewables limits their application to certain loads within the halls as such critical loads have to be connected to the school grid for uninterrupted supply. These loads could range from medical to cooking points. This paper seeks to address this issue of load biasing while taking advantage of stochastic optimization techniques in scheduling loads for supply and forecasting demand. The author in attempting to do this hopes to improve quality of supply and optimize demand among students within Independence Hall by suggesting creation of incentives, data mining to observe if a pattern exists which to a great extent mirrors students behavior and other EA tools which would prove useful.

Enjoying the benefits of Distributed Generation (DG) is consequent on its flexibility and ability for control. Incorporating Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) into existing power grid through a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) in a bid to decentralizing power generation by generating at load centers provides a frame work for influencing its operation. This control via software thus offers us an opportunity in exploiting the varied benefits DG seeks to offer. This paper thus examines such exploitation of DG in Independence Hall, in the University of Ibadan. In exploiting this benefit, the controllability of the DG and its subsequent upgrade is used in influencing the allocation of students into Independence Hall. Constraints such as hall size (minimum and maximum), per unit and total hall allocation in terms of energy and the difference between the cost of upgrade and energy savings are used in feeding a Genetic Algorithm (GA) in generating varied options from which choice can be made based on prevailing circumstances.

Pertinent literature arguing on the need for the University of Ibadan Management to decentralize its electricity generation by increasing the penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) in solving its dire energy problems have necessitated similar calls to University Management in incorporating relevant and evolving technologies in its desired efforts to try alternative energy sources. Some of these calls have opined that envisaging a future increase in the amount of distributed generation (DG) schemes, University Management put in place modalities for the incorporation of a virtual power plant (VPP). Leading authors have suggested that despite the proliferation of these DG schemes, their visibility and control would remain a mirage if technologies that could aggregate these distributed energy resources (DERs) in allowing for their participation in displacing part of the University's load demand are not put in place. As a follow up to such scholarly proposals for the need for a virtual power plant, leading authors have suggested and proposed different schemes from load discrimination to improved load scheduling in the envisaged electricity network of the University. A critical evaluation though of these literatures and upon expert evaluation of existing infrastructure (DG schemes and RES) via modeling, we have discovered that the implementation of the proposed VPP project would be hampered due to existing technical incompatibilities and poor design specifications. Realizing these fundamental problems, we are thus proposing as a follow up to earlier write ups the need for the incorporation of an optimized enhanced control system using genetic algorithm (GA). The ease of arriving at solutions faster by stochastic optimization techniques over classical optimization techniques cannot be overemphasized hinging on the ability of the former not to get stuck in a local optimum solution.