Scholarly Commons @ MiamiOH
Scholarly Commons is a service of the Miami University libraries. Research and scholarly output included here has been selected and deposited by the individual university departments and centers on campus. To learn more about Scholarly Commons, please visit our FAQ page.
Browse by
Communities in Scholarly Commons
Recent Submissions
Crafting space: architectural strategies for education in Appalachia
(2025) Wean, Chloe;
Broadly, Appalachia is a culturally diverse and historically rich place, often portrayed in popular media through lenses of negativity associated with economic decline, ecological devastation, and cultural stagnation. While the region is often neglected by both government and market forces, a more rich cultural investigation is warranted.
For example, the state of West Virginia consistently falls below the national average for educational attainment, according to the U.S. Census. It also has a history of underfunded educational programs. Additionally, there has been a decline in the education of skilled workers. My interests are in thinking about education beyond traditional institutional structures to promote Appalachian arts and culture through architectural design.
The lack of education, loss of culture, and decline of trades can be remedied by providing effective educational spaces which facilitate experience-based immersive learning. Architecture has the power to make focusing, calming, and inspiring educational facilities through connections to nature and the design of comfortable, flexible environments.
This design aims to provide immersive and experiential environments for the purpose of teaching underrepresented traditional Appalachian craft and arts. Educational programs offered include woodworking, art glass, visual arts, fiber/textile arts, folk music, stone carving, ceramics, Appalachian cooking, and foraging. Students have access to workshops, nature trails, culinary facilities, classrooms, outdoor educational spaces, performance spaces, and studios. There is a focus on community within the campus. Programs are interrelated to provide a well-rounded and comprehensive educational experience. The campus’s location in the Appalachian mountains provides a peaceful and beautiful environment with opportunities to learn from nature. The facility is designed to accommodate hands-on learning and apprenticeship-based programs, as opposed to traditional lecture-based programs.
Raw Data for "Understanding Charged Polymer–Lipid Interactions in Model Membranes Revealed by EPR and Solid-State NMR: Implications for Membrane Protein Studies"
(2026) Okorafor, Evelyn A.; Rotich, Nancy C.; Sahu, Indra D.; Konkolewicz, Dominik; Lorigan, Gary A.
Raw Data for the article "Understanding Charged Polymer–Lipid Interactions in Model Membranes Revealed by EPR and Solid-State NMR: Implications for Membrane Protein Studies"
SUSTAINING THE SHERPA COMMUNITY: ABOVE THE CLOUDS, BETWEEN HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2025) Chowdhury, Tasnia Siddique;
The Sherpa community is a courageous yet isolated group in the Khumbu region of Nepal who migrated from Tibet in the 16th century. This research highlights the challenges faced by this community, despite their critical role as high-altitude porters and mountain guides, notably on Mount Everest. Currently, they face severe impacts from climate change and natural disasters, including the recent 2015 Earthquake that killed approximately 9000 people. Their homes, nestled between 2,000 and 5,000 meters above sea level, are increasingly vulnerable to avalanches and environmental changes threatening their livelihoods and the longstanding cultural practices. On the other hand, while tourism brings economic benefits, the surge in trekkers and climbers also places pressure on the fragile environment, contributing to pollution and resource depletion. The influx of visitors disrupts traditional ways of life and exacerbates the environmental challenges, intensifying the strain on their community. With limited knowledge of the outside world, the Sherpas are unaware of the causes behind these changes.
The design proposal aims to increase recognition of the contributions of the Sherpa community and develop adaptability strategies to preserve their heritage and environment. Specifically focused on the Khumbu region, the proposal intends to serve as a model for Sherpa villages adapting to the Himalayan ranges. The proposal concentrates on building infrastructure between villages, improving waste management, farming, herding, reinforcing Sherpa homes and lodges, and identifying probable locations for schools, medical services, and disaster shelters through strategic policies, design tactics, and community engagement. The project intends to preserve the Sherpa culture and act as a bridge between tourists and the community while safeguarding their homeland for generations to come.
Raw Data for 'Mark–Houwink parameters for water-soluble polymers '
(2026) Chandrarathne, Bhagya Madhushani; Martin, Haley; Page, Richard C.; Konkolewicz, Dominik
Raw Data for the manuscript 'Mark–Houwink parameters for water-soluble polymers '
Raw Data for "Vinyl ether maleic acid (VEMA) copolymer Derivatives for Tunable Lipid Nanodisc Formation and Membrane Protein Studies"
(2026) Shah, M. Zeeshan; Okorafor, Evelyn; Eisenhart, Mary; Henoch, Quiton; Prempeh, Godfred; Rotich, Nancy; Van Horn, Wade; Page, Richard C.; Lorigan, Gary A.; Konkolewicz, Dominik