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1 – 2 of 2John Robinson, Andi Darell Alhakim, Grace Ma, Monisha Alam, Fernanda da Rocha Brando, Manfred Braune, Michelle Brown, Nicolas Côté, Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa, Ana Karen Garza, David Gorman, Maarten Hajer, John Madden, Rob Melnick, John Metras, Julie Newman, Rutu Patel, Rob Raven, Kenneth Sergienko, Victoria Smith, Hoor Tariq, Lysanne van der Lem, Christina Nga Jing Wong and Arnim Wiek
This study aims to explore barriers and pathways to a whole-institution governance of sustainability within the working structures of universities.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore barriers and pathways to a whole-institution governance of sustainability within the working structures of universities.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper draws on multi-year interviews and hierarchical structure analysis of ten universities in Canada, the USA, Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa, Brazil, the UK and The Netherlands. The paper addresses existing literature that championed further integration between the two organizational sides of universities (academic and operations) and suggests approaches for better embedding sustainability into four primary domains of activity (education, research, campus operations and community engagement).
Findings
This research found that effective sustainability governance needs to recognise and reconcile distinct cultures, diverging accountability structures and contrasting manifestations of central-coordination and distributed-agency approaches characteristic of the university’s operational and academic activities. The positionality of actors appointed to lead institution-wide embedding influenced which domain received most attention. The paper concludes that a whole-institution approach would require significant tailoring and adjustments on both the operational and academic sides to be successful.
Originality/value
Based on a review of sustainability activities at ten universities around the world, this paper provides a detailed analysis of the governance implications of integrating sustainability into the four domains of university activity. It discusses how best to work across the operational/academic divide and suggests principles for adopting a whole institution approach to sustainability.
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Keywords
Hamid Javaherian Naghash and Ali Amiri
This paper aims to improve some properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) by copolymerization with butyl acrylate (BA) monomer along with the incorporation of the stable and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to improve some properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) by copolymerization with butyl acrylate (BA) monomer along with the incorporation of the stable and economical synthesized silicone-containing monomer hexamethyldisilazanomethacryloxyphenyl ketone (HDMK) into the copolymer matrix.
Design/methodology/approach
For this target solution copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), BA and HDMK were carried out using a 250 mL four-necked round-bottom flask. Before solution polymerization start-up, the reaction vessel was first charged with 34.8 mL toluene and heated to 170 °C with stirring and reflux cooling. A monomer mixture of 25.86 g (260 mmol) MMA, 26.40 g (200 mmol) BA, 3.00 g (8.60 mmol) HDMK and 0.45 g (2.00 mmol) dibenzoyl peroxide was added continuously from the dropping funnel over a period of 4 h.
Findings
The HDMK was successfully synthesized and the water resistance of acrylic resins was improved because of the existence of HDMK.
Research limitations/implications
The materials that were used in this research paper had a reasonably low cost. Also, the procedures for synthesis of monomers and polymers were extremely easy because there was no need for high pressure or temperature and no dangerous solvents were used.
Practical implications
The acrylic resin that contained HDMK was used to synthesis a white architectural paint for exterior coating. Examining the paint characteristics has shown acceptable washing and abrasion resistance, good brushing, excellent storage stability and great surface coating.
Originality/value
HDMK was synthesized for the first time.
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