Ecological Society of America launches new Open Access journal: Earth Stewardship

Ecological Society of America

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsApp

Email

 

image: 

The new Open Access journal Earth Stewardship publishes interdisciplinary scholarship addressing the major socio-environmental challenges of our time.

view more 

Credit: Ecological Society of America/Tone Bjordam

January 30, 2025
For Immediate Release

The Ecological Society of America (ESA) is proud to announce the launch of its newest journal, Earth Stewardship. This Open Access publication is dedicated to fostering a broad, intercultural and participatory foundation for Earth stewardship, integrating applied and theoretical research to address the complex socio-environmental challenges of the Anthropocene.

“Earth Stewardship represents a bold step forward for the scientific community,” says ESA Executive Director Catherine O’Riordan. “By bridging diverse knowledge systems — from natural and social sciences to Indigenous and practitioner perspectives — this journal embodies ESA’s commitment to promoting meaningful collaboration and actionable scholarship. We are proud to launch a journal that exemplifies our values and amplifies voices from all corners of the globe.”

The launch of Earth Stewardship builds on ESA’s longstanding leadership in sustainability and conservation initiatives. Rooted in efforts from the 1960s and 1970s, and strengthened by collaborations in the 2010s, the journal provides a transdisciplinary platform for addressing global challenges at multiple scales. It highlights innovative research, biocultural conservation approaches and community-based initiatives, cultivating partnerships across academia, policy-making, Indigenous communities and the arts.

Elisabeth Huber-Sannwald, Earth Stewardship’s first Editor-in-Chief, emphasizes the journal’s unique role: “This new journal’s mission is to promote action-oriented research from a theoretical, conceptual and empirical perspective, while co-generating solution-oriented, socially robust and policy-relevant knowledge. Earth Stewardship invites contributions that inform integrative pathways of sustainable development and transformation aimed at creating an environmentally, socially and ethically just Planet Earth.”

A singular feature of Earth Stewardship is its commitment to multiple forms of expression. The journal requests that authors provide one to three translations of their article abstracts in languages relevant to the research or the region where the study was conducted. In addition to traditional academic articles, the journal also accepts submissions of art and poetry, embracing creative formats to communicate the interconnectedness of humanity and nature.

In that vein, to celebrate the journal’s inauguration, a special virtual collection compiles articles and other content highlighting the “heart model of social change,” a concept beautifully illustrated on the journals’ cover. Key contributions to the virtual collection include an interview with the cover art’s creator, Norwegian visual artist Tone Bjordam, and a perspective article proposing a transformative “heart model” of Earth stewardship that emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and academic culture change.

Earth Stewardship invites submissions from a diverse range of fields, including natural and social sciences, humanities, arts, conservation and Indigenous knowledge. The journal’s open access format ensures that its groundbreaking content is accessible to all.

By promoting action-oriented, inclusive research, Earth Stewardship seeks to inspire both individual and collective efforts to reshape our relationship with the environment and, ultimately, transform our planet. As Editor-in-Chief Huber-Sannwald explains, “this journal will serve as a global voice for diverse research and perspectives, linking and transforming our understanding of how we think and act.”

---

Journal contents, as of January 2025:

Editorial
By Elisabeth Huber-Sannwald (journal Editor-in-Chief)

OASIS: On art–science in symbiosis
By Tone Bjordam & Marten Scheffer

A heart model of Earth Stewardship
By Marten Scheffer, John M. Anderies, Tone Bjordam, Johan Bollen, Stephen R. Carpenter, F. Stuart Chapin III, Carl Folke, Francisco Gazitua, Milena Holmgren, Jorge Marcone, Steve Polasky, Elke Weber & Frances Westley

Field notes from a sandbox: Learning wild patience with wild bees
By Eve Bratman

Monitoring of black oak (xánthiip) to center indigenous ecocultural revitalization
By Jessie Thoreson, Kathy McCovey, Colleen Rossier, Frank K. Lake, Reem Hajjar, Chook-Chook Hillman, Arielle Halpern, Bill Tripp & Meg Krawchuk

Ethical principles for ecology and environmental ethics: What ecology can learn about applied ethics from biomedical ethics
By Elizabeth Spike & Jeffrey P. Spike

Transformative Earth stewardship: Principles for shaping a sustainable future for nature and society
By F. Stuart Chapin III

 

###

 

The Ecological Society of America, founded in 1915, is the world’s largest community of professional ecologists and a trusted source of ecological knowledge, committed to advancing the understanding of life on Earth. The 8,000 member Society publishes six journals and a membership bulletin and broadly shares ecological information through policy, media outreach and education initiatives. The Society’s Annual Meeting attracts 4,000 attendees and features the most recent advances in ecological science. Visit the ESA website at https://www.esa.org

Follow ESA on social media:
Twitter/X – @esa_org
Bluesky – @ecologicalsociety.bsky.social
Instagram – @ecologicalsociety
Facebook – @esa.org

---

Journal

Earth Stewardship

CRIMINAL CAPITALI$M

Study reveals high rate of underage tobacco sales 

Nearly half of underage purchase attempts at tobacco retailers in New Jersey resulted in a sale 

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – January 30, 2025 – A recent study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Rutgers University shows a high rate of underage tobacco sales despite federal legislation that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.  

The study, published today in JAMA Network Open, was conducted at stores across New Jersey from August 2019 to September 2022. In 2017, New Jersey became one of the first states to pass legislation raising the minimum age for purchasing commercial tobacco products from 18 to 21. 

“We randomly sampled tobacco retailers in both high- and low-population density municipalities within a 25-mile radius of New Brunswick,” said Amanda Kong, Ph.D., assistant professor of social sciences and health policy at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and corresponding author. “We found that businesses sold to underage purchasers 49.5% of the time.” 

Buyers between the ages of 18 and 20 made 2,663 attempts at 70 different retailers to buy items such as cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. The researchers noted whether an ID was checked during each purchase attempt and whether electronic ID scanning was used. 

Only about 60% of purchase attempts involved an ID check, and about 15% of underage sales were still completed even after an ID check. Electronic ID scanning was implemented in 22.3% of purchase attempts, which resulted in a much lower rate of underage sales (3.2%). 

“Raising New Jersey’s tobacco age of sale to 21 was a significant milestone, but the results of our study suggest that effective implementation of the law continues to be challenging,” said Mary Hrywna, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor at the Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies and Rutgers School of Public Health. 

Kong said drug stores had the highest odds of checking IDs, while non-chain convenience stores had the lowest odds compared to chain convenience stores. Purchase attempts for nicotine pouches were less likely to result in an ID check compared to cigarettes. 

“Despite both state and federal legislation that makes it illegal to sell commercial tobacco products to people who are under the age of 21, a large percentage of underage purchase attempts are still resulting in underage sales,” Kong said. 

Future research will focus on factors that contribute to underage sales. 

“We hope to be able to identify modifiable factors that can help inform regulatory efforts, retailer education programs and overall compliance and enforcement to reduce and prevent tobacco use consistently among youth and young adults,” Kong said. 

This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute grant R01CA231139. 

 

---

Journal

JAMA Network Open

DOI

10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57319 

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Identification Checks and Underage Sales of Tobacco Products in New Jersey, 2019-2022

Article Publication Date

30-Jan-2025

In New Jersey, tobacco sales to underage buyers continue despite federal legislation

Rutgers researchers find nearly half of purchase attempts by people under 21 at tobacco retailers in the state resulted in a sale

Rutgers University

LinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

Tobacco sales to underage consumers remains high despite federal legislation prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21, according to researchers at Rutgers Health and Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, was conducted at stores throughout New Jersey from August 2019 to September 2022. Researchers randomly sampled licensed tobacco retailers in both high- and low-population density municipalities within a 25-mile radius of New Brunswick, N.J., and found that businesses sold to underage purchasers 49.5% of the time.

Buyers between the ages of 18 and 20 made 2,663 attempts at 70 different retailers to buy items such as cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches. Under New Jersey law, it is illegal for retailers to sell to persons under the age of 21 and under federal law, retailers must check the ID of anyone under the age of 30. The researchers noted whether an ID was checked during each purchase attempt and whether electronic identification scanning was used. Although not required by New Jersey or federal law, some retailers use electronic ID scanning, meaning they have scanning technology to verify age using automated software.

“We found that compliance with the law varied by store type and product type, meaning that ID checks or scans are not being done consistently across different stores and tobacco products,” said Mary Hrywna, principal investigator of the National Cancer Institute grant that funded this research and an associate professor at the Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies and the Rutgers School of Public Health.

About 60% of purchase attempts involved an ID check, and 15.3% of underage sales were still completed even after an ID check. Electronic ID scanning was implemented in 22.3% of purchase attempts, which resulted in a much lower rate of underage sales (3.2%).

In 2017, New Jersey became one of the first states to pass legislation raising the minimum age for purchasing commercial tobacco products from 19 to 21; in 2019, 21 became the minimum age nationwide. 

“Raising New Jersey’s tobacco age of sale to 21 was a significant milestone, but the results of our study suggest that effective implementation of the law continues to be challenging,” Hrywna said.

Drug stores had the highest odds of checking IDs, while nonchain convenience stores had the lowest odds compared with chain convenience stores. Purchase attempts for nicotine pouches were less likely to result in an ID check compared to cigarettes.

Future research will focus on factors that contribute to underage sales.

“We hope to be able to identify modifiable factors that can help inform regulatory efforts, retailer education programs and overall compliance and enforcement to reduce and prevent tobacco use consistently among youth and young adults,” said Amanda Kong, assistant professor of social sciences and health policy at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, based in North Carolina, and an author of the study.

---

Journal

JAMA Network Open

DOI

10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57319 

Article Title

Identification Checks and Underage Sales of Tobacco Products in New Jersey, 2019-2022

Article Publication Date

30-Jan-2025

 

Mortality trends among adults ages 25-44 in the US

JAMA Network Open

Facebook

WeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

About The Study: 

This cross-sectional study found that compared with trends from the early 2000s, early adult (ages 25-44) mortality in the U.S. has risen substantially in 2 stages: 2011 to 2019 and 2020 to 2023. Although mortality rates decreased after the core pandemic years, excess mortality remained higher than expected based on pre-pandemic levels. The largest portion of 2023 excess mortality was driven by drug poisoning, but many other external and natural causes exceeded what prior trends would have projected.

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, PhD, email ewf@umn.edu.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57538)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

#  #  #

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article This link will be live at the embargo time

 http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57538?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=013125

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication. 

---

Journal

JAMA Network Open

 

Sound is a primary issue in the lives of skateboarders, study shows

University of Exeter

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

Sound plays a significant and often poignant part of skateboarders’ relationship with their sport, a new study shows.

Skateboarders develop the skill to tune into the noise of urban surfaces. They both hear and feel noise and this means images and videos alone are a poor insight into the sport. They use sound to verify the success of their manoeuvres, judge the veracity and capacity of surfaces for use and as a social cue. For some the sensory overload of skateboarding is therapeutic and it helps them connect with others skating nearby.

But the research also shows there is a “skatesound paradox” – skateboarders are aware of the negative impacts of the sound they make on some people nearby and alter their behaviour in some circumstances to counteract this.

Skateboarders who took part in the research described the sound of the sport as both unpleasant and lovely. For some it was a critical part of the experience, and a therapeutic sensory aid to those who identified as neurodiverse.

The findings demonstrate how the visually spectacular sport has a rich sensory world not accessible by just watching the sport. Skateboarders actually hear and feel what they are doing, and through skatesound can understand and appreciate what others are doing.

Dr Paul O’Connor, from the University of Exeter, interviewed 18 adult skateboarders aged between 19 and 51. Participants had an average of 12 years skateboarding experience. The most novice skateboarder aged 22 had only three years of experience, in contrast to a 44-year-old participant who has been skateboarding for 36 years. Seven of the participants were from the UK, three from the USA, three from France, two from Canada, and one from Sweden and Germany.

The research also identifies how skatesound was an inclusive experience for some who may feel marginalised or uninspired by more rigid and institutionalised sports. Three of the participants wore hearing aids, however only one used hearing aids while skateboarding. Four participants also reported some diagnosis that placed them on a sensory spectrum related to either autism or ADHD, or a combination of the two.

Dr O’Connor said: “Skateboarders spoke of their love for the sound of skateboarding yet also described it as noisy and abrasive. Many of the respondents described the challenging sound of skateboarding in evocative sensory terms, such as ‘clattering’ ‘the sound of drills and angle grinders’, ‘an irritant’, the sound of ‘beer bottle on beer bottle’, of ‘bone on concrete’, ‘rolling, rough, smooth tickling in my ear’, and ‘rough and in your face. Loud in the best way’.

“This meant they sometimes chose not to skate near homes, or noisy tunnels, or felt overwhelmed by the claustrophobic monotonous soundscape of skateparks.

“Skateboarders know that their sound is unpleasant. But they also recognise its importance. Next time you are frustrated by the noise of skateboarders practicing their skills in the local neighbourhood, remind yourself that they know they are noisy. You might also remind yourself that they are likely in the throes of deep sensory learning, a meditative calming of the modern malady of the wandering mind, and above all bonding with friends.”

One very accomplished skateboarder, Alfie said tuning into the rhythm and flow of skatesound had enabled him to become a more empathetic person. He spoke of how his sensory engagement with skateboarding had helped him deal with anxiety, find pleasure, and become more self-aware of his neurodiversity.

Roughly half of the participants were against skateboarding while listening to music through headphones while skateboarding because it was anti-social and because the sport is a communal activity. Gavin felt so strongly about this that he would approach people wearing headphones while skateboarding and ask them to remove their headphones and come join in the session with him and his friends, to engage socially. Eddy said he couldn’t imagine skateboarding with ear buds in because of the danger.

Dr O’Connor said: “Those who did chose to listen to headphones had manifold reasons for doing so. Some, like 22-year-old Andy, simply wanted music to accentuate his focus and stoke, while Fiona used headphones as a social barrier when she was the only female skateboarder on the session and wanted to enhance her confidence. In contrast Steph used headphones to battle the sensory overload of skatesound that was particularly prevalent in indoor skateparks.”

The research, carried out with colleagues Professor Brian Glenney and Dr Max Boutin, also used elements of the Boutin’s texturologies art installation. This interactive art allows people to experience the sensory world of skateboarding through video, sound, and haptic platforms. The experience highlights how the skateboard is not merely a toy or sports object but can also be an ear beneath the feet.

 

---

Journal

Sport in Society

DOI

10.1080/17430437.2024.2446115 

Article Title

The skater’s ear: a sensuous complexity of skateboarding sound

 

Experts publish framework for global adoption of digital health in medical education

King's College London

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

A group of 211 international experts from 79 countries has today published a new framework to facilitate the design, development and implementation of digital health curricula in medical education worldwide.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the Digital Health Competencies in Medical Education (DECODE) framework is designed to help medical institutions better equip future physicians for the ongoing digital transformation in healthcare.

The framework is already beginning to be adopted across the globe, including in the UK where it has influenced a new Medical Schools Council report containing recommended data science learning outcomes for medical graduates.

The international steering group that oversaw the development of the framework included subject matter experts in medical education and digital health research from King’s College London, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), Imperial College London, and Harvard University.

“The DECODE framework represents a significant step forward in preparing future physicians for the digital transformation of healthcare. By providing a globally adaptable set of competencies, we aim to ensure that medical graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to navigate and leverage digital health technologies effectively,” says Professor Josip Car, Professor of Population and Digital Health Sciences at King’s and co-lead author of the framework.

“This international consensus effort highlights the urgent need to integrate digital health education into medical curricula worldwide. The DECODE framework not only addresses this gap but also provides a flexible roadmap for institutions to tailor digital health training to their unique contexts and resources.”

Digital health is the use of digital information and technologies to improve health outcomes. From mobile health apps and wearable devices to electronic health records and artificial intelligence, digital tools are driving a transformation in healthcare. But research suggests that many medical students and physicians don’t feel adequately prepared for using new healthcare technologies in practice.

“It is important for medical education to keep pace with the rapid digitalisation in healthcare. To do so, targeted training and education in digital health is needed to ensure that future doctors can use these technologies efficiently and safely in care delivery,” says Dr Qi Chwen Ong, research assistant at NTU Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and co-lead author of the framework.

“This framework provides comprehensive coverage of widely adopted and emerging digital health technologies. It also addresses critical areas such as ethical and regulatory considerations, as well as broader population health aspects, including the digital determinants of health.”

After generating and refining an initial list of competencies and learning outcomes for the framework, the steering committee engaged with over 200 subject matter experts from 79 countries and territories, spanning all World Health Organization (WHO) regions and World Bank income groups. Through several rounds of feedback, experts reached consensus on the relevant and essential learning outcomes, which shaped the framework.

The final DECODE framework is made up of four domains – Professionalism in Digital Health, Patient and Population Digital Health, Health Information Systems, and Health Data Science – with each domain encompassing a set of competencies and mandatory and discretionary learning outcomes.

“Future doctors must be equipped with the competencies that allow them to respond best to the demands of a digital transformation in healthcare, and to ensure positive patient outcomes. Achieving a consensus on the core competencies, and building a digital health competencies framework, will enable medical schools to deliver the digital health curriculum through their own existing approaches and resources. We are delighted to have co-led such a positive collaboration with colleagues internationally, and to see this effort come to such constructive conclusion,” says Professor Amir H. Sam, Head of Imperial College School of Medicine, and co-author of the framework.

“Digital health permeates every aspect of the care continuum. It is the critical ingredient for AI-enabled transformation of health systems to generate better value for individuals and societies. These benefits will be realized with rapid introduction of digital health education into medical curricula to train current and future doctors and health professionals,” says Professor Rifat Atun, Professor of Global Health Systems at Harvard University and co-author of the framework.

ENDS

---

Journal

JAMA Network Open