Local Territories Research Articles

Habitat and density effects on the demography of an expanding wolf population in Central Europe

Demographic parameters are key to understanding population dynamics. Here, we analyse the survival and reproduction of the German wolf population in the 20 years following recolonization. Specifically, we analysed the effects of environmental, ecological and individual characteristics on 1) survival probability of the population; 2) annual survival rates of age classes; 3) reproduction probability; and 4) reproductive output, measured as the number of detected pups/juveniles. Using Cox proportional hazards model, we estimated a median survival time of circa three years for wolves. Annual survival probabilities were found to be 0.75 for juveniles, 0.75 for subadults and 0.88 for adults. Survival was lower for juveniles in winter and for subadult males in summer, probably associated with dispersal events. Low habitat suitability was clearly associated with lower survival in juveniles and subadults, but not in adults. Local territory density was related to increased survival. Reproduction probability within a territory was 0.88, but explanatory variables had no effect. Reproductive output was four pups/juveniles on average, positively related to habitat suitability and female experience, but negatively related to territory density. Survival values were very high for the species when compared to other regions. We hypothesize that carrying capacity has not been reached in the study area, thus the survival may decrease in the future if the landscape becomes saturated. Furthermore, our results highlight a spatial pattern in survival and reproduction, with area of better habitat suitability favouring faster population growth. Thus, targeting conservation measures to low habitat suitability areas will have a strong population effect on the short term by boosting survival and reproduction of the individuals, while long‐term viability should be carefully planned with high suitability areas in mind, as those contain the territories with higher survival and reproduction potential.

A Methodological Framework to Enhance Potential Spatial Planning to Support Agroecological Transition at the Scale of Local Territories

Agroecological transition requires research and actions at the scale of local territories, in which agricultural activities interact with the environment and natural resources depending on a territory’s spatial configuration. To support the agroecological transition, there is an urgent need to design and implement new spatial configurations. For this, local public authorities in France can be considered as an interesting level of governance, because of their skills in spatial planning and their interest in agriculture, to ensure the ecological transition of their territory. However, new methodological frameworks need to be developed to support the design of new spatial configurations of territories, by constructing representations of the territory that consider both agricultural and socio-environmental issues, and by involving agricultural and non-agricultural stakeholders so that both can project themselves into the new spatial configurations. We developed a new methodological framework at the interface between landscape agronomy and landscape architects’ approaches, and experimented with applying this framework in the Urban Community of Dunkirk (UCD), which was performing a spatial planning approach called a Landscape Plan and proposing to create an Agricultural Park. The results show that the implementation of the methodological framework enabled the construction of a spatially explicit and place-based representation including the spatial issues of farming systems. These representations enable a local authority’s stakeholders to enhance their knowledge of the agricultural issues and consider changes in the spatial configuration of the Agricultural Park. In the discussion, we question the adaptation of the framework in rural territory and highlight the limitations of local authorities as the level of governance at which to address the agroecological transition at the territorial scale.

A Cartographic Landscape Analysis of the Geo-Ecological Condition of the Natural Reserve Object—Lake Doshne (Volyn Polissya, Ukraine)

The cartographic landscape analysis of Lake Doshne employs geographic landscape methods, GIS cartographic modeling, and geo-ecological analysis. This study includes hydrochemical analysis of the lake’s water mass, focusing on saline blocks, tropho-saprobiological indicators, and specific toxic action indicators. Three geological sections of anthropogenic and pre-Quaternary complexes, along with a geological–lithological transverse profile of the lake basin, were developed. Additionally, a geographical landscape model of the lake’s natural aquatic complex was presented, distinguishing littoral–sublittoral and profundal aquatic sub-tracts and five types of aquafacies with landscape metric assessments. This approach enables a comprehensive analysis and the creation of cartographic models that can serve as a basis for lake cadastre and optimization of the ecological and landscape conditions in local territories.

The Creative Economy in Local Territories: Alibaba and Amazon in Territorial Competition, but Ideological Synergy to Bypass Democratic Governance

Alibaba and Amazon now dominate global e-commerce. Although their strategies partly differ, they are both territorializing their activities around sorting hubs and warehouses. This often creates tensions in local territories. In our research exploring the effects of these strategies, conducted in France and Belgium from 2019 to 2022, we hypothesized that the impacts of the digital industrialization of local and global trade go beyond sales and logistics; the concentration of these markets in the hands of two ultra-dominant actors reflects unequal power relations that are reconfiguring governance, public decision-making, and democracy, notably by obscuring the major challenges that territories face.

Институт наставничества в социокультурном пространстве Русского Севера и Русской Арктики: традиции и новации

At the XV Congress of Anthropologists and Ethnologists of Russia, held in St. Petersburg at the end of June 2023, special attention was paid to the discussion of topical theoretical and practical problems related to scientific reflections and social practices of the institute of mentoring in the cultures of the Rus-sian North. The report presented by the authors of this article at the Congress outlined the scientific results of research on the traditional institution of mentoring in the Old Believer societies of Karelians, Komi, Russian Ust-Tsilems, the “institute of grandmothers” in Kenozerye and Onega Pomorie, the ritual “mentoring” functions of Nenets shamans and Zyryan sorcerers, public practices of the spiritual guidance of the laity in the parochial community of the North Russian mir-zemstvo. The central place in the article is given to the presentation of the scientific results of the analysis of the forms, methods and directions of the mentoring activities of the Kenozerskiy National Park, which, relying on the ethno-cultural heritage of the traditional societies of the Ozernyy district, acts as a reference methodological school-laboratory, implementing a wide range of mentoring research and educational practices aimed at transformation of local territories into a socio-cultural space of creative dialogue and cooperation between the Park and local communities, training of leaders and activists of territorial public self-government (TPS), elaboration of regional strategy and local programs of spatial development of the Northern macro-region.

The production of extended local territory: Topology and the spatial politics of city-region making in China

A new trend has been emerging in China’s urban and regional politics, as it is becoming prevalent to extend one municipal authority to another, transcending boundaries, often through the establishment of joint development zones. These newly produced subnational territories are worth further attention to clarify the underlying political dynamics of China’s changing state space. This paper examines the Shenzhen–Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone in Guangdong and analyses the political–spatial processes through which a certain area of Shanwei has been transformed into the ‘Eastern frontier of Shenzhen’. Looking into the relational power nexus that has also been inflected by trans-scalar and cross-boundary dynamics, as well as its manifestations in urban landscapes, we propose extended local territory as a key analytical concept to explore how and how far the rise of extensive territoriality has been articulated with intensive localities. Empirically, we elaborate on the ways in which the territorial ambition and authority of Shenzhen have been managing to traverse boundaries, while also recognising that Shenzhen’s aspiration of materialising its extensive territoriality is challenged by both scalar constraints and the grassroots politics rooted in local history and geography. Addressing the dialectics between the extensive territoriality and intensive locality, we attend to the inter-topological effects and trace the patterns of correlation that are involved in this process, which also turns out to be a critical approach to better understanding changing state spaces in and beyond China.

Applied Machine Learning to Study the Movement of Air Masses in the Wind Farm Area

Modeling the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) in the area of a wind farm using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods allows us to study the characteristics of air movement, the shading effect, the influence of relief, etc., and can be actively used in studies of local territories where powerful wind farms are planned to be located. The operating modes of a wind farm largely depend on meteorological phenomena, the intensity and duration of which cause suboptimal operating modes of wind farms, which require the use of modern tools for forecasting and classifying precipitation. The methods and approaches used to predict meteorological phenomena are well known. However, for designed and operated wind farms, the influence of meteorological phenomena on the operating modes, such as freezing rain and hail, remains an urgent problem. This study presents a multi-layered neural network for the classification of precipitation zones, designed to identify adverse meteorological phenomena for wind farms according to weather stations. The neural network receives ten inputs and has direct signal propagation between six hidden layers. During the training of the neural network, an overall accuracy of 81.78%, macro-average memorization of 81.07%, and macro-average memorization of 75.05% were achieved. The neural network is part of an analytical module for making decisions on the application of control actions (control of the boundary layer of the atmosphere by injection of silver iodide, ionization, etc.) and the formation of the initial conditions for CFD modeling. Using the example of the Ulyanovsk wind farm, a study on the movement of air masses in the area of the wind farm was conducted using the initial conditions of the neural network. Digital models of wind turbines and terrain were created in the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ software package, version 2022.1; an approach based on a LES model using an actuating drive disk model (ADM) was implemented for modeling, allowing calculation with an error not exceeding 5%. According to the results of the modeling of the current layout of the wind turbines of the Ulyanovsk wind farm, a significant overlap of the turbulent wake of the wind turbines and an increase in the speed deficit in the area of the wind farm were noted, which significantly reduced its efficiency. A shortage of speed in the near and far tracks was determined for special cases of group placement of wind turbines.

Infrastructure projects as a driver of economic development of the regional system

Relevance. Infrastructure projects play a significant role in the economic development of the region, allowing to increase its potential, provide support for the regional ecosystem, reduce the negative impact on the environment, and create conditions for sustainable growth of the local territory.At the same time, despite the increased interest in conducting scientific research in the infrastructure sector and its opportunities to effectively influence the economy, there is a lack of development of adaptive tools and effective methods of infrastructure design in the region in the existing works of scientists, which confirms the relevance of the research.The purpose it consists in identifying the theoretical, methodological and practical features of infrastructure design in the regional system as a driver of its economic development.The objectives: to determine the role and importance of infrastructure projects in the development of the regional system; to identify criteria reflecting the specifics of infrastructure projects; to structure approaches and methods of project management; to assess the state of development of the regional infrastructure sector on the example of the Orel region.Methodology. The work uses methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization and logic based on problem-oriented, system-structural and design approaches.Results. The study found that infrastructure projects act as a unique tool for integrated development and the basis for the functioning of the localized territory of the subject of the Russian Federation, and are designed to create conditions for ensuring the effective functioning of the population and harmonious business growth.Conclusions. The role and importance of infrastructure projects in the regional system is great and multifaceted, allowing it to act as a kind of locomotive and engine of its development and creating a multiplier effect for regional sectors of the economy.The directions of subsequent research are related to the creation of an organizational and managerial model for the infrastructural development of the regional system, the development and promotion of infrastructure projects based on it in the region in the context of spatial economics.

Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment—Case Study: Tirana–Ishmi Aquifer, Albania

This paper discusses the groundwater vulnerability to pollution assessment for the Tirana–Ishmi alluvium aquifer, Albania. Economic activities, municipal wastewater discharged into rivers and groundwater overexploitation threaten to pollute the groundwater. Based on the aquifer characteristics and the available data, SINTACS was selected as the most realistic assessment model. The SINTACS parameters’ rates assigned to the aquifer’s characteristics (water table depth, infiltration, unsaturated zone, soil media, aquifer media, hydraulic conductivity, topography) were adapted to the local features, followed by GIS vulnerability mapping. Statistical analysis indicates that the unsaturated zone, hydraulic conductivity and aquifer media have the highest influence on groundwater vulnerability, whereas topography has the lowest influence. Validation through sensitivity analysis and nitrates content confirms the rational selection of the SINTACS model and the reliability of the study’s outputs. The most vulnerable areas to pollution are the recharge zones, followed by the highly urbanized Tirana City area, characterized by high levels of groundwater extraction rate and wastewater discharged into the rivers. The paper, being the first completed groundwater vulnerability assessment of the study area, could serve as a basis for a scientific–based groundwater management that should be considered in local territory planning.

Scaling up a circular business model for remanufacturing: A case study of a sustainable value creation strategy for the white goods industry

AbstractBecause of the ever‐increasing pressure on producers to adopt environmentally responsible industrial practices, remanufacturing has emerged as a key strategy to address the challenges of resource conservation and waste reduction. In this paper, we address a conspicuous research gap regarding innovative and large‐scale circular solutions in the form of remanufacturing systems. We investigate how the private sector can build widespread remanufacturing networks to handle waste from the appliance industry. Starting from a successful case study of a leading Italian distributor of spare parts, our analysis expands their existing business model and inductively develops an original framework for regional remanufacturing. Our resulting model encompasses a centralised hub specialised in high‐tech data management and supply‐chain logistics, coupled with two tiers of remanufacturing labs and repairers, diffusing triple‐bottom‐line benefits throughout the local territory. We discuss the generalisability of such a centralised/decentralised model and propose avenues for the policy support of systemic circular innovations.

Barriers to strategic direction in community-based social organizations

The objective of this study was to analyze possibilities for strategic direction according to the ways in which management processes are arranged in community social organizations which are anchored in local territories. The qualitative processes of data collection and analysis were developed with a phenomenological design through in-depth interviews, considering that reality is understood from the interactions and meanings that social leaders give to the management of community organizations. The findings were constructed inductively from the texts of the interviews to configure three categories: a) The administrative processes of community social organizations; b) Identity with the corporate platform of these organizations and c) Internal and external analysis of their dynamics. It was found that, although these organizations formally have a legal constitution that defines their purpose and government and documentation is available on administrative processes such as planning, their management practices are empirical and based on traditional experience. It was found that deficiencies in the commitment to the corporate platform, situational analysis and business conception are factors that become barriers for social managers to advance with strategic direction, seeking resources and increasing the scope of programs and projects.

Governance of Cross-border Regions & SEZs: The case of Gwadar under CPEC

Purpose: Examining the transformative impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), this research investigates how CPEC fosters cross-border cooperation and regional development. The research focuses on transnational institution building and the creation of multi-scalar geographies involving diverse public and private agencies, reshaping regional, sub-regional, and local territories. Design/Methodology/Approach: Employing a case study approach, the research focuses on Gwadar, the pivotal node of CPEC where the economic belt meets the maritime silk road. It integrates a literature review, analysis of official documents, and empirical data, supplemented by insights from independent researchers and international organizations such as the World Bank and IMF. Findings: The designation of Gwadar as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a globally competitive deep-sea port has introduced significant economic opportunities. However, multi-scalar interactions have led to tensions between central and local authorities, reflecting conflicts between the Centre-led macroeconomic agenda and its socio-economic sustainability at the local level. Implications/Originality/Value: The research emphasizes the need to rescale political, economic, and social structures to establish sustainable institutions in cross-border regions. It provides policy recommendations for Gwadar's development, drawing lessons from global best practices such as Dubai, Shenzhen, and King Abdullah Economic City.

Exploring Multiple Benefits of Urban and Energy Regeneration Projects: A Stakeholder-Centred Methodological Approach

An effective way to promote energy transition while tackling climate change involves redefining cities from being part of the problem to integral parts of the solution. Positive energy districts and climate positive circular communities are excellent examples of how this is feasible. But how do we understand which are the multiple benefits that these projects can bring to the local territory and relative community? This article aims to answer this question by developing a specific engagement and evaluation methodology. Our approach involves consulting with project partners to explore the multiple benefits of each case study. Subsequently, it plans to engage the stakeholders through the submission of a questionnaire to gather information regarding the relative importance of different benefits as perceived by each stakeholder. The questionnaire is based on the best–worst scaling method, which is a survey technique for determining people’s priorities. The preliminary findings of the study conducted on project partners of two European projects, ARV and ProLight, indicate a strong alignment with current European policy priorities. The involvement of other stakeholders in the study will serve to assess whether bottom-up priorities coincide with broader perspectives or whether adaptations to project strategies and dissemination approaches are needed.

Scientific foundations of the infrastructure system research of rural areas

The article systematizes the scientific principles of research into the infrastructure system of rural areas. The purpose of the article is to generalize the theoretical foundations of the infrastructure systems study of rural areas based on the provisions of systemic, evolutionary, structural-functional, spatial approaches, principles study of sustainable development, strategic management and substantiation of the methodological foundations for studying the specifics of the rural areas infrastructure. The most common approaches to the definition of the concept of «infrastructure» are identified: service, in which infrastructure is considered as the basis of public service, production activity, etc.; reproductive - infrastructure is the basis for reproduction of goods, services, life activities, etc.; complex - infrastructure as a complex of objects; systemic - infrastructure as a system, a set of objects interconnected with each other and the external environment; spatial - infrastructure as the forming basis of the region, local territory. It has been established that in modern research, infrastructure is considered as a system-wide concept, an approach to its understanding is being formed as a separate integral system, as well as a subsystem of the second order, in particular, spatial, socio-economic. Itis argued that the spatial approach to the understanding of infrastructure has become the most widespread in the research of the infrastructure of rural areas. It is substantiated that spatial studies of infrastructure involve considering it not only as a service system, but also as a means of development, a communication connecting platform for territories, the full functioning of which determines the systemic effects of branch and regional components of spatial formations, socio-economic systems. The theoretical aspects of the regional infrastructure concept which are based on an interdisciplinary approach, based on a combination of key provisions of the regional and spatial economics theory, systems theory, evolutionary economics, and infrastructure theory, have been supplemented. The definition of the «infrastructural system of arural area» concept is proposed as a dynamic complementary structure that forms and transforms the spatial basis of socio-economic activity at the area rural level, ensures the development of interconnected, interacting systems, elements, objects of various territories hierarchical levels based on mutual complementarity. Key words: infrastructure, infrastructure system, rural areas, spatial economy, evolutionary economy, system approach, infrastructure theories.

Localization of innovative technologies of industrial production as a tool for intensification of import substitution policy

The main criterion for the successful implementation of import substitution policy is the location of domestic production on the domestic territory of the state, in order to reduce the negative economic consequences of the industrial policies of unfriendly countries, with the orientation of domestic industrial enterprises towards their own intensification of production, including the production of analogous products to imported ones, for subsequent replacement of imported technologies with domestic ones and supply of domestic products to the domestic market – production and sale of own products. Localization of production is the placement of manufacturing or component industrial production facilities on its own, separate, local territory, in order to reduce the cost of products and bring them closer to assembly sites or sales markets. The term «localization of production», in the scientific literature, is represented by a special case of territorial organization (localized enterprises in separate territories) of production processes for the creation of material wealth, which has a number of features: in the organization of production, a company with a higher level of technological development forms the “conditions of the game”, organizing the distribution of production of certain products among all participants; localization is often carried out on the territory of another state, which has a lower level of development of technology and technology and a higher demand for final products in the markets of this state; An additional benefit of localization is the optimization of process logistics, bringing it closer to consumers. The goal of localization is to reduce production, transaction and logistics costs and increase the level of investment. The article presents the author's position on the development of intensification of the processes of industrial import substitution, in modern conditions, the main idea of which is the creation of localized production, a full technological cycle in the activities of Russian industrial enterprises, representing: at the initial stage, a full line of production of components and import substitution of missing parts, to meet demand in the domestic market, and in the future, the development of processes of substitution of imported technologies, the formation and use of advanced development technologies, increasing export potential and strengthening their presence of Russian industry in world markets. The work explores the essence of localization of production, which is determined by the production of parts and components manufactured in Russia, at national production facilities, using its own technologies, in order to increase the intensity of import substitution processes.

The geoecological analysis of Lake Tuchne (Volyn Polissia) and assessment of sapropel reserves in it


 
 
 The administrative-territorial reform in Ukraine, which began in 2015, opened up prospects for newly created territorial communities to determine the resource potential of local territories under control and develop strategies for balanced nature use and their progressive development. The lakes, which have a significant potential for sapropel resources, take an important place in the Polissia region of Ukraine. Given the above, there is a need for a comprehensive study of specific lakes and justification of recommendations for the rational use and protection of their water and sapropel resources. The object of our research is Lake Tuchne, Volyn Polissia. The catchment area of Lake Tuchne is 10.05 km2, and the reservoir itself is 0.39 km2. A bathymetric model of the lake was built with a depth interval of 0.5 m. The vegetation index (NDVI) for the reservoir over the past five years has been varying from -0.53 (12/02/2021) to +0.48 (07/15/2021). The research presents a stratigraphic section of the reservoir sediments. The area of accumulated sapropel is 20.5 hectares, the average thickness is 4.46 m, and the maximum is 10.0 m. The ash content of sapropel varies within 17.5-37.5% (on dry substance). The content of Fe2O3 in the core ranges from 2.53% to 7.26%. The distribution of CaO compounds in the samples ranges from 2.09 to 8.12%. The CO2 content varies from 1.97 to 9.72%. The concentration of Р2О5 in sapropel samples is 0.19-0.53%. The distribution of S in sapropel deposits ranges from 0.23 to 1.09%. The pH (salt extract) distribution in the core samples varies from moderately alkaline (7.63) to close to neutral – 5.97. A digital landscape map of the lake was constructed with the selection of the littoral and sublittoral-profundal aqua sub-areas and five types of aquafacies. A landscape-metric analysis of the natural and aquatic complex of the lake was carried out. The potential of water resources of Tuchne lake is 827.0 thousand m3. Sapropel reserves of category A are 914,000 m3, and based on a conditional 60.0% humidity, they are 155,000 tons. The species composition of sapropel is represented by zoogenic, organo-ferrous, and organo-limestone species. The total stock of sapropel in the lake basin is 52.5% of its volume. The reservoir is promising for extracting sapropel due to its quality characteristics and hydro-technical prerequisites for operation. Mined sapropel can be used in agriculture, medicine, recreation, etc. Implementing this task will improve the geoecological state of the lake and the quality of its water resources.
 
 

Alter_azioni: Designing Between Biological and Artifactual. Scenarios for a Short-Term Future

The contribution describes the activities of a teaching and research experience, named Alter_Azioni. It consists of three main parts. Firstly, it introduces the lagoon context as the reference framework used to experiment with a design local based to address the problems of the local territory and the environment. The paper moves on to discuss the design approach proposed to the students, contextualizing research and experiences based on the needs of the region and its inhabitants, through the exploration of a possible balance between the biological approach and the artifactual one. Furthermore, it summarizes some references about these issues, in order to gain a deeper insight into the chances or the pitfalls of this project. The second part provides an overview of the possible design range of concerns scenarios for a short-term future, focusing on the design projects developed and mapping them following three paths. Finally, in the third part, a look back points out what has been experienced as possible alternative scenarios.

Renewable Energy from Wind Farm Power Plants in Peru: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Peru is one of the most diverse countries in the world, and its climatic characteristics, biodiversity, cultural heritage, and location on the planet give it a vast potential for wind energy, both on its coast and within the 200 miles which comprise the Peruvian coastline on the Pacific Ocean. Likewise, the northern and central areas of the country represent the regions with the greatest potential for wind energy use. In this context, wind energy is a viable alternative to mitigate the effects of climate change in local territories and, thus, meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the 2030 United Nations (UN) Agenda. This article presents the potential for generating wind-type electrical energy both on-shore with 20.5 GW and off-shore with 347 GW. In addition, the main advantages, benefits, and restrictions in the implementation of this type of energy plants in Peru are presented, considering the following: (i) the mitigation of climate change considering the insertion of renewable energies in the energy matrix; (ii) the potential of the available wind resource; (iii) the characterization of seven existing wind power plants, considering a total installed capacity of 668 MW; and (iv) the implementation of future wind power plants considering a portfolio of 31 projects for 7429 MW of total installed capacity projected. Finally, recent advances, challenges linked to territorial implementation, and future perspectives in developing the renewable energy sector from wind resources to address climate change are discussed.

The University and the Neighbourhood—Opportunities and Limits in Promoting Social Innovation: The Case of AuroraLAB in Turin (Italy)

This paper deals with the relationship between university public engagement activities and local territories in promoting social innovation processes. In particular, this paper starts from the assumption that since social innovation has become a guiding concept of policies at various scales, opportunities for innovation, i.e., calls for tenders, funding, etc., have multiplied. However, universities should act as intermediary actors so that the bureaucratic and managerial complexities of accessing these opportunities do not risk cutting off the territories and/or the weakest actors. Starting from the experience of the AuroraLAB action–research laboratory of the Politecnico di Torino within the Tonite project financed with European Urban Innovative Actions funds, this article investigates the multiple roles that the university can play in supporting platform spaces for inclusive social innovation based on local needs. This article concludes by highlighting the multi-layered personality of the university in neighbourhoods and the perspectives for socially engaged research.

Martín-Barbero’s style

In Latin America, Jesús Martín-Barbero is a pop star and a beloved scholar with thousands of followers captured by his original way of thinking, imagining, and researching the relations between communication, culture, and politics. This essay explains five characteristics of Martín-Barbero’s style: (i) his reflections about expressions of popular and mass culture such as music, telenovelas, fairs, and celebrations; (ii) his gaze at and from local territories, identities; (iii) his innovative way of thinking from the Global South while in conversation with Western philosophy; (iv) his proposal for a theory of mediations as a way to understand cultural interactions and the production of social meaning; and (v) an intellectual passion that led him to engage daringly in political issues in society. As one of his students and colleagues, the essay ends with my own notions of what a communication researcher should do/be.