Doctoral Dissertation Research: Geographical Perspectives on Innovation in Pollution Prevention

污染预防现在被广泛认为是工业和环境可持续发展的必要条件。然而，对于技术变革如何促进污染预防以及信息和技术如何从污染预防的领导者转移到其他公司，人们知之甚少。本研究将集中调查地点和区域背景对创新和技术变革过程的重要性，以寻找改善制造业对环境影响的技术和工作实践。该项目将确定区域网络的各个方面，如深度劳动力池、适当的基础设施和多样化的经济活动组合，如何以及在多大程度上提高企业和工业的污染防治绩效，而不是我们在没有这种集群的情况下所期望的那样。对化工企业的邮寄问卷调查将用于检验企业选址、市场力量、环境法规和企业间合作水平等独立变量如何影响企业的创新战略和污染预防方面的成功。本研究汇集了两个重要的地理学研究流派：创新地理学和工业化对环境的影响。这项研究应该对制造业内防止污染做法的发展和传播产生新的见解。作为博士论文研究进步奖，该项目也将提供支持，使有前途的学生建立强大的独立研究生涯。＊＊＊

9406571 ANGEL Pollution prevention is now widely regarded as necessary for industrial and environmental sustainability. However, little is known about how technological change is facilitated for pollution prevention and how information and technology may be transferred from the leaders of pollution prevention to other firms. This study will focus on an investigation of the significance of location and regional context for processes of innovation and technological change in the search for technologies and work practices that ameliorate the environmental impact of manufacturing industries. The project will determine how and to what extent various aspects of regional networks such as deep pools of labor, appropriate infrastructure, and a diverse mix of economic activities enhances the pollution prevention performance of establishments and industries beyond what we would expect to find in the absence of such clustering. A mailed questionnaire survey of chemical establishments will be used to examine how independent variables such as establishment location, market forces, environmental regulation, and the level of inter- establishment cooperation affect an establishment's innovation strategy and success at pollution prevention. This research brings together two important streams of geographic research: the geography of innovation and the environmental effects of industrialization. The study should generate new insights into development and diffusion of pollution prevention practices within manufacturing industries. As a doctoral dissertation research improvement award, this project will also provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career. ***