ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
NEWSLETTER
April 13, 2006
In
this issue:
** Upcoming ES Events: Two ES Colloquia next week!
** ES Program News: Professor Andonova elected to ISA executive board, ES book
recommendations
** Campus Sustainability: SSW Alumni Center --Certified LEED
Silver!!
** Summer Internship Funding Opportunity: Mellon Funds available
** Beyond Colby: Help
Stop Toxic Pesticide Exposure in Our Communities
** Jobs and Internships: NPS is hiring in Alaska, Buzzard's Bay seeks
intern, kayaking on the coast of Maine, and more
...........................................................................................................................
** Upcoming ES Events:
Hollis Lecture
Tuesday, April 18, 7:00 pm in Olin
1
"Hundred-Eyed Giants, Voiceless Canaries, And
Hermaphrodites: Examining The Impact Of Pesticides On Environmental And Public
Health"
Dr.
Tyrone Hayes, Department of Integrative Biology, UC Berkley
Increasing evidence demonstrates that many environmental contaminants, including
pesticides, can act as endocrine disruptors. Contaminants can mimic natural
hormones, but our data is showing that some chemicals also alter production of
endogenous (natural) hormones in the body. My research uses amphibians (frogs)
to assess the effects of individual chemicals and chemical mixtures as well as
to monitor potentially contaminated habitats. Most notably, we have shown that
the ubiquitous contaminant atrazine (an herbicide) both chemically castrates
and feminizes exposed amphibians by lowering testosterone levels and increasing
estrogen levels respectively. In frogs, this action results in hermaphroditism
and reproductively impaired animals. These effects occur in other animals as
well (fish, reptiles, and mammals) and have been documented in human cell lines
and tissues. In rodents, this actions results in decreased fertility in males
and prostate and mammary cancer. Atrazine is similarly associated with these
diseases in exposed humans. Further, our research has shown that the effects of
individual pesticides are enhanced when these pesticides are presented as
ecologically relevant mixtures. These pesticide mixtures, which retard
development, growth, and act as immuno-suppressors.
Wednesday April 19
12:00 in the Fairchild Room in Dana
"Managing the risks of a changing climate:
Linking science and policy for development".
Dr.
Shiv Someshwar is leading a number of research initiatives in South and South
East Asia on reducing livelihood vulnerability and increasing systems
resilience to climate variability and climate change. He specializes in
the institutional and policy dimensions of livelihoods and sustainable
development. At the International Research Institute for Climate and
Society (IRI) of the Earth Institute, Columbia University, Dr. Someshwar is
Director, Institutions and Policy Systems Research, and Director, Asia and
Pacific Regional Program. He is an affiliate faculty at the School of
International and Public Affairs, and is an anchor faculty for the Masters
program in Climate and Society at Columbia University. Dr. Someshwar
received his Ph.D. from the University of California, in Environmental Planning
and Public Policy. Prior to IRI, he was at the Rockefeller Foundation.
** ES Program News:
Professor Andonova elected to ISA Executive Committee
Professor
Liliana Andonova (Government and ES) was elected to the Executive Committee of
the Environmental Studies Section of the International Studies Association
(ISA). ISA is the leading professional organization of international studies.
Andonova was nominated and elected at 47th Annual ISA Convention, March 2006,
San Diego, CA.
Environmental Recommended Readings
A list
of readings in environmental studies for students compiled by Colby's
Environmental Studies Faculty Advisory Committee. Check out this site on the ES
webpage: http://www.colby.edu/environ/people/student/books.html
** Campus Sustainability:
Colby Earns Certification for "Green"
Construction
Colby's
new Schair-Swenson-Watson Alumni Center has been certified as "green"
under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
LEED is the acronym for a program administered by the U.S. Green Building
Council (USGBC) setting national standards for green building design. The
rating system was developed by the USGBC to promote environmentally friendly
design and to reduce false and exaggerated environmental claims.
Colby's new 28,000-square-foot building received certification from the USGBC
in February, and was certified at the silver level. That's a step up from basic
LEED certification, recognizing environmental enhancements and systems that go
beyond the minimum standards for a green building.
Colleges and universities are recognized as hothouses for architectural
innovation as is evident in other college buildings around the state being
built to LEED specifications.
Colby currently has a 53,000-square-foot academic building, the Diamond
Building for social science and interdisciplinary programs, under construction
and will seek LEED certification for that project as well.
** Summer Internship Funding Opportunity:
Mellon Funds available
The Environmental Studies Program is very lucky to have received
money from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that can be used to provide stipends
to students who want to undertake environmentally-related internships in the
summer and over Jan Plan. If you are interested in applying for a Mellon
internship and you meet the following criteria, please consider applying:
Criteria
for Environmental Internship Stipends
**
Beyond Colby:
Help Stop Toxic Pesticide Exposure in Our Communities
Maine
needs your voice! Please send an email or a letter the Board of
Pesticides Control to voice your support for reducing pesticide exposure to
protect our families and our environment! The Board will be considering
rules to ban aerial spraying, ban one of the most toxic classes of pesticides,
and increase our right to know about pesticides in our communities.
What:
The Board of Pesticides Control needs public comments!
Why:
The Board of Pesticides Control (the state agency that oversees pesticide use)
will be considering 3 rule changes that, if passed would:
1. Ban Aerial Spraying in Maine.
2. Ban Organophosphates, the most toxic class of
pesticides.
3. Increase our Right To Know about pesticide use
in our communities.
When:
The public comment period ends Friday, April 14th! Please cut and paste the
letter below and email your comments
to
board.
For more information
visit: www.toxicsaction.org
Why Ban Aerial Spraying? Aerial Spraying Threatens Our
Communities!
Aerial spraying causes toxic pesticide drift problems. In Downeast
communities, residents have complained for decades that their homes, their
families and their farms have been hit by pesticide drift from aerial spraying.
The Board of Pesticides Control has documented that aerial spraying of blueberries
has drifted nearly a mile from its intended target.
State surveys show that the blueberry industry sprays at least fifteen
different toxic pesticides in our communities. Of these pesticides:
53% (eight) are possible carcinogens according to the
Environmental Protection Agency.
40% (six) cause reproductive or developmental effects
or are endocrine disruptors.
60% (nine) are moderately to highly toxic through
acute exposures.
Board of Pesticides Control studies show clearly that aerially sprayed
pesticides are drifting directly into Maine’s waterways. Community groups
have also recorded pesticide drift in Maine using scientific air sampling
devices. Banning aerial spraying won’t cause economic
problems, given that the two largest agribusinesses in Maine, Cherryfield Foods
and Jasper Wyman and Son have already stopped.
Visit www.toxicsaction.org for more
information.
** Jobs and Internships:
The Coalition for Buzzards Bay seeks an Assistant Coordinator to help coordinate its
Baywide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program- Baywatchers and additional
watershed natural resource monitoring programs. The Position is part-time
(25-30hours/wk), May 1st – August 30th and reports to the Director
of Monitoring Programs. Responsibilities include assisting with the
coordination and training of approximately 130 volunteers, data entry and
public outreach for the water quality monitoring program. Primary work
areas include estuarine water quality monitoring with additional watershed
monitoring. Successful candidates should be capable of working both
independently and with the volunteer community.
Prospective
candidates may obtain more information about The Coalition for Buzzards Bay and
the Baywatchers program at the link provided below.
http://www.savebuzzardsbay.org/wwd/research/wwd-research.htm
Applications
must be received before April 28 for consideration and include:
Cover
letter
Resume
Send To:
The Coalition for Buzzards Bay, 620 Belleville Avenue. New Bedford,
MA 02745
The National Park Service in Fairbanks, Alaska is
looking to fill three full-time summer biotech positions.
Only
students registered at a university for the coming semester (summer or fall)
are eligible to apply. The incumbents will conduct field work, expedite field
crews, and/or help with data entry for the Arctic Network Inventory and
Monitoring Program in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Two of the positions are stationed in Fairbanks and include field work in five
of the nations most pristine parks, encompassing over 20 million acres in
northern Alaska: Noatak National Preserve, Bering Land Bridge National
Preserve, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Cape Krusenstern
National Monument, and Kobuk Valley National Park. These positions will assist
park biologists with large mammal, bird, aquatic, and/or vegetation surveys.
Field work may be conducted in extremely remote areas accessible only by float
plane, boat, and/or helicopter. Field work may be conducted in harsh conditions
for long periods of time. These positions also require a significant amount of
sedentary work such as tabular and spatial data entry and mining of ecological
data.
The third position will be based in Fairbanks and will serve as an expeditor
for field crews. The incumbent will help field crews prepare
for the field and help with logistics and planning. Knowledge of Alaska plants
and animals and experience with databases (Microsoft Excel, Access, or Sequel
Server) are a plus.
The salary range for all positions is from $15.09-$18.69 USD per hour, plus $25
per day for per diem when conducting field work. Salary is based on experience.
Travel to and from Fairbanks can not be paid for these positions.
If you are interested in any of these positions, please send a cover letter,
resume or CV, and a statement of interest (short paragraph) to: Suzie Mauro
E-mail: Suzie_Mauro@nps.gov
Phone: 907-455-0668
Summer Land Trust Position Available
Islesboro Islands Trust is seeking a talented, well-rounded
individual to help with our environmental education programs this summer. We
offer a nature day camp on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for children ages 3 to 11,
as well as two three-day sea kayaking and camping trips for kids ages 12 to 15.
The successful applicant will work with an IIT staff member to organize and
teach our nature day camp programs, and will also be a co-leader on both sea
kayaking trips. This is a part-time position - two days per week of day camp
and eight days total of kayaking - that runs from July 11 through August 23,
2006. Primary job responsibilities include developing day camp programs,
leading games and activities, teaching kayaking and canoeing to kids, leading
overnight camping trips, maintaining a safe and respectful camp environment,
and some logistical work as needed. We seek a friendly, responsible individual
who is experienced working with children, ecologically literate, and able to
make a commitment for all seven weeks. Paddling and camping experience, strong
leadership skills, and a working knowledge of the Maine outdoors are very
important. The stipend for this part-time, seven-week position is $100 per day,
for a total of $2,200.
This position could also be turned into a full-time, paid internship (possibly
for credit) for the right applicant. We are a small land trust with active
programs in water quality monitoring, ecological inventory, GIS, and land
stewardship. There is potential for gaining experience in any or all of these
areas. This position is located on Islesboro, an island community in Penobscot
Bay separated from the mainland by a 20 minute ferry ride. Please feel free to
contact us at 734-6907 or iitaaron@gmail.com with any questions. To apply, send
a resume and letter of interest to Islesboro Islands Trust at P.O. Box 182,
Islesboro, ME 04848 or iitaaron@gmail.com.
The Coastal Systems Group of the UMASS
Dartmouth School of Marine Science is offering summer internships in Coastal
Marine Ecology. Students accepted into this competitive 10-12 week
program will participate in both field data collection and laboratory analyses.
Research areas include estuarine water quality monitoring, nutrient cycling,
and wetlands ecology. Successful candidates should be capable of working both
independently and as part of a team.
Prospective candidates may obtain more information about the research focus of
the Coastal Systems Group and how to apply at the link provided below. http://www.smast.umassd.edu/Coastal/research/edu&outr/Internships.html
Applications must be received before April 31 for consideration and
include:
Cover letter
Resume
Unofficial transcript
Three references.
All selections will be made by May 14.
Minimum stipend for this summer internship is $4000/12 weeks.
Communications Assistant Environmental
Advocates of New York Albany, New York (NY)
Responsibilities
A statewide environmental advocacy organization seeks an energetic,
self-starter to report to Communications Director. The Communications Assistant
will support the organization's outreach to members, public officials, the
media, partner organizations, and the general public. Responsibilities include
layout and design of publications, website management, development of media
lists, coordination of online advocacy network, response to public inquiries,
and distribution of announcements and appeals.
Qualifications
Candidates must have excellent written and oral communication skills. A college
degree is preferred. Understanding of environmental issues and state
government, and prior design and layout experience, are a plus.
Compensation
Salary is in the mid to high $20,000's, commensurate with experience, plus
excellent benefits. Room to grow.
Closing Date: June 1
To Apply:
Please send a résumé, writing samples, and cover letter to:
Communications Director
Environmental Advocates
353 Hamilton St
Albany NY 12210-1709
Electronic mail: eringewald@eany.org
Wilderness Field Instructors Aspen Education
Group
Idaho, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah
It's more than a job and a paycheck. It's the opportunity to be
a catalyst of change in the lives of at-risk teens and their families while
exploring the great outdoors. Aspen Education Group, the industry leader in
providing education services to youth and their families, is looking to add
enthusiastic, energetic, and experienced full-time Wilderness Field Instructors
to our schools in Idaho, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
To Apply
In order to transform the lives of troubled teens, first transform your own by
joining our successful and growing team. If you are passionate about the outdoors
and helping others, we invite you to apply by sending your résumé and a cover
letter to HRrecruiter@aspeneducation.com.
Island Institute
Island Fellows
Applications are invited for Island Fellow awards from new or
recent college graduates in the areas of marine science, library science,
ecology, education, arts (music, theater, fine arts), historical preservation,
community planning and development, GIS, and other related fields. Anticipated
awards for 06-07 include the following: community planning and development;
historical preservation and library sciences; affordable housing and GIS
mapping; natural resource planning; place-based education curriculum
development; and developing programming and sustainability for arts
programming. Recipients of awards are recruited by the Institute and selected
on a competitive basis from candidates who wish to perform research, career
development and community service, while living within remote communities.
Fellows are placed in communities requesting a Fellow after successfully
completing the review process at the Institute and receiving the approval of
the designated contact(s) in the community. Application deadline is May 26,
2006. Minimum Qualifications • Recent completion of a baccalaureate or graduate
degree (within 4 years), or equivalent demonstrated experience in a designated
field. • Demonstrated interest and experience in community service, community
planning, natural resource planning, GIS mapping, education outreach and any
skills relevant to the placement site. • A strong service ethic • Flexibility •
A strong desire to live and work within small, remote communities. • Strong
self-motivation and ability to work with minimal supervision Island Fellow
Benefits Stipend, living allowance, and AmeriCorps education award - contingent
on funding. Visit our website for an application and further information: www.islandinstitute.org, or contact
Chris Wolff, the Island Institute’s Fellows Program Director at (207) 594-9209,
ext. 102 or via e-mail (cwolff@islandinstitute.org).