ES Newsletter

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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 6, 2008
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In this issue:
** ON CAMPUS EVENTS: Duke University Professional Environmental Graduate School Visit, Semester in Environmental Science at Woods Hole
** CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY: October is SUSTAINABILITY month
** SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: P3 Awards: Student Design Competition for Sustainability
** In the News: RGGI Sells All Carbon Permits At First Mandatory CO2 Auction
** BEYOND COLBY:   The Grupo Fenix Solar Culture Course, Conservation Finance Forum (info attached)
** JOBS & INTERNSHIPS: Green Corps, AASHE, Greenpeace
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** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS:
DUKE UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GRADUATE SCHOOL VISIT: FORGING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Make a career out of your concerns about climate change, ocean pollution and sustainable development. Learn how you can make a difference by choosing Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment.Duke’s Nicholas School is among the world’s premier graduate professional schools for the interdisciplinary study of the environment. Meet Lisa Rattray, Admissions Officer for the Nicholas School, at a presentation on Tuesday, October 7, 2008, at 12:30 pm, in Fairchild Room in Dana, to learn about graduate opportunities as well as undergraduate courses available at the Duke Marine Lab.
The Nicholas School fully integrates science, business and policy in its environmental sciences program, providing both theoretical and practical education in Environmental Sciences & Policy, Marine Science & Conservation and Earth & Ocean Sciences.
Lisa will discuss the two-year professional Master of Environmental Management (MEM) degree that blends science, business and policy to solve environmental issues. Areas of study include:
•    Ecosystem Science & Sustainability – to improve understanding of how natural ecosystems function, the human impacts on them and strategies to provide a sustainable future for all life on Earth.
•    Environmental Health – to improve understanding of the linkage between environmental quality and human health and to forecast changes to human health as a result of global environmental change.
•    Business & the Environment – to work within the corporate sector to promote sustainable business practices, based on the principles of industrial ecology, use of renewable sources of energy and material-use efficiencies.
Duke’s MEM degree trains and prepares future environmental scientists, leaders in environmental policy and ecosystem managers. Our graduates dominate national policy and are widely employed in industry, government and not-for-profit NGOs. To learn more about Duke University's Nicholas School programs, go to www.nicholas.duke.edu. You can also email Lisa Rattray at lisa.rattray@duke.edu.

Semester in Environmental Science at Woods Hole
Recruitment Coordinator for the Semester in Environmental Science (SES) at the Marine Biological Lab will be at Colby this Thursday, offering an information session and pizza in Lovejoy 205. This program is offered every Fall for 15-20 undergrads with backgrounds in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Chemistry or Geology. The 15-week course of study revolves around aquatic and terrestrial field work. Students study global environmental problems by collecting data in local systems. The last third of the semester is devoted to independent research projects. I was a SES student in 2006 and I really valued the opportunity to step away from the college setting for a semester and make some great connections in the field of ecological research at the Marine Biological Lab. Please take a moment to peruse our new website if you are at all interested: http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/SES/
Stephanie L. Oleksyk
SES Recruitment Coordinator
Ecosystems Center
Marine Biological Lab
(508) 289-7737

** CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY:
October is Sustainability Month. There will be events all month long to celebrate Colby’s greenness.
Check out this week’s events:
To the Waterville Farmers’ Market!
Every Thursday afternoon, in October, Enviro-Co and the Organic Gardening Club will be biking down the Farmer's Market in downtown Waterville (about a 15 minute ride), frequenting the farmers for their yummy food, and then biking home. After that there will be the option of cooking at the Mary Low Co-Op Kitchen to make and eat a delicious, local, sustainable meal! All kitchen tools are available for borrow from the co-op residents.
Meet at 4:15 Thursdays, outside Pulver near the iBike rack
Bring your bike or rent one from iBike - 8 will be set aside in advance (e-mail pjroche@colby.edu to reserve). Also bring a backpack to carry food!
Email Andy Notopoulos at ajnotopo@colby.edu if you have any questions.

Wear Green in celebration of Sustainability Month
This Wednesday, put on some green – a t-shirt, wrist band, socks – to send a silent reminder to ourselves and others of our environmental responsibilities to our planet. Take this opportunity to think about and share your thoughts and ideas with your friends about simple ways we CAN lessen our environmental footprint.
This Wednesday let’s see Colby in a sea of Green!

** SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY:
P3 Awards: Student Design Competition for Sustainability
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the P3 Award Program, is seeking applications proposing to research, develop, and design solutions to real world challenges involving the overall sustainability of human society. The P3 competition highlights the use of scientific principles in creating innovative projects focused on sustainability. The P3 Awards program was developed to foster progress toward sustainability by achieving the mutual goals of economic prosperity, protection of the planet, and improved quality of life for its people. Approximately $950,000 in grants will be awarded as part of the program. Degree-granting public and private institutions located in the U.S. are encouraged to apply. The solicitation closing date is December 23, 2008.
For more information: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2009/2009_p3.html

** In the News: RGGI Sells All Carbon Permits At First Mandatory CO2 Auction
From the Environmental Leader
September 29, 2008
RGGI Sells All Carbon Permits At First Mandatory CO2 Auction
industrial_plant.jpgThe Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) announced that all 12.5 million carbon permits were sold at its first cap-and-trade auction. Fifty-nine participants from the energy, financial and environmental sectors took part in the bidding. The permits were each sold at a clearing price of $3.07, the minimum bidding price was $1.86.
“RGGI’s example shows that an open and competitive carbon market can be implemented,” said RGGI’s Chair, Pete Grannis, in a statement.The auction generated about $ 38.6 million in proceeds, which This will be distributed to the six RGGI states — Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont — that offered allowances for sale during the first auction. The states are investing the funds in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and programs to benefit energy consumers.
Contrary to expert predictions that demand may be low, RGGI reported that demand for the permits were four times the available supply at the auction.
The RGGI auction was administered by World Energy Solutions Inc. RGGI intends to hold quarterly auctions during the first RGGI three-year compliance period from Jan. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2011. The next auction is set for Dec. 17, 2008.
The sold-out auction is a good sign for the Western Climate Initiative, which recently unveiled a draft of its 2012 cap-and-trade program.

**BEYOND COLBY:
The Grupo Fenix Solar Culture Course
This 11 day course, offered twice a year, has been offered by Grupo Fenix since 1999. It is a great introduction to the science and use of appropriate renewable energy technologies such as solar cookers, dryers and photovoltaic systems. Dr. Richard Komp, an expert from the United States with over 40 years experience working with solar technologies, teaches the technical classes for the January version of the course and will be a guest instructor for the July 2008 course.
Participants will:
    * Visit SuniSolar, a renewable energy business in Managua started by Grupo Fenix
    * Build a solar oven with the local women‚s group, the Solar Women of Totogalpa
    * Listen to talks on Solar Dryers and Medicinal Plants
    * Learn about solar cooking and eat the final product of your class!
    * Install a PV system with local solar experts
    * Make a solar powered battery charger
Also, the course includes various tourist activities such as a visit to one of Nicaragua‚s 25 volcanoes, Volcano Masaya, where you can hike around the craters and see what an active volcano looks like! If weather permits, we will spend a day exploring the Somoto Canyon and swimming in its natural pools. Also, at the end of the course we will spend a night at a rustic eco-lodge in the Tisey Nature Reserve, which has hiking trails, fields of organic vegetables, a farming community that produces its own specialty cheeses and one of the best panoramic views in the country.
Impressions of January 2008 Solar Culture Course Participants:
“Even though I came to learn about solar technology and I did, living with a host family and meeting interesting course participants from all over was the most valuable part of the course.&die;
&die; I was able to reaffirm that passion, a good heart, and hard work can change the lives of individuals and a community for the good.&die;
Course Fee: $995
For more information: www.grupofenix.org

** JOBS & INTERNSHIPS:
Green Corps Field School for Environmental Organizing
Green Corps invites applicants for its year-long Field School for Environmental Organizing to begin in August 2009. Students who are serious about saving the planet, have taken initiative on their campus or community, and are willing to roll up their sleeves and work for change are encouraged to apply. The early application deadline is January 18, 2009.
For application details visit: http://www.greencorps.org/

AASHE is Hiring a Program Support Intern
AASHE seeks an intern to assist with providing support to ACUPCC signatory campuses, help contribute to the development of the AASHE Resource Center, and to assist in various other duties in the Lexington, KY office.
Internship Description
The intern will perform some combination of the following tasks, depending on skills, interests, and current needs:
    * Research for the development of resources related to campus sustainability
    * Provide support to ACUPCC campuses
    * Provide outreach and membership support
    * Support to the AASHE Conference Team
    * Review other intern resource development and provide feedback
    * Perform other duties and tasks as necessary for the Lexington Office
Desired Skills and Qualifications
Teamwork will be important, but candidates should also be self-motivated and capable of setting and meeting deadlines and deliverables without a great deal of supervision.
In particular, we are looking for candidates with:
    * Interest and experience in campus sustainability
    * Strong written and oral communication skills
    * Strong internet research skills
    * Attention to detail
    * Self-motivated, able to work with limited supervision
    * Collaborative, team player
Location
Interns must be able to work out of the Lexington, Kentucky office.
Compensation
$10-13/hour, depending on experience.
Application Instructions
To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to Niles Barnes (niles@aashe.org). There is no application deadline for this internship. We will take applications until the position is filled.
AASHE is committed to providing equal employment opportunity and to achieving an inclusive, diverse workplace that values every individual. Members of under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.

Greenpeace
The final deadline is approaching to get involved in an exciting opportunity: the Greenpeace Organizing Term
(http://www.greenpeace.org/got)!

The Greenpeace Organizing Term an action-packed semester of travel and training. It's a hands-on training program that gives you the skills you need to become an environmental leader. You'll learn about current environmental issues and solutions and you'll be trained by the experts in grassroots organizing, leadership, media, and campaign strategy.
You'll also travel with Greenpeace to work with national and international activists. Many students receive course credit for the semester.
The program is offered in the Washington D.C. and San Francisco Greenpeace offices.
ACTION * TRAVEL * TRAINING Spend a Semester with Greenpeace
http://www.greenpeace.org/got
Spring 2009 class is filling up, and the final application deadline is October 13th. Apply NOW at http://www.greenpeace.org/got!
Contact program staff with questions at got@wdc.greenpeace.org.

Linda Capato and Kate Bower
Grassroots Recruitment Coordinators
Greenpeace Organizing Term
Greenpeace USA
877-450-3517 ext. 320
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