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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 18, 2008
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In this issue:
** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS: Lunchtime Colloquium -- Wednesday
** ALSO ON CAMPUS: January Grant Writing Workshop
** BEYOND COLBY: The Global Engagement Summit, Green Opportunities Fair
** GRAD PROGRAM: MS student opportunity: USGS GAP and global environmental change
** FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY: American Rivers
** JOBS & INTERNSHIPS: Maine Audubon Society, Biodiversity Education Internship, Biodiesel Production intern
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** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS:
Please join the Environmental Studies Program for this upcoming colloquium.
Wednesday, November 19
Noon in the Fairchild Room in Dana. Join us at 11:30 for lunch with Janette.
"The State as a Criminal Enterprise: A Survey of Illegal Logging in Tropical Forested Countries"
Janette Bulkan, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in International Human Rights
Abstract
It is almost impossible for illegal logging to take place on a large scale without the connivance of State agents or agencies, and their political masters. This is because forest logs (and forest-sawn timber) are heavy and bulky and transport to processors and markets cannot be concealed easily; unlike diamonds, gold or plutonium. All the way along the market chain, from tree stump to consumer, people must be induced to keep their eyes averted. This is the State in passive mode, neglecting to enforce its own policies, strategies, laws, regulations and procedures.
But what of the State in active mode, where elected and non-elected politicians, ministries, government departments and agencies are directly involved in promoting illegal logging? Ms. Bulkan will review the most common kinds of forest crimes that are practised in countries where criminals have secured a hold over governments. This hold is called Regulatory Capture and is usually secured through corruption. She will also discuss consumer demand as a driver of illegal logging and the countervailing strategies being tried by governments and NGOs.
Bio
Janette Bulkan is a doctoral candidate at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Her dissertation focuses on the slippages between forestry policies and practices in Guyana. Before going to Yale, Janette Bulkan was the senior social scientist at the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development in Guyana (2000-2003), senior lecturer at the University of Guyana (1985-2000), and First Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana (1978-83). She has two decades of work experience with indigenous peoples and local communities in Guyana.
** ALSO ON CAMPUS:
January Grant Writing Workshop
The ability to research, write and secure grants is critical to those working in non-profits and community based organizations. Often operating on shoe-string budgets, organizations like these depend on the philanthropic largesse of private, corporate and governmental funders. In this seven part workshop, students will learn from experienced professionals about writing grant proposals and how different funders operate.
Grant proposal writing is an important tool for students who wish to work on issues of social justice through the non-profit sector, but it is also an application of academic skills including conducting research, persuasive and concise writing, and synthesizing arguments from different sets of data. Through readings and presentations by guest speakers, students will also gain insight into how non-profits and philanthropic entities operate in society, as well as a fuller sense of how complex underlying social phenomena manifest themselves in communities.
Topics include:
* How and why funders do their work and the different types of funders
* Project & budget development
* Researching projects/finding supporting data
* Researching funding opportunities and different types of
* Parts of a grant application & the writing process
* Tips and troubleshooting a grant application
* Forming solid collaborative partnerships for joint projects
This class will meet throughout January term on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6 - 7:30 in the Fairchild Room of Dana Hall. Participants MUST commit to attending all seven sessions and will be awarded a certificate by the Dean of Students Office at the conclusion of the class.
This class is limited to 20 students. Applicants must submit a short personal statement that describes how they might use the information presented in this workshop in their community work, however they define it.
Statements and questions should be directed to Marnie Terhune, mterhune@colby.edu
** BEYOND COLBY:
Do you have an idea that will change the world?
Are you looking for a space to develop your project idea, critically engage with issues of international development and social justice, and connect with a community of passionate young change agents?
APPLY FOR
The Global Engagement Summit
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
April 8-12, 2009
LEARN: 5 days. 30+ workshops led by innovative global nonprofits. Direct mentorship with social change professionals.
CONNECT: 60+ students each year. 35 countries represented. 500 alumni. 75+ alumni nonprofit leaders.
ACT: Financial support for student projects. Free professional consulting. National media exposure.
In the past three years, GES has helped delegates raise over $75,000 dollars to support their global projects!
Applications are now available ONLINE!
Application website: www.northwesternges.org/usdelform.php <http://www.northwesternges.org/usdelform.php>
1st Annual Clean Energy Connections, A Green Opportunity Fair
Networking! Explore opportunities to make your career or build your business around clean energy at the Clean Energy Connections Conference and Opportunity Fair.
http://www.umass.edu/green/opportunity_fair.html
** GRAD PROGRAM:
MS student opportunity: USGS GAP and global environmental change
An M.S. graduate research assistantship is available to study global
environmental change impacts on species distributions. The project will
utilize state, regional, and/or national USGS Gap Analysis Program products
(gapanalysis.nbii.gov) to quantify geographic patterns related to global
environmental change and identify species and areas of concern. The
candidate will help define the research topic; potential areas include
climate change, land-use/land-cover change, changes in disturbance regimes,
or other human influences on vertebrate species distributions in the United
States. The ideal candidate will have a strong quantitative background in
geography, ecology, biology, or a related field, with experience in
geographic information systems and computer analysis. The Department of
Geography has strengths in geographic information systems, remote sensing,
and climate change and impacts. Local collaboration opportunities exist
both within UI (such as with the College of Natural Resources) and outside
UI (with the USGS National Gap Analysis Program and The Nature Conservancy).
Funding begins Spring 2009. Interested persons should apply to the UI
Department of Geography (www.scihome.uidaho.edu/geography); applications are
currently being accepted. Informal inquires are encouraged; contact Dr.
Jeffrey Hicke (jhicke@uidaho.edu; 208-885-6240) for more information.
** FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY
American Rivers is now accepting applications for the 2009-2010 Anthony A. Lapham River Conservation Fellowship. The Lapham Fellowship was established in 2008 in honor of the memory of Anthony Lapham, lifelong champion for rivers and former chairman of the American Rivers Board of Directors.
The Fellowship gives talented post-graduates the opportunity to engage in relevant research and work in the field of river conservation. Our current Lapham Fellow is conducting exciting research to define and illustrate community resilience in the face of climate change.
If you know any exceptional postgraduates interested in contributing to American Rivers‚ work on climate change adaptation and resilience, please direct them to www.americanrivers.org/fellowship <www.americanrivers.htm> . The position is one year (full time), and a stipend is provided.
Any further questions can be directed to Rob Kimball ( Rkimball@americanrivers.org).
** JOBS & INTERNSHIPS:
Maine Audubon Society
Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center
Membership Director
Description:
Someone with an interest in non-profits, the environment, and the complexities of fundraising will enjoy this internship. Duties would include all aspects of development relations for a major non-profit organization including database work (Raisers Edge and Excel), event planning, special projects and administrative work.
January in our development office is time to strategize after the major holiday fundraising effort. It will include helping to launch new membership initiatives, working with the communications department on materials, preparation for our Birdathon event, helping move forward the online and database fundraising, and various special projects.
Maine Audubon is the largest wildlife organization in Maine working to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation and action. For more than 160 years, Maine Audubon has been connecting people with nature and leading science-based conservation in major projects across the state. An independent affiliate of Audubon’s national organization, Maine Audubon has seven local chapters, 11 nature centers and sanctuaries, and 11,000 members and supporters.
Location: Falmouth, ME
Jan Plan
Approximate Hours Per Week:
100 hours over the month
Qualifications:
Good computer skills including some knowledge of databases. Team player, willingness to multi-task and take direction but with good self-starter skills.
http://www.maineaudubon.org/
Biodiversity Education Internship
Hudsonia Ltd., a nonprofit, non-advocacy, public interest organization for scientific research and education, is seeking an AmeriCorps member to assist with our Biodiversity Education program. The program involves teaching community leaders in techniques for identifying and protecting biodiversity resources in New York's Hudson Valley. Responsibilities include developing and preparing educational materials, corresponding with program participants, coordinating workshops and meetings,
assisting with instruction in classroom and field settings, and interacting with agency partners and collaborators. Candidate must have
good interpersonal skills and good writing skills, and must have personal vehicle for travel to work sites in the ten-county region. Some background in natural history and GIS are preferred. Closing date for applications: 31 December 2008. Send letter, resume, two writing samples, and names and contact information for at least three employer or academic references to: Andrew Meyer, Hudsonia Ltd., PO Box 66, RedHook, NY 12571, or email to ameyer@bard.edu.
Biodiesel Production intern
We are looking for an intern in the lab at our commercial production facility.
As an intern at Piedmont Biofuels, one receive hands-on instruction through the PBI Laboratory training program. Interns will learn how to perform appropriate test methods (AOCS, ASTM, and EN) for biodiesel fuel and biofuels feedstocks. Interns will provide testing support for the commercial fuel production staff.
In addition to performing the physical and analytical testing, interns will also be introduced to the research and development activities at PBI. Piedmont Biofuels The current and future research being pursued by Piedmont includes lab scale testing of biodiesel ion exchange resins, filtration media, alternative catalysts, continuous processing. Interns will be expected to monitor and conduct tests, perform literature searches, and provide assistance in prototyping and design.
He/she will also get the chance to see and learn about new and novel biodiesel production methods and test alternative (low value) feedstocks. Interns will work under the guidance of both the Laboratory manager and the R & D department.
The successful applicant must be a patient, creative, and meticulous researcher. A lab background is a big plus, but a dedicated hard-worker and self-starter is a must.
Desired Skills:
Practical chemistry experience in a laboratory or production environment
Excel (knowledge of other programs like SAS, R, SPSS, etc. is also a plus)
Lab experience/training
Basic knowledge of organic chemistry
A passionate and demonstrated interest in biodiesel and alternative energy
To apply, please send resume and interest statement to: rachel@biofuels.coop
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