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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2, 2008
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In this issue:
** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS: Two ES capstone presentations: Wednesday -- Environmental Policy State of Maine Presentation, Thursday - Colby Researchers to Present Findings in Pattee Pond Study
** ALSO ON CAMPUS: Oak Fellow to Deliver Final Lecture at Colby
** IN THE NEWS: Save the Economy and the Planet (NY Times editorial)
** CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY: Powershift ‘09
** JOBS & INTERNSHIPS: Nexus Market Research, Real Food Challenge, LC Bates
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** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS:
ES 493 Senior Seminar Presentation. Environmental Policy State of Maine Presentation
Wednesday December 3, 2008
7 pm, Diamond / 142
Written by senior environmental policy majors at Colby, the 2008 report is the fourth in a series on the status of Maine's environment. This year's report focuses on four areas: energy, toxic substances, marine fisheries and private land conservation. For each topic, the students explore the historical context and the current state of the issue and examine trends to determine the impact on Maine's environment. They include an analysis of current policies and recommend a course of action.
Colby Researchers to Present Findings in Pattee Pond Study
A study of Pattee Pond and its watershed was prompted by the Pattee Pond Lake Association. Colby students will present the findings of the summer and fall study at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, in the Ostrove Auditorium in the Diamond Building. The presentation is open to the public and should last about one and a half hours. Refreshments will be served.
Students will report on the current water quality of the lake and environmental factors that influence it. In addition, students will make recommendations for maintaining water quality and discuss the nature of the watershed and land-use patterns, past and present. They will also discuss issues related to future development in the watershed.
Students in the upper-level biology and environmental science course “Problems in Environmental Science” have studied many lakes in central Maine, including all of the Belgrade Lakes. Each year, they present their findings to the public and provide a formal report to the MDEP, town officials, lake associations, and other interested parties.
The MDEP and local lake associations utilize the students’ data in their efforts to protect and improve lake water quality, MDEP officials said. Past research groups from Colby have recommended changes to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the lakes from overland runoff and sediment release. Lake associations have funded follow-up activities to help implement recommendations to abate phosphorus runoff, which leads to algal growth and degrades water quality.
Professors Russell Cole and Tracey Greenwood guided the lakes research conducted by senior Environmental Science majors. Nineteen Colby seniors participated in the research project.
** ALSO ON CAMPUS:
Oak Fellow to Deliver Final Lecture at Colby
From Bangladesh to Maine: A Journey of Rights
2008 Oak Fellow Afsan Chowdhury
Wednesday, December 3
4:30 pm
Diamond 122
(Reception to follow)
Sponsored by the Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights
** IN THE NEWS:
Save the Economy, and the Planet
Wednesday November 26th, 2008
New York Times editorial
Environment ministers preparing for next week’s talks on global warming in Poznan, Poland, have been sounding decidedly downbeat. From Paris to Beijing, the refrain is the same: This is no time to pursue ambitious plans to stop global warming. We can’t deal with a financial crisis and reduce emissions at the same time.
There is a very different message coming from this country. President-elect Barack Obama is arguing that there is no better time than the present to invest heavily in clean energy technologies. Such investment, he says, would confront the threat of unchecked warming, reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil and help revive the American economy.
Call it what you will: a climate policy wrapped inside an energy policy wrapped inside an economic policy. By any name, it is a radical shift from the defeatism and denial that marked President Bush’s eight years in office. If Mr. Obama follows through on his commitments, this country will at last provide the global leadership that is essential for addressing the dangers of climate change.
In his first six months in office, Mr. Bush reneged on a campaign promise to regulate carbon dioxide and walked away from the Kyoto Protocol, a modest first effort to control global greenhouse gas emissions.
Still two months from the White House, Mr. Obama has convincingly reaffirmed his main climate related promises.
One is to impose (Congress willing) a mandatory cap on emissions aimed at reducing America’s output of greenhouses gas by 80 percent by midcentury. According to mainstream scientists, that is the minimum necessary to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and avoid the worst consequences of global warming. Mr. Obama’s second pledge is to invest $15 billion a year to build a clean economy that cuts fuel costs and creates thousands of green jobs. That includes investments in solar power, wind power, clean coal (plants capable of capturing and storing carbon emissions) and, as part of any bailout, helping Detroit retool assembly lines to build a new generation of more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Mr. Obama has surrounded himself with like-minded people who have spent years immersed in the complexities of energy policy.
His transition chief, John Podesta, was an early advocate of assisting the automakers and of finding low-carbon alternatives to gasoline. Peter Orszag, his choice to run the Office of Management and Budget (where environmental initiatives went to die during the Bush years) is an expert on cap-and-trade programs to limit industrial emissions of greenhouse gases.
Success is not guaranteed. Last year, a far more modest climate-change bill fell well short of a simple majority in the Senate. At least on the surface, it seems counterintuitive to impose new regulations (and, in the short term anyway, higher energy costs) on a struggling economy. Mr. Obama will need all his oratorical power to make the opposite case.
The historical landscape from Richard Nixon onward is littered with bold and unfulfilled promises to wean the nation from fossil fuels, especially imported oil. What is different now is the need to deal with the clear and present threat of global warming. What is also different is that the country has elected a president who believes that meeting the challenge of climate change is essential to the health of the planet and to America’s economic future.
** CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY:
Powershift ‘09
February 27 – March 2, 2009, Washington, DC
The Energy Action Coalition invites participants to Powershift 2009. More than 10,000 students are expected to converge on Washington, DC for three days of training, strategy, and action. Registration is now open: http://powershift09.org/.
** JOBS & INTERNSHIPS:
Real Food Challenge
We are looking for inspired, motivated, and imaginative individuals to help us shape the future of this campaign. Whether you are interested in the big-picture, movement-building potential, or getting down and dirty with the details, we want you.
Below are descriptions of the three types of positions:
1. Administrative Team
2. Steering Committee
3. Intern
Please feel free to contact us with questions. Do not respond directly to this email-- reply to marissa@realfoodchallenge.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
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1. ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM (A-team)
The Real Food Challenge Administrative Team (A-team) is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the campaign. This entails campaign planning, resource development, campus outreach and organizing, and media/communications. Examples include developing the Real Food Calculator, drafting policies for the Steering Committee to approve, creating materials for students, and supporting Regional Coordinators. It's a mixture of creative work and the daily grind. The responsibilities below are shared throughout the entire team, with one person taking the lead on a certain activity.
Responsibilities
Weekly phone calls with the rest of the team. Note: This is essential to being part of the team. We use a conference call service.
Developing resources for the campaign. Examples include the Real Food Calculator, materials for students (flyers, posters, etc.), and written guides
Outreach to students and organizations nationwide
Communications work: writing press releases and e-organizing
Supporting fundraising efforts
What we're looking for
Passionate about food systems change and the growing youth food movement
Desire to work in a multicultural context
Excellent writing skills or graphic design a plus
Can devote a minimum of 7 hours a week to working on the campaign. This time commitment is absolutely essential.
Someone who can work reliably individually and also work well in a very collaborative setting
Location: anywhere in the U.S. with occasional travel if necessary.
This is a volunteer position, and we'd be more than happy to help you get school credit for it. It is a great opportunity to develop your leadership skills, make connections nationwide, and participate in an exciting, growing campaign!
To apply
Please tell us a bit about yourself in a short personal statement, addressing the following:
How you got interested in the food system and the emerging movement, and what motivates you to keep working for change.
Specific skills, ideas, or perspectives you hope to contribute to the A-team.
Any challenges and/or opportunities in fitting this in your schedule.
Send your personal statement to marissa@realfoodchallenge.org
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2. STEERING COMMITTEE
The Real Food Challenge Steering Committee is responsible for the making the large, strategic decisions that help determine the direction of the campaign. Examples of such decisions include relationships with major partners and affiliates, campaign targets, future campaigns, and broader questions of organizational structure. Members meet once a quarter via conference call (and on a sparse, as-needed/available basis outside of that time).
Responsibilities
Attendance on conference calls once a quarter
Promotion of RFC to networks
Available for consultation with the A-team periodically, and collaborattion on particular projects or work areas (optional)
Hold the A-team accountable to RFC's specific goals, targets and values
Provide fundraising support
What we're looking for
Passionate about food systems change and the growing youth food movement
Creative, big-picture thinker
Desire to work in a collaborative, multicultural context
To apply
Please tell us a bit about yourself in a short personal statement, addressing the following:
How you got interested in the food system and the emerging movement, and what motivates you to keep working for change
What "success" for the Real Food Challenge and youth food movement, more broadly, might look like.
Send your personal statement to marissa@realfoodchallenge.org.
~~~
3. INTERN
We need enthusiastic, talented students and recent grads to help with the campaign. Internships usually last one semester/trimester or an entire summer. In the past students have developed "how to" guides, campaign materials, and done research/resource development. Have a specific talent or interest? Contact us. Most likely we can work with you to craft a position that meets our needs and is fun for you. We are more than happy to work with you to get school credit for your internship. Just ask! Contact marissa@realfoodchallenge.org
NEXUS MARKET RESEARCH (NMR) JOB DESCRIPTION:
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM EVALUATION
NMR is a small but expanding consulting firm specializing in
evaluation and marketing research related to energy efficiency and
renewable energy. Energy efficiency and renewables are burgeoning
fields providing excellent career opportunities for social scientists.
NMR currently seeks to hire individuals possessing the knowledge,
skills, and abilities typically gained through graduate education or
prior work in policy, economics, sociology, or other social science
programs. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
* Designing, implementing, and analyzing survey data
* Conducting semi-structured interviews
* Performing descriptive quantitative analyses using SPSS or similar
data analysis packages
* Developing and applying multiple regression or similar models,
preferably in an applied setting, although only classroom experience
is acceptable
* Writing clear and concise research summaries, memoranda, and reports
We prefer candidates with experience addressing environmental or
energy-related concerns, and also candidates who understand the
principles and practices of program evaluation.
The ideal candidate has recently completed or will soon complete a
Ph.D. in policy, economics, sociology, or another social science
field. We will also consider candidates with Master's degrees who
have relevant work experience. At this point in time, we do not
have openings for those at the Bachelor's level, unless they have
considerable work experience in the field of energy efficiency or renewables.
NMR is committed to the environment and to emitting minimal
greenhouse gases. Our carbon footprint is less than 10% of that of
an average, similarly sized office-based business in the Northeast
United States. We offer a flexible work schedule and competitive benefits.
Contact Information:
Greg Clendenning
Project Manager
Nexus Market Research, Inc.
703-528-5020
Email: clendenning@nexusmarketresearch.com
Home page: nexusmarketresearch.com
LC BATES
Learn the ins and outs of museum work, with a flexible schedule and a great learning environment. There are four internships available ranging from museum curation to environmental education. Contact Deborah Staber at LCBates Museum for information: DStaber@gwh.org
See below for the listings...
1. Museum Curation, Conservation
Learn how a small museum works to care for its collections as you gain skills in managing collections and data entry. Work alongside museum staff and for several days with a professional conservator to help clean, store, and catalogue museum objects. Students would use PastPerfect professional software to catalog museum holdings. The students will learn basic skills and methods for care, documentation, and maintenance of museum collections. Project objects may include natural history specimens and historic artifacts. The project will provide the student with museum studies experience that could be training for future work in the museum field or in other fields such as library science.
2. Biological studies and Natural History
Student would help to catalog, identify, and interpret natural history specimens in Museum. Depending on the students interest and career goals, the project materials could range from bird eggs, fish (including a blue marlin caught by Earnest Hemingway), non-North American birds, and mammals, to sponges and corrals. With museum staff the student will select a specific collection that needs to be documented and researched and work to use their knowledge to research the objects and to provide public interpretation.
3. Historical/Archaeological studies
Expand your knowledge of a specific historic culture and your research skills as you work with real collections. Student could help catalog and identify archaeological artifacts including those found in Asian and Mexico. Students will work with a specific small collection of archaeological artifacts that the will research, interpret, catalog and place on exhibition. The Student could also help with archaeological education for youth at the museum.
4. Environmental Education
This program will provide a strong experience for future educators or environmental education students. Student will participate in the development of after school group programs for elementary school children. They would be working hands-on to help teach workshops. The student would also help with guided tours, hands-on projects, and help create educational materials for the children and their families to use in the museum. The student could help to create new educational crafts for the children and their families. The student would also be able to assist in analyzing the pervious years educational data in surveys. This data will support the LC Bates Museum's future grant proposals.
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