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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 25, 2008
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In this issue:
** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS: Tuesday evening colloquia,
Conserving Warblers and Willet
** BEYOND COLBY: Environmental Health Lobby Day Tuesday, March 4,
at the Statehouse
** SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Deadline approaching for Student
Scholarships Available to Attend a Unique Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit
** CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY: The Greening of SSWAC
** IN THE NEWS:
Sierra Club reports on candidates Environmental Scorecard
** GRAD SCHOOL INFO: Pursue a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences at
Wright State University
** JOBS & INTERNSHIPS: Green Corps, Greenpeace, American
Farmland Trust, Pacific Media
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** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS:
ES Evening Colloquia: Conserving Warblers and Willet
Peter S. McKinley, Ph.D. '87
Director of Forestland Conservation, Forest Society of Maine
Tuesday, February 26
7:00 in Olin 1
Dr. McKinley will use examples from his own career demonstrating
the various roles of conservation science, education, and policy from a bottom-up
perspective. If general
conservation principles applied in broad brush strokes across our landscapes
and seascapes represent top-down conservation, then site specific studies that
educate and motivate people in a particular region or watershed represent the
bottom-up approach. (Both
approaches are needed) Quite often
in the midst of conducting ecological research in forests and estuaries, he
found himself explaining his research projects to various stakeholders and the
general interested public (themselves a stakeholder group). The early interactions were incidental
and might have occurred while trying to gain access to a research site, while
latter interactions have become an important part of his conservation research
projects. While such place-based
conservation takes time, it is more likely to have lasting effects and take on
a life of its own. The talk will
be equal parts conservation science research conducted on songbird and
shorebird populations, and various means of delivering this research to make
differences on the ground and water.
** BEYOND COLBY:
Environmental Health Lobby Day Tuesday, March 4, at the Statehouse
The Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine is hosting its annual
Environmental Health Lobby Day Tuesday, March 4, at the Statehouse in Augusta. Quack the rubber ducky and concerned Mainers from all over the
state will visit the Maine Capitol Tuesday, March 4 to voice support for LD
2048. We will urge elected
officials to pass LD 2048, which will protect our families from unnecessary
toxic chemicals in children's products, the group said in a press release.
Environmental Health Lobby Day will begin at 8 a.m. in the Cross
Cafˇ with coffee and muffins. Those attending will hear details about the bill
and practice talking with legislators. We will then go and speak with our
senators and representatives, have lunch, and hold group meetings with
legislative leaders in the afternoon.
No prior experience is necessary, the group says. We'll provide
materials, training and moral support. We will provide childcare for those who
pre-register.
The basic layout for the day is this:
8:30 to 10 AM - Briefing on bills, lobbying role plays, etc.
10 AM to Noon - Lobbying upstairs in Capitol
Noon to 1 PM (approximate) - Lunch
1 PM to 3 PM (approximate) - Big group meetings with Senate Dem
and Rep leadership
For folks who may arrive late, it is often possible to set up a
lunch meeting with one's legislators in advance. If any students from your
class will be attending, would be great chance for them to get direct feedback
from legislators they are generating civic engagement contacts to. We're also
hoping to get a short time with the Governor between Noon and 1.
For more information or to sign up, go to:
http://www.cleanandhealthyme.org/NewsEvents/EnvironmentalHealthLobbyDay/tabid/119/Default.aspx
or contact Professor Gail Carlson <gcarlson>, she and
members of ES 266, The Environment and Human Health will be attending this
important event!
** IN THE NEWS:
For those of you who missed the great Goldfarb Center's Know
Before You Vote presentation the environment by our own Philip Nyhus and Gail Carlson, the Sierra Club
highlighted some of the findings of the League of Conservation Voters 2007
Scorecard.
(from Carl Pope, Director of the Sierra Club )
Sierra Club reports on candidates Environmental Scorecard
Two weeks ago John McCain was the only Senator to duck a crucial
vote on the future of clean energy in America -- dooming to failure the measure
that would have helped make renewable energy more affordable and accessible.
Now it turns out this missed vote is part of a pattern. Last week, the League
of Conservation Voters (LCV) released the 2007 National Environmental
Scorecardgiving Senator McCain a score of ZERO. According to the scorecard,
McCain was the only member of Congress to skip all 15 crucial environmental
votes scored by LCV. Can you help spread the word about McCain's 0% environmental
voting record and write a letter to the editor? The opinion page is widely read
in most communities -- and a well-placed letter can reach a broad audience.
We've included sample text to get you started. McCain's LCV score exposes the
real record behind the rhetoric -- a lifetime LCV score of 24, a history of
siding with the polluters and special interests, and a consistent pattern of
ducking important environmental votes.
For more information: http://www.lcv.org/
** CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY:
The Greening of SSWAC
Next time you are in the SSW Alumni Center, or just strolling by
the Colby Green, I encourage you to check out the educational slideshow in the
lobby of the building. The presentation, found on the flat screen as you enter
the building highlights green initiatives used in the construction and
operation of the alumni center.
The fantastic piece was put together by Brian Speer based on the PowerPoint from Russ Cole and Sarah
Becker '06. A great way to learn
more about this green building!
** SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY:
Deadline approaching for Student Scholarships Available to Attend
a Unique Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) invites you to
nominate students to attend a major Business LeaderÕs summit scheduled for May
22, 2008 at the Marriott Hartford Hotel.
In 2007 this unique regional forum brought together nearly 300
policymakers, efficiency service providers and business leaders from nine
states across the Northeast region to demonstrate the progress and benefits of
energy efficiency. Students who
attend will have an opportunity to:
-Meet with the
business leaders nominated to be recognized for their leadership in advancing
and achieve energy savings through investment in cost effective efficiency
measures at a special breakfast session
-Be introduced
at lunch with a short note about work that they are currently doing that
effects the way energy is produced or consumed
-Post and
distribute resumes or research proposals looking for underwriters
-Attend a
reception that will feature an exhibition of energy efficiency solutions
-Attend the
conference and the Business Leaders dinner
All fees are waived for attending this Summit meeting. This is an outstanding opportunity for
students in many disciplines including such areas as law, sociology, economics,
political science, history, science and engineering fields, to discover job
paths that have an intersection with their field of study and one of the most
pressing problems of our time, energy.
More information will
be forthcoming in early spring.
For now we would simply ask that you let us know if you might have
students that would be interested in this event. If so, please simply turn this email around. This event
offers a unique opportunity for students who are close to graduating or picking
a research topic to interact with the leaders in this area. Visit our website and see what you can
expect this May:: 2008 NEEP Summit
** GRAD SCHOOL INFO:
Pursue a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences at Wright State
University
The Environmental Sciences Ph.D. program at Wright State
University in Dayton, Ohio invites applicantsfor Fall 2008 admission. The program is designed to provide
skills and training to better understand and solve complex environmental
problems, such as those caused by anthropogenic pollutants, invasive species,
habitat fragmentation and loss of biodiversity, that can affect both human and
ecosystem health. Our students receive training in preparation for careers in
academia, state and federal agencies, industry, and non-profit organizations.
Through a rigorous core curriculum and dissertation research, our
interdisciplinary program is designed to broadly expose students to
both traditional and emerging areas of environmental sciences, and
offers the ability to focus on research in a more defined area. Our
program includes faculty in the departments of Biological
Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Mathematics and
Statistics.
The program offers competitive stipends for graduate students
($22,000 for Fall 2008) along with a waiver of tuition costs for full-time
students. Applicants
are also eligible for consideration to receive a prestigious Yellow Springs
Instruments (YSI) Fellowship for the first
year in the program, awarded to highly qualified students
enrolling for Fall 2008.
Applicants are encouraged to contact program faculty in their
areas of interest prior to
completing the application. To
apply online and to read more about our program and its curriculum, research,
faculty and student profiles, please visit our program website at:
http://www.wright.edu/academics/envsci/index.html
Questions regarding our program may be directed to our program
office:
Ms. Cathy Kempf, Administrative Specialist
262 Diggs Laboratory
Wright State University
Dayton, OH 45435
Phone: (937) 775-3273
FAX (937) 775-3485
Office Hours: 8:30 AM
– 5:00 pm Monday-Friday
Email: director.envsci@wright.edu
** JOBS & INTERNSHIPS:
GREEN CORPS
*Applications due March 15, 2008 – apply online today at
http://www.greencorps.org *
Green Corps is the non-profit Field School for Environmental
Organizing, founded by leading environmentalists in 1992 to train environmental
organizers. Our program includes intensive classroom training, hands-on
experience running urgent environmental campaigns, and placement in permanent
positions with leading environmental and social change groups.
Classroom Training. Our intensive classroom training combines
issue briefings, workshops and skills trainings to prepare you to run a
grassroots campaign. Issue briefings include Clean Cars, Renewable Energy,
Forests and Endangered Species. Strategy workshops include The Legislative
Process, Social Change Methodology and Effective Media: Messaging and Framing.
Finally, hands-on skills trainings include Leadership Development, Training
Volunteers and Running Effective Meetings. Training is run by the Green Corps
Central Staff, as well as environmental and social change experts such as John
Passacantando, Executive Director, Greenpeace USA, Bill McKibben, author and
climate change expert, and Wendy Wendlandt, Political Director, U.S. PIRG.
Field Training. Our field training puts you on the front lines of
today's most urgent environmental campaigns. With Green Corps, you will work in
multiple cities nationwide, chosen for their ability to make an impact on
critical environmental problems. Potential locations include, but are not
limited to, San Francisco, CA; Chicago, IL; Washington, DC and Boston, MA. You
must be willing to relocate during your year with Green Corps.
Dates. The program begins in August 2008 and concludes with
graduation in August 2009.
Responsibilities. Plan and implement a series of critical
environmental campaigns with groups like Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club
and Greenpeace. You will secure media coverage, recruit and manage volunteers,
train new leaders, and mobilize grassroots activists.
Career Development. Upon completion of the training program, Green
Corps will connect you to organizations that are seeking full-time professional
staff. Green Corps graduates hold positions with MoveOn.org, Sierra Club,
Greenpeace, Global Exchange, Endangered Species Coalition, Global Trade Watch,
Corporate Accountability International, ForestEthics, and many other
environmental and progressive groups.
Qualifications. Each year we select 35 recent college graduates to
join Green Corps. We are looking for people who are serious about saving the
planet, have demonstrated leadership experience, and want to work for change
over the long haul at the grassroots level.
Salary & Benefits. Salary of $23,750. Optional group health
care coverage, paid sick days and holidays, two weeks paid vacation, and a
student loan repayment program for qualifying staff.
To Apply. To apply to Green Corps, fill out our online application
by the Application Deadline of March 15, 2008. Deadlines, 2nd round interview
locations and our online application are at http://www.greencorps.org.
Contact. Jesse Littlewood, Recruitment Director, at
jobs@greencorps.org, 617-426-8506, x1.
GREENPEACE
You can travel internationally with Greenpeace to work with
activists abroad. Also, you'll learn how to engage in peaceful direct action,
climb, and drive Greenpeace boats!
ACTION * TRAVEL * TRAINING
Spend a Semester with Greenpeace
http://www.greenpeace.org/got
Summer and Fall programs are filling up, and early applications
are due March 7th.
Apply at http://www.greenpeace.org/got. The semester is offered in the Washington D.C. and San
Francisco Greenpeace
offices. Contact
program staff with questions at got@wdc.greenpeace.org or
877-450-3517 ext. 320.
For a green and peaceful future,
Linda Capato and Kate Bower
Greenpeace USA
Got@wdc.greenpeace.org
http://www.greenpeace.org/got
Graduating soon? Exciting jobs for college grads to stop global
warming!
Apply today at: http://members.greenpeace.org/survey/start/41/
American Farmland Trust
American Farmland Trust works at the federal, state and local
level to advocate for solutions that protect natural resources and encourage
profitable, sustainable farming in the United States.
We're seeking skilled, hard-working interns to conduct research and
assist with projects related to the new Agriculture and the Environment
Campaign.This is an excellent opportunity for college students and graduates to
learn first-hand about U.S. agri-environmental policy and to promote a cleaner
environment and a robust agricultural sector. Internships are available
starting immediately.
Duties will include:
-Conducting secondary research on the role of U.S. agriculture in
Climate Change and Water Quality impairment and improvement.
-Assisting project leaders with workshop planning.
-Assisting with research on and drafting of policy
recommendations to address climate change and water quality.
Qualifications
-College Junior (3rd year) or above. We seek candidates with a
range of experience, including graduate students and recent college graduates.
-Proven interest in U.S. Farm, Climate, Energy, and/or Water
policy issues.
-Skills:
A small stipend is available to help defray some living costs.
To Apply:
Please email a one-page cover letter and resume. Cover letter
should include your availability for work in Washington, DC.
Contact Information:
Ilan Gutherz
igutherz@farmland.org
http://www.farmland.org
Green Technology Assistant
Pacific Media
Position Type: Part Time
As a leading Media Communications firm in Silicon Valley, Pacific
Media has provided corporate television and interaction media creation services
to many of Silicon Valley's leading corporations.
GreenTech TV's mission is to provide services and products that
enhance the understanding of green and sustainable technologies. With long standing expertise in
environmental issue, Pacific Media's founder and staff are well positioned to
provide leadership capaibility in the green media marketplace.
Pacific Media and its business unit, GreenTech TV, are looking for
interns to support research, reporting, and production activities for Green
technology media services.
We are looking for students with either journalism, environmental
and/or media production (video and/or web) focus and with environmental
sustainability knowledge and demonstrated interest.
Experience in writing, reporting, web research, web design, and/or
video production with a passion for the expansion of Green technology to solve
our environmental crisis is critical.
A commitment of at least 8 hours per week is required.
Please call for further details. Email a one page resume with references.
Contact Information:
Minh Miran
408-987-4000 (phone)
mmiran@pacificmedia.com
http://www.pacificmedia.com
................................................................................................................................................................
Beth Kopp
Coordinator, Environmental Studies Program
Colby College
5356 Mayflower Hill Drive
Waterville, Maine 04901
Office: 208 Diamond Building
207.859.5356