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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
MARCH 16, 2009
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** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS: ES Colloquia -- Wednesday
** ALSO ON CAMPUS: Green Corps Information Session
** BEYOND CAMPUS: The Program on Conservation Innovation at the Harvard Forest, March 17 is Citizen Action Day for NRCM
** CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY: Earth Hour
** JOBS & INTERNSHIPS: Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Maine Island Trail Association Casco Bay Island Caretakers, Cool Climate jobs website, summer Herpetological internship, NRCM,
volunteer on a wildlife project in the Peruvian Amazon
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** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS:
Greener Rulemakings: The Obama Administration
Cindy Skrzycki, Bloomberg News Columnist and Lovejoy Visiting Journalist
March 18
Noon, in the Fairchild Room in Dana. Join us at 11:30 for lunch with Cindy
Cindy Skrzycki is a business columnist for Bloomberg News, former Washington Post journalist, and the author of "The Regulators: The Anonymous Power Brokers Who Shape Your Life.” Wednesday, she will discuss the changes the Obama administration has made or is likely to make regarding environmental policy and reflect on some of the deregulatory moves of the Bush administration.
** ALSO ON CAMPUS:
GREEN CORPS - Info Session
Thursday, March 19th, 7pm Lovejoy 205
Today, the state of our environment is a household issue: global warming is in the news every day, students across the country are rallying to green their campuses, celebrities are speaking out for a host of causes, and schoolchildren are asking why the adults have let these things happen. This increased visibility and cultural awareness creates an enormous opportunity for environmentalists; it's our best chance ever to engage the public to push for solutions.
Come learn how to be part of the Solution - Bring a resume. Interviews on Friday, 3/20/09
Thursday, March 19th, 7pm Lovejoy 205
** BEYOND CAMPUS:
The Program on Conservation Innovation at the Harvard Forest
Join us online Wednesday, March 18, for a dialogue with a remarkable group of students recently returned from the Conservation Capital in the Americas conference held in Valdivia, Chile
Dear Colleagues in Conservation:
On March 18 at 10 am EST the Conservation Finance Forum will host an online discussion with four student participants recently returned from the conference on CONSERVATION CAPITAL IN THE AMERICAS, held in January 2009 in Valdivia, Chile. These young people were among the thirty students who attended the conference from North, Central and South America.
The thirty students who attended the conference, making up about a quarter of 120 people from the public, private, non-profit and academic sectors at the meeting, represented 17 diverse academic institutions, including Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Duke, the University of Montana, Colby College in Maine, the Universidad Austral de Chile, the Unversidad Pacifico in Peru, and the Univesidad del Valle in Colombia.
The student guests on this broadcast, representing both undergraduate and graduate institutions in the United States, will consider the significance of the meeting in Valdivia, and the potential of the innovations discussed there to have a lasting impact on the practice of land and biodiversity conservation across the Western Hemisphere.
The student guests include: Jude Wu, a second-year student at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies who presented a paper on conservation finance intermediaries at the conference; Blair Braverman, a sophomore environmental policy student at Colby College who presented a paper on the conservation impact of Alaska's Iditarod Trail; Chris Larson, a Yale School of Management student focusing on private investment in agricultural lands, and David Lewis a Harvard School of Design student who studies green building and sustainable real estate finance (to review each of these well-written papers, click on the following link: http://www.conservationfinanceforum.org/wrapup.html <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102469709753&e=001j_G6xBm-pzSS1tMDOyuS9PDhkSpGrFNXCk8zRRGM6zYHajRJsQ8unYqIYYyYdvbr0bog4d35sisj_JvcMeKm31r6tWe_Mb6soaEiyLrsoaacuSXDOc4CYK_j1B_mNF0LFbcABPOSvd5gVw7CZcoZZQ==> ).
The conversation will be hosted by Jim Levitt (Harvard Forest, Harvard University). We look forward to participation in the online session by colleagues from North, Central and South America, and beyond.
You can sign up to listen and submit live questions during the course of this expert chat with Chris Larson, Blair Braverman, and Jude Wu by logging onto the event page (click here)
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102469709753&e=001j_G6xBm-pzRQUuLbCY3phcRmV3wArTiQOz0s92vRGfy2xHATghX_PKz-Sq-bfFxLM5g_f_RlHNc8Au5ntEovTiZcag1OfL6W6yByZDvAX9nPtj67mfI4gLXLqVYe2OWkRKXTCyx-20fnGKSI6uqsGZviOfjpQJYppq59xCbwttWPV5HszScXTg==> on the Government Innovators Network.
Please join us on Wednesday, March 18 at 10 am EST for this discussion of Conservation Capital ion the Americas. We look forward to interacting with you in the live forum.
NRCM has set the 2009 Legislative Priorities for Protecting Maine’s Environment and you can get involved with Citizen Action Day
Tuesday, March 17th from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at NRCM’s headquarters, 3 Wade Street in Augusta.
· Learn firsthand from NRCM staff about our priorities for the upcoming legislative session;
· Participate in the legislative process by meeting to your legislator during our visit to the State House; and
· Meet other NRCM members and activists who care about Maine’s environment.
Visit here to learn more: http://supporters.nrcm.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=100221
** CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY:
Earth Hour
If you're interested in being part of a bold, worldwide statement to demand decisive, international climate change action, just turn off your lights for one hour. During Earth Hour, Saturday March 28th from 8:30-9:30 PM, individuals, NGOs, companies, towns and even cities will turn off their lights in a show of solidarity. Turning your lights off will effectively act as a vote for international action to curb climate change. Says the World Wildlife Fund, the organizers of the event, "for the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote - Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth."
Yes, it sounds corny, but the premise is solid: WWF will send a list of all registered voters to the UN Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark this December. This conference is where any climate agreement will be decided, and Earth Hour is an easy way to make your voice heard to leaders around the globe.
Earth Hour had 2.2 million participants in its first year, 2007. In 2008 it ballooned to 50 million. Now, they're hoping to reach 1 billion participants. Sign up and be counted! Go to http://www.earthhour.org/signup/default:en
** JOBS & INTERNSHIPS:
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute has an opening for a paid summer research internship
Quota allocations to groups of self-selecting permit holders (known as sector allocations) are increasingly being considered as a way to provide fishermen with greater control and flexibility in their fishing businesses while achieving efficiency gains. This new approach, which devolves substantial management responsibilities to groups of fishermen, represents a potential transformation in the relationship among fishermen as well as the relationship between fishermen and the management councils.
We hypothesize that the success of sectors is likely to rest in part on the strength of the relationships between permit holders including their degree of trust and collaboration. We also hypothesize that successful sectors will build norms and networks that enable collective action over time. The value of these relationships is commonly referred to in social and economic literature as social capital.
There has been no evaluation of the social capital of existing Groundfish sectors or of the proposed sectors. GMRI in cooperation with the Northeast Fishery Science Center is developing a survey that will be used to collect the baseline information necessary to measure the social capital of existing sectors and of new sectors before they begin operation. The initial survey will be followed up by one or more additional surveys after the sectors have been operating to determine the role social capital played in their success (or lack thereof) and how whether and how the social capital of the sectors has evolved over time.
Position Description:
The intern will assist with development of a survey to measure social capital of existing sectors in the groundfish fishery and a number of new sectors that are being formed now. The intern will conduct background research on measurement of social capital and will assist Dr. Holland and Dr. da Silva with design and pilot testing of a phone survey that will be administered to fishermen. The position may involve travel within the region to conduct ethnographic interviews with fishermen. The successful candidate should be capable of working autonomously and have the confidence to interact with members of the fishing industry.
Qualifications:
We are looking for a graduate student (maybe they would consider an undergrad?) with an interest in research on social capital and fisheries and relevant training in the social science (e.g. economics, public policy, anthropology sociology). Experience with conducting interviews or focus groups and with survey design is desirable.
Stipend: The internship provides a stipend of $5,000 with an expectation of a minimum of 8 weeks at full time.
Applications:
Applicants should submit a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae and names of three references to Dan Holland. Applications will be accepted through March 21 or until a suitable candidate is found.
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
350 Commercial Street
Portland, Maine 04101
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Maine Island Trail Association: Casco Bay Island Caretakers
The Maine Island Trail Association is seeking a pair of qualified island caretakers to help with the management and stewardship of islands in Casco Bay. The caretakers will reside on Jewell Island and make regular visits to other publicly accessible islands in the bay to monitor recreational activity, provide stewardship services, and educate island visitors about Leave No Trace. This is a 5-month seasonal position that will be shared by two people working closely together for the duration of the recreational boating season. Both individual and joint applications will be considered. Each caretaker will receive a living stipend of $5,000.
For more information and application instructions please see http://www.mita.org/node/537.
Check out this link to see what Cool Climate Jobs are open up:
http://www.coolclimatejobs.com/
AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER ON A WILDLIFE PROJECT IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON
Do you care about the planet? Love rainforests? Have enthusiasm for
surveying wildlife?
Then don't miss the opportunity to develop surveying and identification
skills in the field of neo-tropical ecology! This could be a once in a
lifetime opportunity to train with experts in tropical ecology to make a
real contribution towards conservation in the rainforests of Peru! You will
be trained in surveying techniques and species identification skills.
Dates for 2009
6th July to 14th Aug - FULL for mammal & bird team, 2 places for herp team.
13th Aug to 20th Sept
5th Oct to 13th Nov
12th Nov to 20th Dec
Fauna Forever Tambopata is a long-term wildlife and ecotourism monitoring
project based in and around the Tambopata National Reserve and Bahuaja
Sonene National Park in the Amazon rainforest of south-eastern Peru. This
region lies on the eastern edge of the Tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot,
the richest and most diverse area on Earth. The Project is offering places
to volunteers to help carry out wildlife monitoring. No previous research
experience is required - all you need is a passion for conservation! You
will be expected to make a contribution to costs associated with training,>local travel, food and accommodation.
The research sites are located in some of the world's most biodiverse
rainforests, including prize-winning ecolodges run by Rainforest Expeditions
(www.perunature.com) and the two oldest ecolodges and research stations in
the Peruvian Amazon: the Explorers Inn (www.explorersinn.com) and Reserva
Amazonica (www.reserva-amazonica.info).
TO APPLY: Please download an Application Form from the Project website and
email it with your CV (no more than 2 pages) to
mail@faunaforevertambopata.org.
For more information please see the Project website:
www.faunaforevertambopata.org
Fauna Forever Tambopata
Fauna Forever Tambopata is affiliated to TReeS-Peru, PO Box 28, Puerto
Maldonado ,Madre de Dios, Peru
TReeS-Peru is a Peruvian notfor-profit organisation affiliated to TReeS, PO
Box 33153, London NW3 4DR, UK>TReeS is a UK Charity No. 298054.
Web: www.faunaforevertambopata.org | E-mail: mail@faunaforevertambopata.org
SUMMER HERPETOLOGICAL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Location: Southcentral and Southeastern Michigan
Start Date: late March 2008 (flexible)
End Date: September 2008 (flexible)
Salary: unpaid internship and housing not provided; mileage reimbursement and field
equipment use available
Herpetological Resource and Management, LLC seeks one to two enthusiastic
undergraduate/graduate student(s) to help carry out seasonal field work conducting
Amphibian, Turtle, and Reptile Inventorying, Monitoring, and Translocation in southern
Michigan. The applicant(s) is expected to perform or assist with the following activities:
field surveys using a variety of techniques to inventory and conduct research on
amphibians, turtles, and reptiles on public lands; collection of environmental data at study
sites; GIS/GPS habitat and species mapping; data entry into established databases;
maintenance of field equipment; data compilation and creation of tables and figures for
reports and publications.
The applicant must have at least 1 year of academic experience leading to a degree in
biology, zoology, wildlife ecology, natural resource conservation, or a related field, or have
graduated with such a degree. Some experience conducting field work on midwest
herpetofauna is desirable, but not required. The applicant must have an ability and
willingness to learn to identify many amphibians, turtles, and reptiles on sight or with the
aid of field guides (such as the Peterson Field Guide by Conant and Collins); an ability and
willingness to learn how to identify frogs from their calls; the ability to accurately record
detailed data in the field; and knowledge of computer operation and familiarity with basic
Microsoft word processing and data manipulation programs. Experience with GPS and
especially GIS desired. Database and Website management a plus. The applicant must be a
licensed driver and have a reliable means of transportation to and from the office location.
Most of the work is outdoors, sometimes under harsh or hot conditions or in rain. The
position requires good physical condition, as the job on occasion requires long hours in
the field (including some night-time surveys). The most important qualification for this
position is a good sense of humor, solid work ethic, and a passion for learning. All
fieldwork will be conducted as part of teams of 2-3 people, so a demonstrated ability and
desire to work effectively with a group is imperative.
These positions come with an amazing wealth of educational opportunities and on-the-
ground field experience. The successful applicants will have the rare opportunity to work
with Threatened, Endangered, and imperiled species in a variety of habitats. They will also
learn important techniques including elastomer tagging, GIS/GPS technology, mark-
recapture, and methods of population inventory and analysis. Most importantly, the intern
(s) will have the opportunity to build a network of federal, state, and local government
officials and private sector consultants.
To Apply: Send a completed resume via email (including 3 references) to:
David A. Mifsud, M.Sc., PWS
Herpetologist/Ecosystems Specialist
Herpetological Resource and Management, LLC
DMifsud@HerpRMan.com
(313) 268-6189
http://www.HerpRMan.com
Application Deadline: 20 March 2008
Internships at the Natural Resources Council of Maine
The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) provides unpaid internship opportunities throughout the year. NRCM is the state’s leading environmental advocacy organization. We have a broad range of major initiatives underway in the areas of addressing global warming, promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency, curbing threats to Maine’s North Woods, reducing threats from toxic pollution, and protecting water quality and Maine’s rivers.
Interns work on one or more meaningful projects in these issue areas, depending on the candidate’s strengths and interests and NRCM’s organizational needs. Interns work under the supervision of the Advocacy Director or one of the Project Directors. Interns get an inside view of how the environmental policy process in Maine works, and how NRCM mobilizes facts, media attention, decision-makers, and the public to contribute to the protection of Maine’s environment. Prior interns have had a great experience, and NRCM appreciates having them.
Send resume and cover letter to Leisa Dennett, ldennett@nrcm.org.
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