----------

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM NEWSLETTER

September 11, 2006

----------

In this issue:

** Upcoming ES Events: First ES Colloquia: "Climate Change, Flowering, and Bird

Migrations: What is Happening and Why We Should Care.", Welcome Back Ice Cream Social

** ES Program News: Russ Cole and Philip Nyhus are on sabbatical, Curtis Bohlen and

Christopher Thoms join us for the year

** Campus Sustainability: RESCUE -- A Success

** Beyond Colby: Gubernatorial Forum Will Address Environmental and Energy Issues

** Jobs and Internships: Climate Action internship, ELR legal internship, farm

apprenticeship, GRNSS winter naturalist

=================================================================================================================

** Upcoming ES Events:

ES Evening Colloquia

Tuesday, September 12

7:00 p.m. Olin 1, Join us at 5:30 for dinner with Abe in the private dining room in Bob's

Abe Miller-Rushing, PhD student Boston University

"Climate Change, Flowering, and Bird Migrations: What is Happening and Why We Should

Care."

Worldwide, many spring events are occurring earlier than they did in the past. However,

not all species are following the trend toward earlier spring activity. I will describe

which plant and bird species in New England are changing, which are not, and what this

might mean for natural communities.

Abraham Miller-Rushing graduated with a BA in Biology from Grinnell College in 2000.

After graduating, he led several youth conservation corps in the restoration of forest

understory vegetation in Maine. In 2002, he took a position with STINASU, the national

environmental organization in Suriname, as a Peace Corps volunteer. He is now finishing

his doctoral work at Boston University, where he studies the impact of climate change on

the timing of spring events such as flowering and bird migrations.

Welcome Back Ice Cream Social

Friday, September 15

2:00 in the balcony above Page Commons (second floor of Cotter Union)

Please join ES faculty, returning ES students and others interested in the major to kick

off the '06-'07 year with ice cream sundaes and brownies!

** ES Program News:

We have a few changes in the ES program this year. Professor Dave Firmage will be

Director of the ES Program this year, with Tom Tietenberg and Liliana Andonova on campus

as the core ES faculty.

Russ Cole is on sabbatical leave this year and David Firmage is now ably directing the

Environmental Studies Program. Russ and Suzi have moved to northern Virginia where they

will be living for their sabbatical year. Russ will return to the Smithsonian

Institution and work with colleagues in the Division of Mammals at the National Museum of

Natural History. He will be working on several projects related to the conservation of

the world's mammal species. Suzi, also on sabbatical, will return to the Library of

Congress and be working in the Division of Science, Technology and Business.

Philip Nyhus is spending his sabbatical working on multiple research projects. He is

currently in China, where he working with the Chinese government to assess the

feasibility of restoring protected areas suitable as habitat for the South China tiger,

which is extinct in the wild but may be reintroduced. He will be traveling to

Scandinavia, where he is researching wolf-human interactions and wolf management policies

related to his research on wolf conservation and management in the US. And he is editing

the second edition of Tigers of the World; The Science, Politics, and Conservation of

Panthera tigris.

And joining us this year:

Curtis Bohlen will be filling in for Professor Nyhus. Professor Bohlen is an ecologist

with a lifelong interest in environmental policy and all things aquatic. He comes to the

Environmental Studies Program on leave from a position with Trout Unlimited, where he

works on stream and wetland restoration, conservation programs under the Farm Bill and

Maine environmental policy issues. He previously served on the faculty of Bates College.

Before moving to Maine, he worked on the wetland policy, ecological economics and

watershed management with the University of Maryland’s Chesapeake Biological Laboratory

and was Maryland Staff Scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. He spent a year on

Capitol Hill as the American Institute of Biological Sciences Congressional Science

Fellow. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology from Stanford and a Ph.D. in Ecology

from Cornell. In his spare time he reads to his kids and tries to stay in good enough

shape to survive cross country ski marathons.

Christopher Thoms is a visiting Faculty Fellow who is here to add environmental justice

content to Colby's ES program. He is teaching the first ever reading seminar in

Environmental Studies this Fall, and will be teaching "Introduction to Environmental

Justice" and "Conservation, Development, and Justice" in the Spring. Last year he taught

Environmental Studies at Knox College in Illinois. He earned his doctorate at the

University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment where he studied the

role of foreign aid in Nepal's community forest program. His research interests focus on

the intersection between conservation, rural livelihoods, and social justice. Dr. Thoms

will be living on campus as the Faculty Resident in Goddard-Hodgkins during his

fellowship.

** Campus Sustainability: RESCUE a success

Thanks to all who participated or shopped at this year's RESCUE sale. Once again, the

Physical Plant Department (PPD) led a very successful event. PPD, along with faculty,

staff, and student volunteers collected unwanted goods -- from couches, rugs, lamps and

fans to coffee urns, lacrosse sticks, and a guitar amp from students moving out in the

spring. Last Tuesday students lined up from the doors of the Fieldhouse all the way to

the street to purchase these "gently used" very useful items at bargain prices. All of

the clothes collected are donated to a local non-profit organization and the proceeds

from the RESCUE sale cover the costs of running the program.

Recycling at its best!!

** Beyond Colby: Gubernatorial Forum Will Address Environmental and Energy Issues

The Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine (E2 Tech) will open its Fall

program series by hosting a Gubernatorial Forum that will address environmental and

energy issues and feature the major candidates for Governor.

The event will be held Thursday, September 14th from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the

Hannaford Lecture Hall in the Abromson Community Education Center on the Portland campus

of the University of Southern Maine. The cost is $10 for E2 Tech members and students and

$20 for non-members. A continental breakfast will be served.

To register, contact Ryan Triffitt at RTriffitt@rookscommunications.com.

** Jobs and Internships:

Each week we'll feature internships and jobs in the environmental field. Check here for

a look at the wide variety of opportunities available during Jan plan and the summer.

Never too early to be thinking about your next internship.

City Slicker Farms: Farm Apprenticeship

Contact: Willow Rosenthal

Email: cityslickerfarms@riseup.net

Description: City Slicker Farms, a non-profit urban farming program in West Oakland,

California is seeking qualified applicants for 2 year-long apprenticeships and 1 summer

apprenticeship.

Urban Farm Apprentices work in all areas of the program, including farming (planning,

obtaining supplies, propagating, planting, harvesting, etc.), volunteer management,

farm-stand sales, community outreach, event planning, construction projects, technical

assistance for community members, administrative work, and record-keeping. Apprentices

are expected to be able to work independently and manage others.

Location: Oakland, CA

Duration: 1-year apprenticeship or 2 1/2 to 3 months summer apprenticeship

Start Date: November 15, 2006 (Full Year); Flexible early Summer 2007 (Summer)

Hours: 35hrs/wk Wed-Sat plus other flex time

Compensation: Room and organic board $300 per month stipend Year-long Apprenticeship: 3

weeks vacation in December/January plus two weeks vacation Summer Apprenticeship: 1 week

vacation Lodging is walking/biking distance to work sites and 3 blocks from BART Train

Station (SF, Berkeley 10-15 minuts by train).

Application Procedure: If you are interested please request an application and send it

along with your resume to cityslickerfarms@riseup.net. Application Deadline of October

10, 2006; For Summer position, please apply by April 30, 2007.

Gore Range Natural Science School, Winter Naturalist

Contact: Ann Stevenson

Email: anns@gorereange.org

Description: The Gore Range Natural Science School (GRNSS) is an award-winning non-profit

organization that works to raise environmental awareness and inspire stewardship by

providing hands-on natural science learning experiences in the Colorado Rocky Mountain

ecosystem.

The Winter Naturalist internship is designed for those wishing to broaden their

experience in the field of interpretation and environmental education. Naturalists work

on a rotating schedule which includes: researching, planning and presenting interpretive

talks and snowshoe walks for Vail Ski Resort and White River National Forest Holy Cross

Ranger District; preparing and teaching winter ecology lessons for ski school youth;

staffing nature/visitor centers; conducting field research; teaching lessons for an after

school program; assisting with special events and administrative projects; and creating

interpretive exhibits.

Qualifications:

BA/BS or seeking a BA/BS in science, education, or an environmental science-related field;

current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications;

experience guiding or working with a variety of age groups;

ability to work flexible hours, including nights;

average to above average skiing and/or snowboarding skills

knowledge of Rocky Mountain ecology and conservation issues

Location: Vail / Eagle County Colorado

Duration: November 29, 2006 – April 15, 2007

Start Date: November 29, 2006

Hours: Flexible hours, mostly daytime

Compensation: Housing, Ski Pass, $175 week stipend

Application Procedure: Interested individuals are encouraged to go to our website

www.gorerange.org or to contact our office 970-827-9725 for an application. To be

considered for the position applicants should send a completed application, cover letter,

resume, and a list of 3 references to:

Gore Range Natural Science School

Attn: Ann Stevenson

PO Box 9469

(970) 827-9725 x14

anns@gorerange.org

www.gorerange.org

ELR Legal Intern

For three decades, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) has played a pivotal role in

shaping the fields of environmental law, policy, and management, both domestically and

internationally. ELI’s mission is to protect the environment by improving law, policy,

and management. For more information visit http://www.eli.org.

ELI publishes the Environmental Law Reporter (ELR), the National Wetlands Newsletter

(NWN), and The Environmental Forum (TEF). ELI Legal Interns for Publications support

editors of these periodicals by conducting research, bluebooking, monitoring and writing

summaries of current events, and engaging in various tasks and special projects on an

as-needed basis. Part-time positions are available during the school year and full-time

positions are available during the summer.

Stipend: Interns will be paid $8 per hour during the school year. There is no stipend

during the summer.

Applications: Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, transcript

(including undergraduate transcript), list of references, ELI’s employment application,

and a writing sample. Cover letters should address the candidates’ personal goals and

interests, as well as their experience and interest in environmental law and policy.

Application materials should be submitted September 15, 2006, for the fall semester,

December 1, 2006, for the spring semester, and February 15, 2007, for the summer to:

law@eli.org.

Municipal Climate Action Internship - Portland , ME

Organization: City of Portland

Description: Assist city with:

Greenhouse gas inventory

Project development and implementation

Outreach and education to neighboring organizations, schools, and businesses.

Qualifications: Undergraduate or Graduate students, excellent written and verbal

communication skills. Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel necessary.

Terms: Part-time; Any semester (Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter Break); Unpaid or college

credit.

If interested: E-mail resume and cover letter to Amelia Ravin, Community Program

Coordinator at aravin@cleanair-coolplanet.org or call (617) 259 2011.

Please include the internship title with your resume and cover letter and in the subject

line of your email.

Earth Science Associate, United States Geological Survey

Menlo Park, California

Summary

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) seeks assistance in the development of a

training program in support of a tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean Region. We

currently are in the process of deciding which seismic stations should come online to

include real-time data sharing with the international community as one part of the

warning mechanism for the future large earthquakes/tsunami waves. In addition, numerous

training courses will need to be developed to teach scientific leaders in the region how

to maintain their systems and how best to disseminate warnings.

Our objective is to prepare the programs to train local scientists to install, upgrade

and maintain seismic stations in five countries in the Indian Ocean, such that real-time

data is shared with the international community and can be used as a basis for issuing

warnings of tsunamigenic events. The ultimate goal is to save lives for the people most

in harm's way.

Project Duration One - Two years (budget dependent)

Start Date October 1, 2006

Hours per week 40

Pay $14.90 - $17.73

Benefits

The intern would become familiar with the working of the USGS, a world-renowned

scientific organization. The intern would see how seismic instrumentation in the field

provides data that can be used for a variety of tasks. The intern would have the chance

to participate in the development of some very important, long-term products that would

be used by researchers around the world.

Responsibilities

For the Indian Ocean, scientists in India, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the

Maldives will need assistance in learning to operate and maintain equipment necessary to

have an effective warning system. This may involve training in geology, tectonics and

tsunami hazards, or other duties as they arise. Travel to the region is likely.

Required Qualifications

Bachelors or Masters Degree in a geology related field. The candidate should be

interested in geophysics, specifically earthquake hazards and seismic data.

Application Deadline 09/20/2006

................................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................................

Beth Kopp

Coordinator, Environmental Studies Program

Colby College

4846 Mayflower Hill

Waterville, Maine 04901-8848

207.859.4846

fax 207.872.3474

Office: 221 Lunder House

bkkopp@colby.edu