Did you know that PoE also trains UW’s environmental science grad students to communicate their research? Read about their blog!
[award] – Brower Youth Awards ($3000 Award)
Earth Island Institute Seeks to Honor Next Generation of Environmental Activists With Brower Youth Awards
The Earth Island Institute is accepting applications from young environmental activists for the thirteenth Annual Brower Youth Awards.
The awards are designed to recognize the outstanding leadership efforts of young people who are working for the protection of the planet. The program seeks to highlight the accomplishments of these new leaders and to invest in their continued success by providing ongoing access to resources, mentors, and opportunities to develop leadership skills.
Young activist leaders between the ages of 13 and 22 (as of July 1, 2012) living in North America are eligible to apply.
The program seeks individuals with vision, motivation, and leadership skills. Applicants should have played the major leadership role in creating, organizing, and implementing their project or campaign(s). Applicants should be able to demonstrate the positive impact of their project on the environment and community in terms of measurable results (e.g., acres of wildlife habitat protected or restored, number of people engaged in environmental issues because of the project, numbers of children no longer exposed to toxins, etc.).
Projects should fall into one or more of the following broad categories: conservation — work to eliminate or decrease the use of finite natural resources and the negative impacts on ecosystems and communities; preservation — work to protect ecosystems, species, indigenous cultures, and other irreplaceable elements of the world’s natural heritage; and restoration — work to re-establish the healthy functions of an ecosystem, parts of ecosystems, and human communities that manage ecosystems.
Each of the six awardees will receive a $3,000 cash prize, a professionally produced short film about their work, and flight and lodging accommodations for a week-long trip to the San Francisco Bay Area. During their stay in California, the recipients will participate in a camping trip, leadership activities, speaking engagements, trainings, and environmental conferences. The week of activities culminates in the awards ceremony on October 16, 2012.
Visit the program Web site for complete guidelines and the application form.
[job] Part-Time Student Administrative Assistant
Environment International Ltd. (EI) is hiring!
Seeking a student with outstanding organizational, computer, writing and people skills for a part-time administrative position, ideally through University of Washington Work-Study program.
Visit their website or click here for more information on applying!
[program] MSc Economics of Climate Change
Check out this cool masters program in the UK!
The program aims to provide a thorough postgraduate education in the specialist area of climate change economics and policy. The compulsory core modules provide a critical understanding of current theories and empirical research in this field of knowledge and students will develop a practical understanding of the application of this knowledge within an institutional framework.
For further details please contact Dr Della Giusta – m.dellagiusta@rdg.ac.uk
One Earth: Many Worlds
Follow the link above to read up on the blog of Jason Scullion (PoE TA Extraordinaire), “While living in the Peruvian Amazon on a ten-month Fulbright Fellowship”.
Time history of atmospheric carbon dioxide from 800,000 years ago until January, 2009.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
[internship] – UW Geoduck Research Project
The UW geoduck research project is looking for interns for spring quarter. We think this could be a great opportunity for POE undergrads interested in 1-3 credits of Experiential Learning (ENVIR 350). This is a good opportunity for students eager to gain field experience.
You must be available for daylong field trips on some of the dates indicated below (3 trips = 30 hours = 1 credit). It may be possible to make a mix of field and lab work (e.g., 2 field trips + 10 hours of lab work = 1 credit).
Dates:
- April 8-10; 22-24
- May 17-19
- Jun 3-5; 14-16
BACKGROUND:
A variety of studies have suggested that shellfish aquaculture operations can cause significant change in resident ecological communities at or near project sites, and development of intertidal aquaculture operations for Pacific geoduck clams, Panopea generosa, provides an opportunity to investigate the phenomenon. As part of a NOAA Sea Grant-funded project, we are using experimental and comparative analytical techniques to determine how geoduck aquaculture affects communities of plants and animals on Puget Sound beaches. Our approach compares punctuated disturbances associated with culture methods to naturally occurring background levels of disturbance and will provide the scientific foundation for policy decisions that must balance the needs and concerns of multiple stakeholders.
A variety of studies have suggested that shellfish aquaculture operations can cause significant change in resident ecological communities at or near project sites, and development of intertidal aquaculture operations for Pacific geoduck clams, Panopea generosa, provides an opportunity to investigate the phenomenon. As part of a NOAA Sea Grant-funded project, we are using experimental and comparative analytical techniques to determine how geoduck aquaculture affects communities of plants and animals on Puget Sound beaches. Our approach compares punctuated disturbances associated with culture methods to naturally occurring background levels of disturbance and will provide the scientific foundation for policy decisions that must balance the needs and concerns of multiple stakeholders.
Project website http://www.wsg.washington.edu/research/geoduck/research/vanblaricom_overview.html
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
– Learn about lab/field safety and chemical hygiene.
– Gain experience collecting and processing samples, including coarse sorting and invertebrate identification and enumeration.
– Gain experience using microscopes and other lab equipment.
– Develop knowledge of procedures for collecting data in the field, including site selection, sample acquisition, and preservation.
– Gain familiarity with techniques for the culture/harvest of geoduck clams and the environmental, social, and political debate over intertidal aquaculture.
FIELDWORK DETAILS:
Each trip will depart from the loading dock on the west side of the Fisheries Sciences Building (FSH, aka SAFS; across from Recycled cycles). Please try to be there about 10 minutes before the departure time so we can load all of the gear. We will most likely head straight to our research sites without delay so plan on packing a travel mug if you need java to keep yourself warm and motivated. Once we get to the sites we’ll give everyone an overview of the activity and divide up into groups to complete tasks. Our trips typically take 7-8 hours.
ITEMS YOU SHOULD BRING: I would recommend preparing for variable, chilly weather this time of year. Dress in layers and expect to get muddy/dirty. Gloves and a warm hat are often a good idea. If you have rubber boots, please bring them. You should also bring rain gear (rain pants or overalls might help you stay a bit cleaner too). If you’re lacking boots/gear, please let me know and I’ll find something for you. You should also pack a snack. Please let me know if you have any questions. Again, thank you for contributing to this study. We appreciate your help.
TRIP DESCRIPTIONS:
invertebrate sampling trips – We’ll be collecting/preserving benthic core samples and epibenthic pumps, and photographing quadrats, in 4-6 person teams (each team is led by a graduate student or senior researcher). Dates: April 8-10; June 14-16
fish sampling and tagging trips – We’ll be beach seining fish and tagging them as part of a recapture experiment. We’ll also preserve tissue samples for diet and chemical analysis. Teams will be up to 11 people (each team is led by a graduate student and senior researcher). Dates: April 22-24; May 17-19; June 14-16
*****************************************
P. Sean McDonald, PhD
Research Associate
School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences
University of Washington
Box 355020
Seattle, WA 98195-5020
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[study abroad]: UW India Himalaya – Development, Environment & Sustainability
Study in India in Summer 2012 Application Due
Thursday March 15, 2012
South Asia Center of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies
2012 Summer Quarter UW India Himalaya – Development, Environment & Sustainability Study Abroad Program. It is a nine week opportunity for UW students to study and live in the Kumaun Himalaya in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The academic focus of the program examines the political economy of development in India and considers the dynamics of formal and informal labor, environmental change and integrated rural development.
For more information click here or check us out on Facebook.
[internship] Work for OurEarth this summer!
OurEarth.org, a 501©3 non-profit environmental organization, is currently recruiting undergraduate and graduate students for its 2012 Environmental Leadership Program. They’re interested in connecting with students at UW who are passionate about environmental issues!
Applications for this 8 week summer internship are due March 30th
Check out their flyer here
or their website here
or contact John Ullman at (410) 878-6485 or john@ourearth.org for more information!
New Spring Short Course | Earn 3 Grad Credits in Iceland Studying Arctic Marine Space in Maritime Transport Policies
FREE ACCOMMODATION for first three applicants!
Course title: “Inuit & Qallunaat Concepts of Arctic Marine Space in Maritime Transport Policies” 21-30 March 2012, 9am-Noon daily
The University of Washington* and University Centre of the Westfjords in Ísafjörður, Iceland have a partnership through University of the Arctic for graduate studies and research. This spring the master’s program in Coastal & Marine Management has opened eight slots for UW upper-division or graduate students for the short course, CMM 11: “Inuit & Qallunaat Concepts of Arctic Marine Space in Maritime Transport Policies” taught by Nadine Fabbi, UW Canadian Studies Center (see course description below or link to the course blog for more information – http://blogs.uw.edu/nfabbi/).
Costs: In addition to registering for three UW credits, students are responsible for round-trip flight costs to Ísafjörður, Iceland (approx. $1,000); program fee to Coastal & Marine management (15.000 ISK or approx. $125 US provides access to library, study facilities, scanner, Wi-Fi); food and incidentals. Accommodations – in the teacher’s apartment – are provided by the Coastal & Marine Management program for three students. Additional students must also cover their own accommodation.
Flight Information: Direct flights are available between Seattle and Reykjavík on Alaska airlines. From Reykjavík domestic flights are available to Isafjörður at www.flugfelag.is
Registration: Students must register with both the Coastal & Marine Management program and for independent credit at the UW. Independent study credits may be obtained through one of the sponsoring departments (see below).
Application: Students whose research is in Arctic studies will be given priority. If you are interested in taking the course, write to instructor, Nadine Fabbi nfabbi@uw.edu with a brief explanation of your interests in Arctic studies and confirmation that you are able to cover the travel costs of the program.
*Partnering Departments: Canadian Studies Center, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies; School of Marine Affairs, College of the Environment; Program on the Environment, College of the Environment.
Course Description – “Inuit & Qallunaat Concepts of Arctic Marine Space in Maritime Transport Policies”
How do we understand the Arctic marine environment and how does this understanding translate into maritime transport policies and ultimately into emerging forms of governance for the Arctic region?
For the Inuit, marine space – sea ice and open sea – is a source of food, skins for traditional clothing, materials for art, and serves as a platform for cultural and educational activities. Inuit identity, at its core, is based on free movement on nunangat (land, sea and ice). Qallunaat (nonInuit) have traditionally used the Arctic seas for economic gain to support exploration or extraction of natural resources, tourism, future fisheries and shipping routes. As a result, how Arctic marine space is conceived has considerable variation resulting in developing tensions and disputes over ownership and use. These differing concepts shape the agenda of Arctic maritime transport policies.
Qallunaat policies focus on safety and environmental protection or shortterm sustainability primarily to support near future economic development. The policy of the international Inuit association, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, “The Sea Ice is Our Highway: An Inuit Perspective on Transportation in the Arctic” (2008), calls for a different type of sustainability. Inuit sustainability is based on maintaining the natural order for hundreds and even thousands of years (p. 22). Given these differing concepts of Arctic marine space and the values/policies they generate, how can we successfully resolve maritime transport disputes?
This course will provide a critical foundation for understanding marine transport in the Arctic region – a region comprising much of Inuit traditional homeland. Lectures will include an overview of the geography of the Arctic Ocean including major ports, traditional travel and shipping routes; the history of Arctic marine transport for Inuit and Qallunaat; differing concepts of Arctic marine regions; actors/stakeholders in the Arctic; Arctic maritime organizations, think tanks and key scholars; current marine transport disputes; and, the policies and laws that govern the region.
Students will select a current Arctic marine transport issue (individually or in teams) and write a policy report taking into account Arctic indigenous and nation-state policies, perspectives, values and worldviews in report recommendations. Policy reports will be evaluated on their ability to successfully integrate Inuit and Qallunaat concepts of marine space and to translate those concepts into effective policy formation. Where appropriate, policy reports will be provided to Arctic stakeholders.
Particular attention will be given to the treatment of marine transport in the foreign and domestic policies of the eight Arctic nations, the European Union, in the declarations and reports of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, and reports of the Arctic Council. The course will also draw on artistic renderings of the Arctic marine region in Inuit prints and Qallunaat paintings to assist students in understanding the philosophical and cultural relationships to the region.
This course will hopefully engage soon-to-be leaders in marine management in the complex and exciting new decision-making models emerging in the Arctic region – models that are increasing and successfully integrating Arctic indigenous diplomacies in international relations.