[course]: Citizen Ecology

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Tired of large classes? Looking for a unique class only offered this spring? The following course can count for the natural science, policy and decision-making, or fieldwork requirements of the Environmental Studies major or minor. Open to all sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Science communication and community outreach are incredibly relevant to PoE and environmental studies in general!

ENVIR 495D, Citizen Ecology
MW 10:30-11:20, W 1:00-2:50
Open to all majors, SLN 13758
  • Should ecologists recruit the public to help collect important data to better understand global change—data that is otherwise difficult to get? 
  • Or is data collected by the public fundamentally flawed?
  • How can scientists and non-scientists communicate effectively about ecological ideas? 
  • Does citizen science change participants’ understanding of ecology and science, or their civic decision-making? Should it?
Citizen science (CS)—or “crowdsourced science”– is an important emerging phenomenon in ecological research. CS is characterized by collaboration between academic scientists and interested participants from the public, who volunteer to collect and share data.  This course explores the potential uses and shortcomings of CS research in ecology through labs and readings.  We also address science communication and social implications of CS.

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In 2011 Education Outside, in partnership with San Francisco Unified School District launched the Corps for Education Outside—the first service corps program in the United States dedicated to transforming urban public schools into centers of 21st century experiential learning, environmental sustainability, and innovation. The Corps program is designed to harness the enthusiasm and passion of college graduates who serve as the point people for outdoor experiential education and school greening activities at their school sites. Corps members play a central role in sparking students’ interest in science, building a more eco- and food-literate student population, increasing the energy efficiency of their schools’ infrastructure, decreasing schools’ waste streams, building strong school communities, and promoting outdoor education opportunities. Corps members receive a 10-month salary of $25,000, plus medical, dental, and vision insurance for each year of service, as well as paid professional development throughout their experience.

The deadline for applications is Monday, April 1st, 2013 at 5:00pm PST

For information and to apply, visit http://www.educationoutside.org/corps

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The Mangrove Action Project, an international NGO focused on conserving and restoring mangrove forests around the world, has launched a campaign called “Question Your Shrimp.”  The campaign aims to increase awareness and change behaviors around the consumption of farmed shrimp from overseas, which has proven to be so highly destructive of mangrove forests around the world and the rich ecology and marine life these forests support.

Internship Opportunity:

MAP currently seeks interns to help with the first phase of the QYS campaign.  In this phase, MAP will conduct a survey of  Seattle area restaurateurs.  The survey aims to gauge current knowledge levels around social and environmental issues related to the production and consumption of farmed shrimp from overseas, and determine the barriers which might prevent them from joining our cause and signing the Pledge to stop serving this shrimp and serve only sustainable shrimp.

Availability and Activities:  We are looking for up to four (4) dedicated individuals who can make an on-going commitment of 5-20 hrs per week to speak to restaurant owners and conduct the survey interviews.  Each interview will take approximately 20-30 minutes.  Most of the work can be done independently, at your convenience and based on the schedule of the restaurant representatives you contact.

Location:  Seattle/King County metropolitan area. 

Benefits:  These are unpaid positions. Depending on circumstances, we may be able to provide educational credit, references for future employment, and reimbursement for approved expenses relating to the position. 

To apply, please send your resume and a letter of interest to: SeattleOffice.MAP@gmail.com

Mangrove Action Project also seeks volunteers interested in the following areas:

· fundraising

· event promotion

· use of social media

· contributions and updates to our QYS campaign blog and MAP website

If you have an interest in any of these areas, please contact Lisa Pau, MAP’s Outreach Director at:lisa_pau@yahoo.com and/or Alfredo Quarto, MAP’s Executive Director at: mangroveap@olympus.net

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

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The next Sound Steward training is coming up in two weeks!  Sound Stewards is a volunteer program that ensures the long-term success of nearshore restoration areas while creating environmental leaders of all ages and walks of life. Sound Stewards impact critical shoreline habitat through on-the-ground monitoring and maintenance for ten EarthCorps-managed sites in the Duwamish and Snohomish River Estuaries. As environmental leaders, Sound Stewards help EarthCorps run restoration events, adapt management plans and educate the community. EarthCorps provides the education and resources to support Stewards in their role. There will be an orientation on March 13th at 6:30pm and a follow-up field training on March 16th from 8:30am-2:30pm.

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This is a reminder to register by Thursday, February 28 for the Defining Diversity Event on March 4th from 3-4pm in the PoE Commons in Wallace Hall.  

If a university is a bastion of academic freedom, can the students be required to take diversity courses?

If a university is a bastion of academic freedom, isn’t it just the place where students can, and should, learn about diverse ideas, cultures, approaches, disciplines, languages, experiences, and people?

In 2012, the UW Student Diversity Coalition proposed to establish a diversity course requirement for all students.  They stated that such a requirement is central to a core value of the University – to produce educated global citizens.

  •  what’s important  enough to be a requirement for all UW students?
  • what do general education requirements say about the university’s values?
  • who gets to (should) decide what’s core to a student’s basic education?
  • what difference would one course make?

 And, should the College of the Environment wait until a requirement is passed, or should we proactively institute our own courses, and course requirements?  Join the latest Conversation on Defining Diversity (CoDD) in the College of the Environment as we look at all sides of this issue.

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The Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability office (ESS) created a Green Office Certification Program for buildings and labs around UW. The certification is voluntary and has 66 questions. Each question falls within a specific category such as water use, energy conservation, and chemical disposal. Upon completion of the survey, the ESS provides suggestions to help labs waste less. So far, the ESS’s Green Office Certification Program has approved only 36 offices.

To read more about the Green Office Certification Program, go here.

[Scholarship]: Wetlands Travel Grant

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Are you studying or researching wetlands at UW? The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) Pacific Northwest Chapter is offering a $1000 student travel award for any graduate or undergraduate student to attend the SWS national meeting this June 2-6 in Duluth Minnesota. To receive the award, students must submit an abstract to the national meeting by March 8th, and then complete the application by April 15th.

Click here for more information about the application process and the award!

[event]: UW Earth Club Cell Phone Recycling, March 7

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UW Earth Club is collecting old cell phones in collaboration with LG. Help reduce e-waste, recycle your phone & get a gift in return! For every cell phone received, a Starbucks gift card will be given in return.

The collection bin is located in the entrance of Allen library, directly across from the Allen Research commons.

The collection ends March 7th.

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The Nature Conservancy’s Reef Resilience Program is hiring a Program Assistant to work with a small team out of the Seattle office. The program works to build a capacity of coral reef managers worldwide through a variety of trainings, learning exchanges, and webinars. The Program Assistant will support many facets of the reef resilience Program including:  logistical support for trainings, events, online courses, and general program efforts, and providing technical and writing assistance for our communications efforts and including the online reef resilience course. 

Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree and 1 year related experience or equivalent combination
  • Experience with MS office, including use of the internet
  • Experience coordinating projects
  • Experience working with a wide range of people, such as board of directors, donors, volunteers, and the public

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Excellent verbal and written skills
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Meets deadlines
  • Database management skills

For more information about careers at the Nature Conservancy and to apply, visit: https://careers.nature.org/psp/P91HTNC_APP/APPLICANT/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL

[event]: Conversations on Defining Diversity: Should Diversity Be Required

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[event]: Conversations on Defining Diversity: Should Diversity Be Required

Follow the link above for the full description and link to the (required) RSVP. Event will be held in the PoE commons. Hope to see you there!


Please register by Thursday, February 28.  Coffee and sweets will be served.

If a university is a bastion of academic freedom, can the students be required to take diversity courses?

If a university is a bastion of academic freedom, isn’t it just the place where students can, and should, learn about diverse ideas, cultures, approaches, disciplines, languages, experiences, and people?

In 2012, the UW Student Diversity Coalition proposed to establish a diversity course requirement for all students.  They stated that such a requirement is central to a core value of the University – to produce educated global citizens.

  •  what’s important  enough to be a requirement for all UW students?
  • what do general education requirements say about the university’s values?
  • who gets to (should) decide what’s core to a student’s basic education?
  • what difference would one course make?

 And, should the College of the Environment wait until a requirement is passed, or should we proactively institute our own courses, and course requirements?  Join the latest Conversation on Defining Diversity (CoDD) in the College of the Environment as we look at all sides of this issue.