UW Sustainability: Earth Week Activities

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Earth Week is coming up next week, with Earth Day on Friday, April 22. Don’t miss out!earth_day_facebook_header

The main event will be the Earth Day celebration on Red Square on April 22 from 10a – 2p, featuring exhibitors – including student groups, academic units and community partners – along with music, speakers, sustainable food samples and more.

At 1 p.m., College of the Environment Dean Lisa Graumlich will present the Husky Green Awards. See the full schedule.

Highlighted Events

Wednesday, April 20: 

Thursday, April 21: 

Friday, April 22 (Earth Day): 

Saturday, April 23: 

See Facebook page for event updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/1697902923819850/

Follow and post on social media! Hashtag: #sustainableUW

There are many other events on Earth Day and throughout the week as well, see full list at http://green.uw.edu/earth-day-2016/events

Register for Environmental Studies Summer Courses

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Thinking about taking Summer courses? Check out Environmental Studies offerings. Registration starts April 11!

Environmental Studies Courses

ENVIR 100: Introduction to Environmental Studies – Great course for exploring environmental majors. Learn about environmental issues in a local and global context.

ENVIR 239: Sustainability: Personal Choices, Broad Impacts – Present frameworks of sustainability via exploration of key pillars of sustainability, the history of sustainability movements, and sustainability in action. Examine personal and global aspects of sustainability through issues such as smart growth, green business and energy, ecotourism, and international policy.

ENVIR 495 A: Agro-Ecosystems of Northern Cascadia: From the backyard to the backforty – Become familiar with the varied agricultural ecosystems in the PNW and design and practice implementing agro-ecosystem ideals on the student farm at UW.

ENVIR 495 B: The Nature Essay – Explore the genre of the nature essay through reading, analysis and engagement with the natural world. Produce inspiring nature essays in a workshop style class and learn how writing can galvanize environmental movements. This course would be a great complement if you’re also taking ENVIR 495 C.

ENVIR 495 C: Landscape Change in the Pacific Northwest – Examine the cause and consequences of wilderness loss and landscape change in the Pacific Northwest, through a challenging 9-day wilderness expedition in the Olympic Peninsula.

ENVIR 495 D: Trash: Environmental & Social Justice Impacts of Waste – Learn more about American waste production and disposal. Explore trans-boundary dumping and the environmental, economic and ethical costs of waste in this country.

 

Courses shared with other departments

ENVIR/HST AA 221: Environmental History of the U.S. 

ENVIR/ECON/ESRM 235: Introduction to Environmental Economics

ENVIR/JSIS B/SCAND 235: Environmental Norms in International Politics

Waste Zero Coordinator at Recology – Seasonal position

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Interested in promoting waste reduction and working with businesses and the community to do so? Check out this seasonal position (May and June) at Recology, shared by two Environmental Studies alums who work there and would love to have students from this program apply!

Recology CleanScapes mission is to inspire a zero waste lifestyle and are helping the county has a whole reach waste diversion goals. 

APPLY NOW

Description

This position is a 12 week temporary, seasonal position starting in May/June 2016.  This position will be required to work weekends.

Under close supervision, responsible for the coordination and administration of recycling programs involving education, communication of community-wide services, and audits of recyclable materials from residential, industrial and commercial customers.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF WASTE ZERO COORDINATOR

  • Oversees the Staff outreach booth and represents Recology at regional community events.
  • Educates customers and the general public about Recology’s resource recovery services and programs.
  • Works with businesses, residents and community stakeholders to promote recycling, composting and waste reduction.
  • Tracks and records outreach contacts and activities.
  • Collaborates with the Government Relations and Waste Zero Team on a variety of community outreach projects.
  • Completes waste audits for customers.
  • Creates and maintains a file system for customer information.

QUALIFICATIONS 

Education and Experience:

  • High school diploma or GED required.
  • Bachelor’s degree preferred.
  • Six months of related experience and/or training.
  • Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

IDEAL CANDIDATE – The qualifications listed are typical of the knowledge, skills, and abilities of successful employees within this classification.

Knowledge of:

  • Computer programs, including Microsoft Office suite of applications.

Skill and / or Ability to:

  • Promote the WASTE ZERO philosophy by making the best and highest use of all resources.
  • Demonstrate ability to use computers and technology capabilities. Demonstrate proficiency and knowledge in area(s) of expertise.
  • Communicate well both verbally and in writing; listen to and understand various viewpoints; share relevant information timely; provide constructive feedback; maintain professionalism.
  • Effectively and productively engage with others and establish trust, credibility, and confidence.
  • Promote collaboration and assist others with their initiatives and efforts.
  • Consistently build knowledge and expertise about current job.
  • Listen to and build customer relationships; increase customer satisfaction and ensure commitments are met.

 

Sky Root Farm seeking paid interns

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Environmental Studies’ instructor Dr. Beth Wheat is seeking paid interns for her farm this summer. Environmental Studies students are highly encouraged to apply for this hands-on, paid opportunity!

SkyRoot Farm Summer Internship

SkyRoot Farm has been approved by the State of Washington to host (2) official farm interns on our farm this summer! SkyRoot is an integrated vegetable farm located on Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound. The 20-acre farm is an active site of restoration agriculture –a form of agriculture that works to restore both ecological function as well as food production to a farm system.  

DSC_0350SkyRoot intensively farms 3 acres of vegetables and raises pigs, chickens, goats and loads of micro-livestock (worms). Interns will work and learn alongside the farmers. The expected duration of the internship is 4 months. The stipend is $500/month, room and board are provided. Interns will be housed on the farm. 

Work will include seeding, transplanting, weeding, hoeing, animal care and feeding, and harvesting. Interns will gain experience working markets, learning how the farm system works and in understanding the basics of farm operation.     

To apply please send your resume and a letter describing relevant experiences and your vision/hopes for a farm internship to Beth Wheat at: wheat@skyrootfarm.com.

Priority will be given to applications received by March 29.    

Equity and the Environment: Mobilize Green Conference and Diversity Career Fair

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The 2016 MobilizeGreen Annual Conference and Diversity Career Fair is on April 7-8, at the University of Washington!

Equity and the Environment: Mobilizing the Next Generation of Diverse Leaders

In partnership with the UW Collmobilizegreenege of the Environment and UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity and City of Seattle, the goal of this joint event is “to inspire, engage, and mobilize the next generation of diverse green leaders to help communities solve equity and environmental challenges.”

Students: this is an incredible opportunity for growth, impact and launching your future career! Do not miss out!

Millennials will dominate the workforce by 2020. More of these millennials than ever before will be people of color, many of whom strongly support the environmental movement and seek green career opportunities.

REGISTER NOW

 

MobilizeGreen’s mission is to jumpstart green careers for diverse students who want to change the world.

Why attend:

  • Get access to high-impact networking opportunities
  • Learn and grow via workshops and thoughtful panel discussions
  • Find paid internship and career opportunities
  • Develop skills and knowledge to grow your green career

Confirmed speakers include Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and Deputy Chief for National Forest System, Leslie Weldon.

REGISTER NOW. For more information visit MobilizeGreen’s website, or email conference@mobilizegreen.org.

 

2016 UW Exploration Seminar to Peru – Info: 2/17, Apply by 3/4

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Do you want to travel to the Peruvian Andes and Amazon to study the biology of the region and explore the culture?

Join Tim Billo and Ursula Valdez for February’s info session to learn more. Applications are already flooding in and the deadline is March 4. Don’t wait too long!

All students work on group conservation projects and travel to the Amazon to observe the wildlife and ecological impacts of human activities such as mining, cattle ranching and deforestation. Part of the teaching philosophy encourages responsible tourism and lessening one’s impact on the natural world.

 

Peru Exploration Seminar

Photos from the past seminars:

Environmental Studies Spring Courses

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Thinking about what’s available for Spring courses? Check out our Environmental Studies Spring offerings. Registration starts Feb. 12!

Environmental Studies Courses

ENVIR 100: Introduction to Environmental Studies – Great course for exploring environmental majors. Learn about environmental issues in a local and global context. The Spring course is in hybrid format.

ENVIR 100 Spring

ENVIR 200: Communication for Environmental Studies – Develop the skills necessary to engage, analyze, write, and speak about complex environmental issues in a variety of disciplinary contexts with particular values and emphases. Course restricted to Environmental Studies majors.

ENVIR 240: The Urban Farm – CLASS FILLED.
Learn about the UW Farm and food production techniques in urban settings.

ENVIR 240

ENVIR 280: Natural History of the Puget Sound – CLASS FILLED.
Explore and understand the landscape of Western Washington and the species that inhabit it. Field trips to the Olympic Peninsula, Whidbey Island and east slopes of the Cascades.

ENVIR280

ENVIR 300: Analysis of Environmental Cases – Learn to use data from the social and natural sciences to inform how environmental decisions are made.

ENVIR 300

ENVIR 480: Sustainability Studio – Focus on how to make UW Health services more green; analyze and visit real-world examples of green healthcare providers.

ENVIR480

ENVIR 495A: Crimes Against Nature – Examine why some human impacts that harm the environment are considered criminal acts, while others are not. Review relevant case studies to understand the current system.

ENVIR 495A

ENVIR 495C: Socio-Environmental Data Analysis Workshop – Learn how to tell a convincing story with your data and apply methods for data visualization to present your own research data.

ENVIR 495C

ENVIR 502: Business Strategy and the Natural Environment – Great course for students interested in sustainable business. Review essential functions for achieving sustainability in start up and established firms. Open to undergraduate seniors and grad students.

ENVIR 502

Courses shared with other departments

ENVIR 235/ECON 235/ESRM 235: Introduction to Environmental Economics

ENVIR 385/POL S 385: Political Ecology of the World Food System

ENVIR 410/ANTH 410/ESRM 405: Growing Stuff: Ecology, Economy and Culture of Resource-Production Ecosystems

ENVIR 415/CEE 495/M E 415: Sustainability and Design for Environment

ENVIR 416/PHIL 416: Ethics and Climate Change

ENVIR 418/COM 418: Communication and the Environment

Carlson Center Paid Non-Profit Internships

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Interested in doing meaningful work in your community, gaining professional experience and getting paid for it?

Apply by February 8 for Spring and Summer quarter internships with the Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center.

Details from the Carlson Center:

The Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center is pleased to announce that we are launching a set of pilot internships that will provide 30 undergraduate students with the opportunity to engage in paid community based internship experiences with non-profit organizations along the Link Light Rail during both spring and summer quarters.

The Undergraduate Community-Based Internship (UCBI) pilot provides opportunities for undergraduates to grow professionally and personally, examine issues of social justice, gain an understanding of the diverse communities in Seattle and explore career paths in the non-profit sector.

Carlson internshipApply via the Carlson Center’s website at www.washington.edu/carlson.

Information sessions will be held in Mary Gates Hall 171 on:
 Tuesday, January 26 from 5:30 pm-6:30 pm
Monday, February 1 from 2:00 pm-3:00 pm

Information sessions are delivered in collaboration with the Career Center, and will include tips for the application and interview process.

Questions? Email serve@uw.edu or give our team of Graduate Student Interns (Marsha, Huan, Stephanie, Meaghan, and Jamie) a call at (206) 543-5514

Winter Panel Recap: Environmental Consulting!

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This Winter quarter, Environmental Studies brought together 5 environmental consultants to share their experience in the field of consulting, offer advice to students and alumni, and answer questions. The room was full and the discussion was robust.

The world of environmental consulting is so diverse, and adviser Ana Wieman invited panelists in the field who could shed light on their day-to-day work and answer questions about what they do, how to get into this field, and what skills are required.

Speakers included:

  • Courtney Schaumberg, Staff Hydrogeologist at Sound Earth Strategies, Inc.who works on the remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater
  • Scott Percival, Associate at Cascadia Consulting who provides customer and contractor support for retrofit projects focused on improving the energy efficiency of homes and has a background in waste management
  • Alison Sienkiewicz, Stormwater Staff Scientist at Sound Earth Strategies, Inc. a graduate of our Environmental Studies program who helps industrial and construction clients manage their stormwater to remain in compliance with environmental regulations
  • Jimmy Mahady, Research Associate at Ross Strategic who was a Fulbright Scholar in Uruguay working on the advancement of renewable energy and now contributes his research, policy development, and project coordination skills to climate and energy projects like the Pacific Coast Collaborative’s West Coast Electric Fleets initiative and the EPA’s Climate Showcase Communities
  • Sarah Sanborn, Project Coordinator at EnviroIssues, another alum from Environmental Studies at UW, who uses her communications skills to support several different projects including public transportation planning, cleanup and restoration outreach, conservation meeting facilitation, and park redesign public involvement.

The panel was moderated by Ned Schaumberg, an instructor in our program who teaches ENVIR 300: Communication for Environmental Studies.

A huge shout out to Ned and Ana for putting together this event, and to everyone who attended! We had a blast.

Students in Sean McDonald’s ENVIR 495F Environmental Communication class took to Twitter to live tweet, and student Kayla Harrington developed an excellent account via Storify from start to finish. View Kayla’s recap.

Meet Your Future is a quarterly event (panel discussions, Q&A, networking mixer) that brings working professionals into the student space. The discussions are hosted by Environmental Studies at the University of Washington. Students from Environmental Studies and related majors as well as alumni are invited to attend and interact with the professionals; a faculty member usually moderates the discussion. 

Meet Your Future events are held during the second or third week of each quarter. For further information and to participate on a panel please contact Ana Wieman at enviradv@uw.edu or call 206-616-2461.

Next event: date TBD (April 4-15)

5:30-7:00pm
Wallace Hall Commons

Parking provided for panelists
Pizza provided