College of the Environment

E-Newsletter, December 4, 2009

Vol. 1, No. 3


Announcements

Dean search – The search committee for the dean of the new College of the Environment is very interested in broad participation in the search. To that end, we have set up a Catalyst site for direct communication to the committee and have scheduled an open meeting with faculty/staff/students and others interested in providing input. We are especially interested in receiving nominations for the position. Please send the names of potential candidates to the Catalyst site or to any member of the search committee. We look forward to identifying a rich candidate pool for this important position.    Go to survey>

Open meeting with search committee:
  Date: Friday, December 11
  Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.
  Location: HUB 106B

Dec 4 & 5: Gifts & Greens Galore at the Arboretum Foundation - Wreaths, gifts, greens, gift wrap, seasonal refreshments and live music at the Arboretum Foundation's Graham Visitors Center on Friday December 4 from 2-8 pm and Saturday Dec 5 from 10 am-3 pm. Friday evening there will also be a special reception celebrating the Arboretum's 75th Anniversary. More information available here. (Admission and parking are free. If you plan to drop by Saturday afternoon, please note this traffic advisory.)

Private funding received – The College received its first gift, of $40,000, from the Oak Foundation for research in Source Attribution of Black Carbon. The gift comes to the Department of Atmospheric Sciences to support the work of Professors Dean Hegg and Stephen Warren on black carbon in the seasonal snow in the Arctic and in western and northern China.

Kudos - Don Hanley, former WSU forestry extension specialist and affiliate professor of Forest Resources, will receive the Career Leadership Award from the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP). This is ANREP's highest award for career achievement. Don will formally receive the award in June during the annual ANREP 7th Biennial Conference in Fairbanks, AK.

Funding


Federal funding opportunities

  • The deadline for full proposals in response to the current NSF Fundamental Research Program for Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (FRP) solicitation is February 17, 2010. encourages the submission of industry-defined fundamental research proposals from NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC). Industry-defined fundamental research broadens the scientific and engineering understanding beyond the more specific applied research interests of the industries traditionally served by the I/UCRC. Industry participation extends the scope and horizon of center research projects so as to drive innovation with industrially relevant fundamental research projects.
  • The window for full proposals in response to the current NSF Environmental Implications of Emerging Technologies solicitation is February 1 - March 3, 2010. Fundamental and basic research is sought to establish and understand outcomes as a result of the implementation of new technologies such as nanotechnology and biotechnology. The program also supports research on the development and refinement of sensors and sensor network technologies that can be used to measure a wide variety of physical, chemical, and biological properties of interest in characterizing, monitoring, and understanding environmental impacts.
  • The window for full proposals in response to the current NSF Environmental Sustainability solicitation is February 1 - March 3, 2010. This program supports engineering research with the goal of promoting sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being and that are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems. These systems provide ecological services vital for human survival. The long-term viability of natural capital is critical for many areas of human endeavor. Research in Environmental Sustainability typically considers long time horizons and may incorporate contributions from the social sciences and ethics.

Private funding opportunities

Please note that many corporations and foundations have requested that UW Advancement facilitate their relationship with University of Washington faculty, staff and students. As such, all solicitations, applications, or requests for private giving from foundations or corporations must be developed in partnership with UW Advancement. Please contact a member of the College Advancement Team before submitting a proposal to the organzations below or any other corporation or foundation.

  • The Tinker Foundation supports organizations and institutions that promote the interchange and exchange of information within the community of those concerned with the affairs of Spain, Portugal, Ibero-America and Antarctica. Programmatically, the Foundation funds projects addressing environmental policy, economic policy or governance issues. Activities may include, but are not limited to, research projects and conferences related to the Foundation's areas of interest. The deadlines for receipt of proposals in 2010 are March 1 and September 15.
  • Through the use of science, law, public education, and advocacy, the environmental work of the Pew Charitable Trusts is aimed at halting and ultimately reversing the trends that are threatening nature. With a host of colleagues and institutions representing a broad spectrum of society, the Pew Charitable Trusts Environment Group works on three major problems facing the global environment: 1) Global Warming and Climate Change; 2) Conservation of Living Marine Resources; and 3) Old-Growth Forests and Wilderness Protection. Letters of inquiry can be submitted at any time.
  • Nominations for the Institute of Physics Appleton Medal and Prize are due January 8, 2010. The award shall be made for distinguished research in environmental, earth or atmospheric physics.

Colleagues in the News

(Nov 20 - Dec 3, 2009)

Closure could cost coast $22 million (Dan Huppert/SMA, Dec 2, 2009)

Wildlife center releases some seabirds endangered by toxic foam (Julia Parrish/POE, Dec 1, 2009)

Assessing Algal Blooms’ Economic Impact (Vera Trainer/SAFS, Nov. 27, 2009)

No-fishing zones: a draconian conservation measure (Ray Hilborn/SAFS, Nov 25, 2009)

Lightning 'listening' network nearly complete (Robert Holzworth/ESS, Nov 25, 2009)

Will Aliens Know About the Financial Crisis? (Eric Steig/ESS, Nov 24, 2009)

Watching Our Water Ways: Brouhaha develops over climate change; so what’s new? (Eric Steig/ESS, Nov 24, 2009)

Upcoming Events

Check out the College events calendar for a comprehensive list of upcoming seminars, conferences, lectures, and other public events.

You can also subscribe or unsubscribe to the weekly update of upcoming events.

If you have a suggestion for additional information that should be included in the College of the Environment bi-weekly announcements, please submit it to Becca Baughman.