College of the Environment

E-Newsletter

May 21, 2010
Vol. 2, No. 9


Announcements

Faculty Search - The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences is in the process of interviewing several faculty candidates. The following dates/times are scheduled for their public presentations in the Fishery Sciences Auditorium. All are welcome:

  • Brice Semmens (Biometrician, Quantitative Consultants, Inc.), Variable World: Accounting for Population Structure and Corrupted Data in Models of Trophic Ecology and Hatchery Supplementation - Monday, May 24, 4:00 PM
  • Trevor Branch (Research Scientist, UW Aquatic and Fishery Sciences), Mean Trophic Levels in Catches and Ecosystems - Thursday, May 27, 4:00 PM

Please note that Dr. Jameal Samhouri, a Postdoctoral Researcher with the Integrated Marine Ecology Team of the Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, and Steve Martell, a Professor in the Fisheries Centre of the University of British Columbia, are also candidates and have already given their public presentations.

The UW conservation community is invited to an open meeting to discuss the progress and future of the Conservation of Living Systems graduate program on Wednesday, June 2nd from 3:30-5:00pm at the PoE Commons. A brief summary of what has been accomplished so far, as well as a basic sketch of where the steering committee proposes to go, has been developed - but we need your input to make it happen. Your insights will of great value as CLS moves to create certificate and master’s programs. Light appetizers, wine, and refreshments will be provided. Faculty, staff, and students welcome to attend.

Environmental Synthesis Center - The University of Washington is one of 11 institutions that has been invited to submit a full proposal for the NSF Environmental Synthesis Center. Only one proposal will be funded. Because this proposal will reflect the strengths of the entire institution, we are soliciting additional feedback and participation in the development of the full proposal (due July 14, 2010). For those who were unable to attend the meeting held on May 20th, a second open meeting will be held on Monday, May 24th from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM in the Ocean Sciences Building (OCN 425) to brainstorm ideas on how to strengthen the UW's proposal and solicit suggestions for partners and participants. The pre-proposal can be viewed here, by logging in with your UWNetId. Please RSVP to Rebecca Baughman if you plan to attend.

Symposium and Reception - On Friday, June 4th, you are invited to partake in Environmental Governance: Challenges in the 21st Century, a symposium and reception held in honor of the retirement of Ed Miles (Virginia & Prentice Bloedel Professor of Marine Studies and Public Affairs; Senior Fellow, Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Oceans (JISAO); and Co-Director, Climate Impacts Group).

1:00 PM
-
Panel Presentations and Discussion, William H. Gates Hall, Room 138
4:00 PM -

Lecture, William H. Gates Hall, Room 138
Ed Miles: Whither Ocean Governance? Is Effective Management the Holy Grail?

5:00 PM -

Reception, William H. Gates Hall, Rooms 113-115

Registration is kindly requested by May 25 for planning purposes and can be done online.

Research Symposia - Friday Harbor Labs is seeking proposals for research symposia focused on marine and related sciences, to take place between August 20 and September 22, 2011. The symposia may range from 3-5 days in duration and are restricted to less than 60 participants. The FHL Advisory Committee will select two proposals to fund based on quality and relevance of proposals, involvement of young scientists, students, and international participants, as well as plans for fund-raising. Organizers would be responsible for setting the theme, selecting the participants, fundraising, and advertising. FHL will provide up to $5,000 for 60 participants or $3000 for a meeting of 30-50 participants, as well as logistical assistance with registration, conference materials, meals and reception coordination, housing assignments, travel reimbursements, etc. Organizers are required to have a specific plan to raise any additional funding needed (e.g., registration fees, vendor-sponsors, and grant proposals). To apply, e-mail a 1-page proposal by June 1, 2010, to FHL100@uw.edu. The proposal must describe the theme, dates, timeliness, likely participants, and a proposed budget indicating how you anticipate financing the meeting.

Kudos

Daniel Grunbaum (Associate Professor, Oceanography) has received a Science Education Advocate Award. The award recognizes exceptional support and advocacy for science education and is granted by the Washington State Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER), a statewide group that helps school districts implement ongoing, research-based science programs.

On Thursday, June 10th at 3:30 PM in the Meany Hall Auditorium, the University will celebrate the outstanding achievements of our faculty, staff, students and alumni at the 40th Annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony. The Friday Harbor Laboratories Maintenance Team (Tom Campbell, Fred Ellis, George Iliff, Rick McCarthy, Tommy Pieples and Jeff Seitz) will be awarded a Distinguished Staff Award and Terrie Klinger (Associate Professor, Marine Affairs) will be recognized with an Outstanding Public Service Award. All are welcome to attend the ceremony and following reception.

Congratulations to the Program on the Environment's Joe Kobayashi and Michelle Hall who have both been nominated by their peers for Undergraduate Adviser of the Year, an award granted by the the UW Association of Professional Advisers and Counselors. This marks the second year in a row that both have been nominated. Winner will be announced on Tue, May 25.

Julian Olden (Assistant Professor, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences) has received this year's Early Career Conservationist Award from the Society for Conservation Biology, a 10,000-member organization. Within five years of completing his doctorate, Olden has published more than 85 papers and become internationally recognized for developing a quantitative framework for investigating biotic homogenization. He also has contributed to the study of the establishment and spread of invasive aquatic species.

A team of graduate students from the Environmental Management Certificate program successfully presented their Keystone project to Seattle City Light’s Renewable Energy team. SCL originally hired the team of students to develop a renewable energy project on campus that would increase support for green power and improve visibility of renewable energy projects. The student team, led by faculty advisor Rob Pena, will begin the construction of the “Sundawg”, a mobile photovoltaic unit, this summer with funds from the Seattle City Light Green Up program. Students from across campus will be invited to help with design and construction of the “Sundawg.”

Congratulations to Jon Bakker (Assistant Professor, Forest Resources) and Tom Hinckley (Professor and Interim Director, Forest Resources) for their nominations to recieve a Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award in recongnition of their outstanding contributions they have made to the education and guidance of graduate students.

Student Opportunities

The Institute on the Environment (IonE) at the University of Minnesota is seeking post doctoral candidates for to fill four new Global Environmental Leadership Fellows positions. Successful applicants will conduct cutting-edge research to develop solutions to pressing global issues, such as land use and ecosystem management, global food security, freshwater resources, climate change adaptation, emerging diseases and links between population and development. Fellows will design and carry out their own research in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams of University of Minnesota faculty. Fellows will also participate in advanced leadership training activities to enhance skills in public speaking, collaboration, conflict resolution, media relations, and engagement of leaders from business, NGOs and government, as well as developing systems thinking tools and other transdisciplinary competencies. Applications due August 1, 2010.

Funding

Professional development opportunities

Washington Campus Compact has released a Request for Proposals for faculty to participate in aRegional Faculty Fellows Program. Contingent upon funding from Learn and Serve America, the Faculty Fellows program will engage up to 8 faculty in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in an effort to increase service-learning in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and math). The Faculty Fellows will explore how service-learning can be used to address one of three identified community needs:(1) mitigation of nonpoint source pollution, (2) habitat restoration/wildlife abundance; and (3) green energy. Faculty Fellows will receive funding to attend the 2011 Continuums of Service Conference, Faculty Fellows retreat, and other professional development opportunities. Proposals due June 3, 2010.


Federal funding opportunities

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) have jointly announced up to $33 million in funding for research and development of technologies and processes to produce biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products. Proposed Biomass Research and Development Initiative projects should integrate the following three technical areas: feedstocks development, biofuels and biobased products development, and biofuels development analysis. Pre-applications are due July 13, 2010.


Colleagues in the News

(May 7 - May 20, 2010)

Visitors gather to remember May 18 (Jerry Franklin/SFR, May 18, 2010)

Why Was Mount St. Helens So Destructive? (LiveScience) (Steve Malone/ESS, May 18, 2010)

Eruption shaped modern ecological, forestry practices (Jerry Franklin/SFR, May 18, 2010)

Mount St. Helens Still Recovering, 30 Years Later (LiveScience) (Tom Hinckley/SFR, May 18, 2010)

The next big eruption: Will we have warning? (Steve Malone/ESS, May 18, 2010)

Mount St. Helens: 30 years after the massive eruptions (Steve Malone/ESS, May 14, 2010)

Weather Eye: Finally, weather we can warm up to (Nick Bond/JISAO & ATMS, May 11, 2010)

Who else lives in Seattle? 'Bioblitz' coming May 21 (Karen Dvornich/SFR, May 10, 2010)

Biomass energy business may be powering up (Richard Gustafson/SFR, May 9, 2010)

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.