Thursday, May 8, 2014

Weekly Announcements 5/8

Dear Environmental Studies Minors,

Please find the this week’s announcements below.  Good luck as you finish up finals!  And, congratulations to our graduating seniors!

The Environmental Studies program now has a Facebook page.  Like it today at https://www.facebook.com/bcenvstudy.  We promise not to flood your newsfeed with updates will but keep you informed about both the most important ESP events and relevant local, national, and global environmental news stories.

On Campus Environmental Studies News
1.       Professor Michael Cermak’s project linking urban education, martial arts and gardening

Off-Campus Lectures, Forums, and Exhibitions
1.       MIT Climate CoLab Student Research Contest
2.       Exploring Cambridge’s Urban Forest
3.       Sila: A World Premiere, Central Square Theater

Graduate and Professional School Opportunities
1.       PhD Assistantship in Human Health and the Environment at the University of Vermont
2.       Professional Development Certificate in Campus Sustainability at University of Vermont

Internship and Job Opportunities, Site Visits, Study Abroad Opportunities, and Travel Opportunities
1.       Oberlin College Sustainable Energy Technology Research Fellow
2.       Center For Ecological Living and Learning International Programs
3.       Job Opportunities with Mass PIRG
4.       Internship with Environment America

Best,
Kevin

--
B. Kevin Brown
Graduate Assistant, Environmental Studies
617-552-2477
Devlin 213

Spring 2014 Office Hours: Monday 10:00am-1:00pm, Tuesday 11:00am-5:00pm, Wednesday 1:00-5:00pm, and Thursday 12:00-5:00pm



Check out Dr. Mike Cermak’s (from the Sociology Department) project linking urban education, martial arts and gardening:



At MIT’s Climate CoLab you can work with people from all over the world to develop ideas for what we can do about climate change, right now.

If you submit one of the winning ideas, you’ll be able to present it before government officials, business executives, NGO leaders and scientists who can help move proposals toward implementation, as well as share it at an MIT conference, where a $10,000 Grand Prize will be awarded.

Even if you don’t have new ideas yourself, you can help improve other people’s ideas and support the ones you find most promising.

Current contests address low-carbon energy, building efficiency, adaptation, geoengineering, shifting public attitudes and behaviors, and over a dozen other topics.  Entries are due July 20, 2014. 

Can crowdsourcing save the planet?  Join the crowd and find out at www.climatecolab.org/?utm_source=contact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contest 






Sila: A world premiere, Central Square theater





Dr. Christine Vatovec of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont is seeking a qualified candidate who is committed to pursuing a Ph.D. degree, gaining pedagogical skills as a teaching assistant, and engaging in high-quality environmental health social science research. Specifically, the research addresses:

•             The socio-ecological consequences of medical care, and 
•             Human-health benefits of nature contact.

Potential candidates for the assistantship must meet admission standards and be fully accepted to the University of Vermont’s  Natural Resources doctoral program. Candidates must have positive recommendations from previous positions. Prior qualitative research experience is preferred. Strong organizational, project management and communication skills are desirable. Please see attached full position description or visit https://sites.google.com/site/christinevatovec/research-team.

For further information, contact Dr. Christine Vatovec (cvatovec@uvm.edu). Review of applications will begin immediately.




A five-day, intensive summer program for Professional Development. Participants will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program.
Dates: Monday, June 23 through Friday, June 27, 2014
Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Daily




The hire will play a central role in the development and management of hardware, software and data associated with “Environmental Dashboard,” a novel technological system that provides community residents, faculty, students and facilities personnel with real-time feedback on energy, water, and other environmental conditions in residential and commercial buildings and through whole communities.  We seek candidates with college or masters degree (or equivalent in experience) with deep knowledge of computer systems and excellent organizational skills who is excited by the opportunity to develop and manage novel technology designed to motivate and empower citizens to take better care of the environment.  Review of applicants will begin immediately until the position is filled, ideally for a June start date. More information on the project can be found at:www.oberlindashboard.org.   Applicants should review and respond to the complete position description posted at: http://new.oberlin.edu/home/jobs/jobs_detail.dot?id=60c5d71e-d4a5-48d4-b5d2-b426037bba56
                       


Dear Students, 
Are you interested in having an adventure of a lifetime while learning how to live sustainably? The planet needs stewards to get us back on track to a sustainable future. And you (yes, you) are it. Think of this as an anything is possible, opportunity to learn how one life, your life, can make a BIG difference in the world.

If you are interested in celebrating what is right in the world and being a part of real life solutions to the problems we face, join us for an unforgettable study abroad experience and the adventure of a lifetime while learning how to live sustainably.

Go beyond traditional study abroad programs. Be a part of local and global solutions to environmental, social, and economic problems. Experience some of the world’s most inspiring examples of community sustainability from organizations like Heifer International, Sustainable Harvest International, and others. Learn experientially and through service learning opportunities that integrate classroom knowledge with real-world applications.

The world has great need of people who not only understand what sustainability is all about, but who are committed to making a difference in the world. The world has a great need of people like you.

Head on over to http://www.cellonline.org/programs/study-abroad-program/ for more information, or take a look at this video to hear how CELL Alums define sustainability.

Have questions? Drop us a line at info@cellonline.org

We have space available in our three-week Maymester programs in Iceland and Central America, in our Fall 2014 programs in East Africa, and Iceland and in our Spring 2015 programs in East AfricaIceland, and Central America.  

Drop us an e-mail or contact us by phone for more information (dave@cellonline.org or tel.(207) 230-4025.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Dave and CELL Team
Center for Ecological Living and Learning (CELL)

60 Blueberry Hill Road 
Hope, Maine 04847
Tel. 207-230-4025; E-mail: info@cellonline.org; Web: www.cellonline.org 


Looking for a job that makes a difference? U.S.PIRG is hiring college seniors to work as Campus Organizers on college campuses across the country. On issue after issue, we see powerful interests corrupting the democratic process, twisting public policy to serve their own ends. U.S. PIRG takes action by documenting the problems, finding practical solutions, informing the public and making the case for change directly to decision-makers. We work on fighting climate change, restoring democracy, and protecting public health. Apply online atwww.uspirg.org/jobs or email wellington@masspirgstudents.org for more details.



Since 1989, the Antioch Education Abroad Brazilian Ecosystems: The Protection and Management of Biodiversity program has engaged students through in-depth field studies across a variety of biomes in Brazil. This is a Fall Semester program, with a new Summer Term option (see schedule here). All students explore the flora, fauna, and ecological characteristics of the Amazon Rainforest, Atlantic Coastal Forest, and coastal marine systems, and how environmental factors contribute to species and habitat diversity. Students enrolled in the full semester program continue their studies in Brazil to include advanced studies of the impact of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystem function, a Portuguese language intensive, and an Independent Field Internship.

Unique program features:

1. Program is led by Antioch University professor Suzanne Kolb, PhD, who is assisted by Brazilian professors, research scientists, and activists, who provide local expertise on current environmental issues facing each region.

2. Fall semester students engage in a month-long field internship, working with a Brazilian scientist or NGO for individualized hands-on experience in their field of interest.

3. Students explore multiple ecosystems, allowing them to compare the ecological characteristics of each, and providing a broader understanding of ecology in Brazil.

Curriculum: The Fall Semester program offers 4 courses for 16 semester credits - Introduction to Brazilian Ecosystems; Ecology and Protective Management of  Biodiversity in Brazil; Beginning, Intermediate, or Advanced PortugueseField Internship. Summer Term students enroll in Introduction to Brazilian Ecosystems for 4 semester credits. Click here to view detailed course descriptions. If you would like to review syllabi for the process of approving this program, please contact us.



Environment America interns will spend their fall semester making a big difference on critical environment issues and learning a ton, while getting the experience they need to launch a career in the environmental movement after graduation.

Read more about our internship program here. Interested candidates can complete an online application here.

Monique Sullivan
Recruitment Director
Environment America
(202) 461-2448