Weekly
Announcements
September
4, 2018
Harvard University Center for the Environment:
"The Role of Ecosystem Diversity and Heterogeneity in the Resilience of
Terrestrial Ecosystems to Climate Change" – September 6, 2018 Harvard
University 3:30 PM
Amazon
Forests, which comprise approximately 40% of world’s remaining tropical forests
and play a vital role in global water, energy and carbon cycling, are predicted
to experience both longer and more intensive dry seasons by the end of the 21st
century, However, the climate sensitivity of this ecosystem remains uncertain:
several studies have predicted large-scale die-back of the Amazon, while
several more recent studies predict that the biome will remain largely intact.
In this study, we use an individual-based terrestrial ecosystem model to
explore the sensitivity and ecological resilience of Amazon forests to changes
in climate. Our results show that water stress operating at the scale of individual
plants, combined with spatial variation in soil texture, strongly influence the
ecosystem’s resilience to changes in dry season length. In contrast to existing
predictions of either stability or catastrophic biomass loss, our analyses
indicate that, as a result of ecosystem diversity and heterogeneity, the Amazon
forest’s response to a drying regional climate is likely to be an immediate,
graded, heterogeneous transition from high biomass moist forests to
transitional dry forests and woody savannah ecosystems. Further analyses show
that two key characteristics influencing the climatic sensitivity of
individuals within the plant canopy are their leaf phenology and plant
hydraulic architecture. Finally, I discuss the prospects for remote sensing
measurements to improve predictions how changes in climate will affect
composition, structure and functioning of forest ecosystems.
A
full-time, professional academic staff position is available in Facilities
management beginning on or after September 15, 2018. The working title for this
assignment is Sustainability Coordinator with an official title in the
Administrative Program Specialist title series. This is a renewable assignment,
contingent on performance. The starting salary will be $50,000.
The
Sustainability Coordinator is responsible for coordinating and implementing
sustainability related activities on campus including the development,
management and assessment of assigned coherent campus-wide sustainability
program. This position reports to the
Associate Director of Facilities and serves as the liaison between University,
local State, and national environmental organizations.
See
the full position description at: https://www.uwec.edu/human-resources/employment-opportunities/job-openings/
MIT Seminar
Series on Environmental and Agricultural History: “Partly Green: The Past and
Future of Sustainable Business” – September 14, 2018 at MIT 2:30-4:30 PM
Can
capitalism become green without fundamental changes in the rules of the market
place? The last 30 years have been a revealing test of the limits of corporate
sustainability initiatives. In the United States, no major environmental
legislation has passed since1990, yet many businesses have worked hard to
become greener. How successful have their efforts been? What has driven change,
and what has stood in the way? The answers to those questions offer important
insight into what we still need to do to build a sustainable economy.
This
lecture is part of a year-long series sponsored by MIT’s History faculty and
program in Science, Technology, and Society. For information on future
lectures, see: https://history.mit.edu/lectures-and-seminars/seminar-environmental-and-agricultural-history
The
Boston Local Food Festival celebrates locally grown and produced food. The most important objective of the Boston
Local Food Festival is to increase accessibility and availability of healthy
local food for all. Massachusetts eaters of all ages, races, and socioeconomic
levels will see, taste, and appreciate the variety of healthy, delicious food
choices that local specialty crops and products make available to them in their
own back yard!
We
invite you to participate as volunteers in the 9th Annual Boston Local Food
Festival to be held on the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway on September 16, 2018,
11am- 5pm. We seek committed, enthusiastic and responsible people who would
love to contribute, join in on the local food movement, meet new folks, and
have a lot of fun! Volunteering at our festival provides you great networking
opportunities with like-minded volunteers, vendors, sponsors and attendees.
If
you are interested in volunteering fill out the form at: http://bostonlocalfoodfestival.com/participate/volunteer-for-the-festival/ To learn more about volunteer positions
contact Casey Songin, the Local Foods Coordinator, at: casey@sbnmass.org
Tufts Institute
for Business in the Global Context: “The Ocean’s Turn? Geopolitics,
Sustainability, and Innovation” – September 28, 2018 from 8 AM to 5:30 PM – FREE,
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
The
ocean covers 71% over the earth’s surface, far, far greater than any land mass.
Directly or indirectly, it touches every piece of life on earth and every
aspect of human society. The ocean feeds nations, transports goods, and
provides energy across the globe. The Fletcher School at Tufts University aims
to convene an important conference in September 2018 entitled "The Ocean’s
Turn?" With this one-day event, we will look at the role of the ocean as
an avenue, an arena, and a source, and examine it all through the lenses of
geopolitics, sustainability, and an overarching notion of innovation. The
conference will bring together thought leaders from around the globe and
examine the critical issues facing the world’s oceans today. Through engaging
keynotes, debates, and panel discussions, we will explore the maritime sphere
from the perspectives of science, business, law and politics, investment and
the economy, security, and international relations.
The
purpose of the conference is to evaluate important maritime sectors, such as
global shipping, the food industry, and the energy sector, and will dive into
geopolitics, BlueTech, maritime security and policy, environmental imperatives,
and other vital issues. Major themes will include technology and innovation of
a "connected ocean," geopolitical and transnational legal factors,
and imperatives driven by sustainability needs, concerns, and opportunities.
To
learn more about the conference and register to attend, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-oceans-turn-geopolitics-sustainability-innovation-registration-48563342264
USGBC Careers in
Sustainability Series: The Evolution of the Sustainability Professional – October 2, 2018 at 5 PM – Boston
Architectural College – FREE, TICKET REQURED (LIMITED NUMBER REMAIN)
The
Emerging Professionals of Massachusetts are excited to share our next Careers
in Sustainability panel discussion at the Boston Architectural College,
covering the Evolution of the Sustainability Professional. We will cover the
places where young professionals are entering into the sustainability industry
today (degree programs and start-ups) and where we see opportunities for the
future (entrepreneurial ventures, non-profits, public service). From 10 years
ago, we had a rise in CSR professionals and we will discuss what has changed since
then and where the future of green jobs are for upcoming graduates. We look
forward to seeing you there!
For
more information and tickets, see: https://usgbcma.org/event/careers-in-sustainability-the-evolution-of-the-sustainability-professional/
Massachusetts Historical Society Environmental
History Seminar Series: “Native American Environmental History” – October 9, 2018 at 5:15 PM –
FREE, RSVP REQUIRED
Lisa
Brooks, Amherst College; Strother Roberts, Bowdoin College; Ashley Smith,
Hampshire College; Thomas Wickman, Trinity College
Moderator:
Cedric Woods, Institute for New England Native American Studies, University of
Massachusetts Boston
This
panel will explore the intersections of environmental history and indigenous
studies—the questions that each field engenders in the other, as well as the
perspectives that native and non-native scholars bring to their research as
they traverse both fields. Questions of race, gender, geography, and sources
enliven this growing body of scholarship. Join us for a stimulating and
wide-ranging conversation on these and other topics.
To RSVP:
email seminars@masshist.org or call
(617) 646-0579.
For
more information on this lecture and future lectures in this series, see: https://www.masshist.org/calendar/seminars/environmental-history
Keynote Address
from Gina McCarthy, Former EPA Administrator: “US Environmental Policy: What
Has Been Lost, What Can Be Gained” – October 23, 2018 Murray Room – FREE
Gina
McCarthy served as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency under
President Obama, leading historic progress to achieve the administration’s public
health and environmental protection goals and Climate Action Plan. In 2015,
McCarthy signed the Clean Power Plan, which set the first-ever national
standards for reducing carbon emissions from existing power plants,
underscoring the country’s commitment to domestic climate action and spurring
international efforts that helped secure the Paris Climate Agreement. During
her tenure, EPA initiatives cut air pollution, protected water resources,
reduced greenhouse gases and strengthened chemical safety to better protect
more Americans, especially the most vulnerable, from negative health impacts.
Internationally, McCarthy worked with the UN and WHO on a variety of efforts
and represented the U.S. on global initiatives to reduce high risk sources of
pollution. McCarthy now serves as Professor of the Practice of Public Health in
the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public
Health and is Director of Harvard Chan’s Center for Health and the Global
Environment.
This
event is being sponsored by the Environmental Studies Program. For more
information, see: http://events.bc.edu/event/gina_mccarthy_former_environmental_protection_agency_administrator#.W4VWds5KhaQ
Environmental
Studies is holding our first photo contest this year! Share with the
Environmental Studies community a picture from campus, your study abroad
program, summer travels, internship, or hometown that exemplifies a theme or
concept from environmental studies. The
deadline to submit your photo and description of the photo is Monday, December
10. Top entries will be featured on our
website and the best photo of 2018 (voted on by our Steering Committee) will be
printed and framed for display in Devlin.
Photos
can be submitted to envstudies@bc.edu.
Boston
College Environmental Studies Program
Devlin
213
Graduate
Assistants:
Isabelle
Kennedy & Joseph Manning
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