[DIALOGnews] DIALOG and DISCCRS News

[Susan Weiler]

DIALOG and Disccrs News

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Science News
Check out this section both for news tidbits, and for
examples of how to communicate science to a non-scientist audience


STABILIZING THE GLOBAL 'GREENHOUSE' MAY NOT BE SO HARD
from The Christian Science Monitor

Humanity has the hardware in hand to halt the rise in heat-trapping
greenhouse gases it pumps into the atmosphere and forestall the worst
effects of global warming projected for the end of this century.

The goal could be achieved within the next 50 years by more widespread use
of a portfolio of at least 15 approaches - from energy efficiency, solar
energy, and wind power to nuclear energy and the preservation or
enhancement of "natural" sinks for carbon dioxide such as rain forests, or
the conservation tillage techniques on farms worldwide, say two Princeton
University researchers in a study published Friday.

The list of technologies has been around for years, the researchers
acknowledge. But past studies, such as one conducted by five US national
laboratories four years ago, tended to focus on whether these approaches
could be used to reach the emissions goals and deadlines in the 1997 Kyoto
Protocol without trashing the economy, as some critics of the pact have
warned.
http://snipurl.com/8glj




POSSIBLE START OF WARMING TREND IN PACIFIC HINTS OF NEW EL NINO
from Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Warming water temperatures in the central equatorial Pacific
last month may indicate the start of a new El Niño.

El Niño, which can affect weather conditions around the world, is often
first seen as increased sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific along with
changes in wind patterns.

Sea-surface temperatures rose nearly 1 degree Fahrenheit above normal in
July, with even higher readings to the east, the National Weather Service's
Climate Prediction Center said yesterday. The temperature increases, the
agency said, "indicate the possible early stages of a warm episode."
http://snipurl.com/89v8


IT'S THE BLOOMIN' HEAT
from Newsday

Flowering plants in Boston's Arnold Arboretum are blossoming about a week
earlier than they did a century ago, according to a new study by
researchers at Boston University who say the primary culprit is higher
temperatures.

"In the last 20 years, plants have been flowering about eight days earlier
than the early 1900s," said Richard Primack, the study's lead researcher
and a biologist at Boston University.

In looking for an explanation, researchers discovered that Boston's average
temperature has risen nearly 3 degrees since the early 1900s. About half of
this increase was attributed to climate change, while the rest was
attributed to increased urbanization.
http://snipurl.com/84mp

NEW SPECIES OF WORMS DISCOVERED IN OCEAN
from Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Two strange new species of worms, without eyes or stomachs or
even mouths, have been discovered living on the bones of dead whales in
California's Monterey Bay.

"Who knows what we can learn here," researcher Robert Vrijenhoek
said. "There are many things left to discover in this world. Some we find
by accident ... and some we find because we look in places that few people
have explored before, as in much of our work in the deep oceans."

In this case, it was a bit of both because the unexpected discovery was
made about 9,400 feet below the surface.

Lead researcher Greg Rouse of the South Australian Museum added: "Deep-sea
exploration continues to reveal biological novelties" such as
this "remarkable" worm.
http://snipurl.com/84nm

'DEAD ZONE' SPREADS IN GULF OF MEXICO
from Reuters
HOUSTON - A huge “dead zone” of water so devoid 
of oxygen that sea life cannot live in it has 
spread across 5,800 square miles (15,000 square
kilometers) of the Gulf of Mexico this summer, in 
what has become an annual occurrence caused by 
pollution.
      The extensive area of uninhabitable water 
may be contributing indirectly to an unusual 
spate of shark bites along the Texas coast, 
experts said.
      A scientist at the Louisiana Universities 
Marine Consortium said Tuesday that measurements 
showed the dead zone extended from the mouth of 
the Mississippi River in southeastern Louisiana 
250 miles (400 kilometers) west to near the Texas 
border, and was closer to shore than usual 
because winds and currents.
http://snipurl.com/886g

A BIOLOGICAL MYSTERY: EUROPE'S EEL POPULATION IS COLLAPSING
from Associated Press

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- When a poacher with a baseball bat mugged
Willem Dekker for his baby eels, it was further confirmation for the Dutch
biologist that the species is in trouble.

The European Eel, a snakelike fish with a mysterious life cycle, has
managed to survive in rivers and on farms despite overfishing and a loss of
natural habitat, thanks to artificial restocking with "glass eel" -- tiny
eel fry.

But for reasons not entirely clear, the eel population is collapsing. For
the 25,000 eel fishers and countless animals that live off them, the future
is uncertain.
http://snipurl.com/8gj7



Jobs for PhDs

Postdoctoral Position
Institute for Arctic Studies
Dartmouth College

For further information, please e-mail:
arctic at dartmouth.edu

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This two-year term position with full benefits is supported by the
Evelyn Stefansson Nef fund in Northern and Polar Studies at Dartmouth
College, in collaboration with the John Sloan Dickey Center for
International Understanding, the Hood Museum of Art, and the Rauner
Special Collections Library.

The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline with
significant research experience in Northern issues and/or cultures.
Areas of interest emphasize the human dimensions of environmental
change, language and culture, and the history of settlements in and
expeditions to the region. The Postdoctoral fellow reports to the
Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding.

Primary responsibilities will include scholarly and administrative
support for a major research conference and accompanying museum displays
to take place at Dartmouth College in Fall 2006 with a focus around the
theme of 100 years of Arctic change. Research will draw upon extensive
primary and secondary materials from the Stefansson Polar Exploration
Collection of Dartmouth's Baker-Berry Library, as well as artifact
collections housed at the Hood Museum of Art. In addition, the candidate
will teach one course per year in his or her field as part of the Dickey
program in Northern and Polar Studies. The opportunity to edit/author an
exhibition catalogue in conjunction with an exhibition at the Hood
Museum of Art also exists. Review of applications will begin immediately
for a position beginning in Fall 2004 or Winter 2005.

When applying, please include the following:
(1) Statement of interest
(2) Curriculum vitae
(3) Names and addresses of three professional references

Applications should be sent to:
Stefansson Postdoctoral Search Committee
Dickey Center Institute of Arctic Studies
6214 Fairchild Hall
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755
USA

Dartmouth College is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a demonstrated
commitment to diversity. Women and minority candidates are especially
encouraged to apply.

For further information, please contact:
arctic at dartmouth.edu


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This newsletter has been developed by C. Susan 
Weiler for the purpose of distributing 
information of potential interest to recent PhDs 
engaged in interdisciplinary aquatic science or 
climate change research, and to build an 
international sense of community among recent 
grads. It provides an international forum for the 
exchange of information and opinions regarding 
research, professional and social issues.
The views and opinions expressed are strictly 
those of C.S. Weiler or of the individual who has 
submitted a particular item for distribution. The 
opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect 
those of the funding agencies or sponsoring 
societies. Dr. Weiler serves as producer and 
editor and reserves the right to edit or reject 
material submitted to the list.
Please submit announcements of interest to recent 
PhDs to phd at whitman.edu or weiler at whitman.edu.
For ease of transmission, please do not send 
attachments. Send a short message in the body of 
an e-mail message, and link to any appropriate 
websites.




-- 
C. Susan Weiler, Ph.D.          
Biology Department                  Tel:   509-527-5948
Whitman College                       Fax:  509-527-5961
Walla Walla, WA 99362
weiler at whitman.edu    
   Programs for Recent PhDs             http://aslo.org/phd.html
   Minorities in the Aquatic Sciences  http://www.aslo.org/mas.html
   DIALOG poster  http://www.aslo.org/phd/dialogposter.pdf
   DISCCRS poster       http://www.aslo.org/phd/disccrsposter.pdf
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