[DIALOGnews] DIALOG NEWS 02/25/05
Weiler, C. Susan
weilercs at whitman.edu
Fri Feb 25 18:21:05 CST 2005
DIALOG and Disccrs News
02/25/2005
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESOURCES
HDGEC ECOCOSM DYNAMICS RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
NEW BOOK: DEFYING OCEAN'S END--AN AGENDA FOR ACTION
http://www.pewmarine.org
SCIENCE NEWS
Women in Physics Match Men in Success
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/science/22phys.html?
ex=1109739600&en=0cee63681546aa28&ei=5070
Great Salt Lake Mercury Worries Scientists http://snipurl.com/czru
SHARK, COD, OTHER FISH POPULATIONS DROP 90 PERCENT IN MANY AREAS
FORUM
Call for Community Comment, Social science program for Bering Ecosystem
http://www.arcus.org/Bering/hbest/index.html
SUMMER PROGRAMS, COURSES, INTERNSHIPS, MEETINGS
International Postdoctoral Scientist Network for Earth Systems Science
asp-apply at asp.ucar.edu with the subject "ESS Workshop”.
JOBS
Postdoctoral Research Scholar, University of North Carolina
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Admin/PE/Jobs/2005-03-pcc-rs.html
School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia
http://www.bio.usyd.edu.au
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Resources
HDGEC ECOCOSM DYNAMICS RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
This is to announce the publication of Vol. 2, No. 1, of the Ecocosm
Dynamics Research Newsletter, dated February 1, 2005. The newsletter
can be freely accessed at the following location:
http://www.ecocosmdynamics.org/Pubs/EDLNewsletterVol2No1.html
This issue of our newsletter is the first in a series, each of which
will examine a particular perspective of the world environmental
crisis. The feature article in this issue, "The Energy Perspective: Oil
and the Magical 4%," addresses the influence of energy resources,
particularly oil, on the world socioeconomic system under normal
conditions when neither world wars nor worldwide economic or financial
panics are in progress. Specifically, it addresses some of the
important economic, financial, political, and environmental feedback
loops in the world system that have interacted to produce the changes
in the price and physical flow of oil in and through the world economy
during most of the last century.
During that period, humanity became dangerously over-dependent on
oil to fuel its economic growth. Now, at a time when oil is no longer
cheap and abundant and its primary sources in the Middle East are
threatened by terrorist activities, oil is the most important resource
in sustaining the growth of world human consumption. A future article
will consider dynamics of the oil industry and the world system under
various possible world crisis conditions when global wars, economic
depression, financial panic, and/or environmental collapse may force a
transition from normal conditions to a restructured, sustainable world
socioeconomic system. We would be grateful to receive comments and
suggestions from readers who share our concern for the socio-ecological
future of humanity.
Notes:
1. The newsletter is free, and you are cordially invited to
subscribe/unsubscribe at any time.
2. To subscribe, send a blank email to
EDLNewsletter-subscribe at topica.com
3. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to
EDLNewsletter-unsubscribe at topica.com
4. Send comments to our newsletter mailbox:
newsletter at ecocosmdynamics.org
5. Please forward this invitation to persons who are interested in
the subject matter.
Sincerely,
Luis T. Gutierrez
VP Communications
Ecocosm Dynamics, Ltd.
gutierrez at ecocosmdynamics.org
****************
NEW BOOK: DEFYING OCEAN'S END--AN AGENDA FOR ACTION
From SEASPAN
Defying Ocean's End is the result of an unprecedented effort among
the world's largest environmental organizations, scientists, the
business
community, media, and international governments to address marine
issues. In June 2003, in the culmination of a yearlong effort, these
groups developed a comprehensive and achievable agenda to reverse the
decline in health of the world's oceans. The book focuses on the seven
key fields of action identified at that meeting: 1) ocean-use planning
and marine protected areas, 2) economic incentives and disincentives;
3) land-ocean interface; 4) maintaining and restoring functional marine
ecosystems; 5) communications; 6) ocean governance; and 7) the unknown
ocean. Several Pew Fellows contributed to the book, including Greg
Stone ('97); Dee Boersma ('97); Rodrigo Bustamante ('00); Claudio
Campagna ('04); Ellen Pikitch ('00); Rod Fujita ('00); Alejandro Robles
('00); Les Kaufman ('90); Ed Gomez ('01); and Charles Peterson ('94).
To order the book, go to:
http://www.islandpress.org/books/detail.html?SKU=1-55963-755-2
For more information about these and other Pew Fellows, go to:
http://www.pewmarine.org
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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
Women in Physics Match Men in Success
From the NY Times
Only about one-eighth of the physics professors at Harvard are
women, a statistic that might seem to support the recent assertion by
its president, Dr. Lawrence H. Summers, that fewer women than men are
willing to make the necessary sacrifices. He also suggested that a
difference in "intrinsic aptitude" between the sexes might help explain
the disparity.
A report released Friday by the American Institute of Physics offers
a contradictory conclusion: after they earn a bachelor's degree in
physics, American women are just as successful as men at wending their
way up the academic ladder.
Physics continues to be the most male-dominated field among the
sciences. Men hold 90 percent of physics faculty positions, and earned
82 percent of the doctoral degrees in 2003.
"I'm not saying it was easy for women," said Dr. Rachel Ivie, a
sociologist and an author of the report. But she said her statistics
showed no indication of discrimination in the hiring of female
physicists - supporting one of Dr. Summers's points - or women dropping
out of the field at a higher rate than men, countering what Dr. Summers
had offered as the most important reason there are fewer women in
science and engineering.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/science/22phys.html?
ex=1109739600&en=0cee63681546aa28&ei=5070
****************
Great Salt Lake Mercury Worries Scientists
from Associated Press via Sigma Xi Science in the News
SALT LAKE CITY - Federal scientists studying the Great Salt Lake
have found some of the highest levels of mercury ever measured anywhere
— prompting concern about some of the migratory birds that feed on the
lake's brine shrimp.
U.S. Geological Survey and Fish and Wildlife Service researchers
were initially gathering information on selenium in the lake, but
decided also to test the samples for mercury.
Concentrations of methylmercury — the element's most poisonous form
—exceeded 25 nanograms per liter of water. Fish consumption warnings
have been issued when there was just 1 nanogram per liter.
http://snipurl.com/czru
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SHARK, COD, OTHER FISH POPULATIONS DROP 90 PERCENT IN MANY AREAS
Taken from SEASPAN
Predatory fish populations continue to spiral downward, with many
dropping 90 percent or more in the past 40 to 50 years, according to a
new study. In a sequel to an earlier, highly discussed study showing a
significant depletion of predatory fish communities worldwide, Ransom
Myers and Boris Worm of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia provide
additional population data for sharks, tuna, billfish, and the North
Atlantic cod. Funded by the Pew Institute for Ocean Science and the
Census of Marine Life, Myers and Worm's "Extinction, Survival, or
Recovery of Large Predatory Fishes" analyzes population data on many
species in areas around the world and looks specifically at the many
communities of North Atlantic cod, a favorite of commercial fishing
operations for decades. For more information, go to:
http://www.pewoceanscience.org/pdfs/Myers%20Royal%20Society.pdf
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050211-043019-6762r.htm
SOURCE: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
B--Biological Sciences, United Kingdom National Academy of Science;
http://www.jstor.org/journals/rsl.html
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Forum
Call for Community Comment, Social Sciences Plan for Bering Ecosystem
"Sustaining the Bering Ecosystem: A Social Sciences Plan"
For more information or to comment on the development of a plan for
social science research around the Bering Sea and the plan's
integration with the current Bering Sea Ecosystem Study (BEST) natural
science plan, see: http://www.arcus.org/Bering/hbest/index.html
"Sustaining the Bering Ecosystem" is a developing plan for social
science research around the Bering Sea, intended to provide the basis
for interdisciplinary and holistic research that will address the role
of humans in sustaining the Bering Sea ecosystem, and vice versa. This
social science plan will be integrated with the Bering Ecosystem Study
(BEST), which addresses the role of climate variability and changing
ecosystems in the Bering Sea.
In order to complement the BEST natural science plan and to
capitalize on interest in collaborations among resident communities,
natural and social scientists, a committee was organized to formulate a
social science plan for the Bering Sea in early winter 2004, with
support from the NSF Arctic Social Sciences Program. Implementing ideas
from Bering Sea community liaisons, an outline of the social science
plan was drafted in fall 2004.
The vision for "Sustaining the Bering Ecosystem" is to encourage
interdisciplinary scientific research that will promote greater
understanding of the dynamic relationships between the Bering Sea and
the humans who live and work there, and of their strong personal and
cultural investment in the past, present, and future of the
environment, as well as their ability to contribute important knowledge
about Bering Sea natural and social system dynamics. Further, a
fundamental goal of this project is to promote science that will
address issues of importance to Bering Sea communities and their
survival.
The committee requests your feedback on Sustaining the Bering
Ecosystem's goals and draft outline. The BEST plan and the social
science planning documents are available on the ARCUS web site:
http://www.arcus.org/Bering/hbest/index.html
The social science planning documents include:
- Summary pages on the goals and process created for the development
of a social science plan that begins with community concerns.
- Notes of a March 2004 meeting of Bering Sea community liaisons and
social scientists in Anchorage.
- Draft outline of the social science plan that directly follows the
topics and notes of the March meeting.
- Comments page, to send comments, suggestions, or criticisms to
improve the draft plan.
Sustaining the Bering Ecosystem Organizing Committee
Ben Fitzhugh - Department of Anthropology, University of Washington
- E-Mail: fitzhugh at u.washington.edu
Henry Huntington - Huntington Consulting - E-Mail: hph at alaska.net
Mary Pete - Division of Subsistence, Alaska Department of Fish and
Game - E-Mail: mary_pete at fishgame.state.ak.us
***************************************************
Summer Programs, Courses, Internships, Meetings
International Postdoctoral Scientist Network for Earth Systems Science
First Workshop Breckenridge, Colorado June 23-25, 2005
Many of the challenges we face in earth system science require not
only the integration of complex physical processes into climate system
models (e.g., the NCAR CCSM) but coupling biogeochemistry and chemistry
with climate. Additionally, the global research community will require
components that allow interactions between policy and decision making
with environmental and climate considerations. The complexity of full
biophysical models of the Earth's System requires considerable
computational expense and makes deconvolution to understand the
underlying processes difficult. Accordingly, intermediate complexity
and simple models are tools that are valuable towards understand the
more complex models and the real system they attempt to represent.
As a step towards fuller integration of earth system science,
IGBP/AIMES are planning an international postdoctoral scientist network
for earth system science. This network will serve as a mechanism for
promoting the development of the next generation of scientists to be
increasingly cross-cutting as will be required by the future of Earth
system modeling. An important element will be including participants
from developing countries to both contribute their expertise in quickly
changing and highly vulnerable environments, as well as to build the
human resources in important regions of the globe for future science
projects.
To inaugurate the network we plan a first workshop in June, 2005.
The workshop agenda will include talks from one senior person and
several postdoctoral scientists on two topics:
Topic 1: The end of nature? Human-earth systems interactions
Topic 2: Is there a scenario in the class? Different views of the
future (Multi-scaled approaches to Earth System modeling).
All participates will be invited to give a talk or present a poster
during the workshop. More information is available at:
htttp://www.asp.ucar.edu/ess.html.
Applications:
Applications should be received by March 15, 2005 and include a CV,
statement of research interests (1 page), statement of how the
postdoctoral network can best serve the postdoctoral community (1
page), and a recommendation letter. We plan to obtain sufficient
funding to support 50 postdoctoral scientists to attend, but please
indicate in your application if you can only attend if you receive full
support. Please note: The preferred format of the submitted documents
is pdf (PostScript, MS Word and ASCII text also accepted).Send
applications to: asp-apply at asp.ucar.edu with the subject "ESS
Workshop”.
***************************************************
Jobs for PhDs
http://www.higheredjobs.com/about/
Postdoctoral Research Scholar, University of North Carolina
Openings (3) in marine ecology at the University of North Carolina’s
Institute of Marine Sciences (Morehead City). Research addresses: (1)
ecological impacts of sea-level rise and alternative erosion controls
on estuarine shorelines; (2) barrier island community recovery
following storm disturbance and restoration; and (3) impacts of fill on
habitat function of ocean beaches and coastal oceans. Job
availability: spring 2005. Salary range: 32-38 K. Jobs require
experience in experimental ecology, strong statistical analytic skills,
and the ability and desire to co-author influential and provocative
papers. Send CV, letter of interest, and email addresses for 3
referees to Charles H. Peterson at cpeters at email.unc.edu. UNC is an
equal-opportunity employer.
*****************
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is
seeking a research scholar for its newly formed Population and Climate
Change Program. This interdisciplinary program aims to improve the
representation of demographic factors in integrated assessment modeling
of climate change, and to develop novel treatments of uncertainty in
such models. Its work on demography will include a substantial focus
on the influence of demographic factors such as aging, urbanization,
and changes in household size and structure on future energy demand and
associated emissions. Research will be organized around a set of
country case studies, and will employ a general equilibrium modeling
framework with detail in the energy sector and in the representation of
household demand.
For details on the available position, see IIASA's website at
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Admin/PE/Jobs/2005-03-pcc-rs.html. Briefly, the
primary tasks will include (1) carrying out econometric analysis of
production and consumption data required to support calibration of a
general equilibrium model for various country case studies, and (2)
contributing to model development, conducting simulations, and
analyzing output. In addition, a particular research focus consistent
with the incumbent's background and interests can be defined. A
background in economics with solid statistical skills is of primary
importance; knowledge of energy and/or demographic issues is highly
desirable.
The successful candidate will be offered an initial fixed-term
contract for 1-2 years, beginning in the first half of 2005, with the
possibility of extension.
*****************
School of Biological Sciences
Reference No. A08/005688
The University of Sydney is recognised internationally for its
excellence in teaching and research, as demonstrated by its innovative
academic programs and its outstanding record in winning Government and
industry funding for research.
The School of Biological Sciences is a major contributor to the
Faculty of Science’s Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science
(Environmental), Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology and Genetics),
and related programmes. It has a vigorous teaching and research
programme in molecular genetics including population genetics based on
molecular markers, quantitative ecology, physiology, systematics,
evolutionary biology, bioinformatics and the biology of bacteria,
fungi, plants and animals, with particular strength in the biology and
evolution of reptiles and insects.
The School wishes to appoint a molecular ecologist who will teach in
both the ecology and genetics programs offered by the School. The
appointee will be expected to establish and maintain an active research
programme, compatible with the School’s research profile, which will
attract postgraduate students, international exchanges and external
research funding from national competitive research bodies and
collaboration with industry. Duties will include course development
and administration, supervision of Honours and postgraduate research
projects and possibly teaching in postgraduate courses.
The successful applicant will have a Ph.D. in ecology or genetics,
and have earned a reputation for innovative and productive research
with a strong publication record in molecular ecology – the use of
molecular markers and or genomics to study questions in ecology,
evolution, biodiversity, conservation, animal behaviour and/or the
direct analysis of ecologically important genes. The study organism(s)
are open and could include plants, animals or micro-organisms. The
appointee will be expected to collaborate with ecologists and
geneticists within the School and elsewhere. Excellent classroom and
laboratory teaching skills, an interest in course development,
potential for future development and the ability to work co-operatively
with others are essential. For appointment at Senior Lecturer level,
in addition to the above the successful applicant must have
considerable postdoctoral experience, a strong track record of
successful applications for competitive grant funding, an excellent
publication record and demonstrated administrative skills, preferably
with experience in the administration of courses.
The position is full-time continuing (similar to tenure track in the
USA) from 1 July 2005, subject to the completion of a satisfactory
probation and/or confirmation period for new appointees. Membership of
a University approved superannuation (retirement) scheme is a condition
of employment for new appointees. For further information and a copy of
the position description contact the chair of the Search Committee,
Associate Professor Ben Oldroyd on (+61 2) 9351 7501 fax (+61 2) 9351
4771, e-mail: boldroyd at bio.usyd.edu.au or visit:
http://www.bio.usyd.edu.au
Remuneration package: $73,303 - $87,047 p.a. (which includes a base
salary Lecturer Level B (assistant professor in the US system) $61,942
- $73,556 p.a., leave loading and up to 17% employer’s contribution to
superannuation) Remuneration package: $89,796 - $103,447 p.a. (which
includes a base salary Senior Lecturer Level C (associate professor in
the US system) $75,879 - $87,493 p.a., leave loading and up to 17%
employer’s contribution to superannuation)
Level of appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and
experience.
Closing: 12 May 2005
**************************************************
This newsletter has been developed by C. Susan Weiler to distribute
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 do not necessarily reflect those of the funding
agencies or sponsoring societies. Dr. Weiler 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. Send a short message in the body of an e-mail
message, and link to any appropriate websites. Do not send attachments.
Moving? Send address changes to dialog at whitman.edu or
disccrs at whitman.edu
**********
C. Susan Weiler, Ph.D.
Office of Earth System Studies 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
DIALOG poster http://www.aslo.org/phd/dialogposter.pdf
DISCCRS poster http://www.aslo.org/phd/disccrsposter.pdf
Workshop Report, Meeting the Needs of Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Graduates
in a Changing Global Environment
http://marcus.whitman.edu/~weilercs/biocomplexity/
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