[DIALOGnews] DIALOG and DISCCRS News 02/17/2006

Susan Bennett bennetsk at whitman.edu
Fri Feb 17 16:12:50 CST 2006


DIALOG and DISCCRS News
02/17/2006
************************************
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SCIENCE NEWS
Protecting the Pacific Island Countries from Cyclones
    (see below)
New [U.S.] Grant System Excludes Mac Users
    (see below)
Declining Snowpack Cools Off Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Winter Soils
    (see below)
Major new Dutch climate progamme and Campagn
    (see below)

SUMMER PROGRAMS, COURSES, INTERNSHIPS, MEETINGS, OPPORTUNITIES
Capacity Building for Project Staff Regarding Kyoto Mechanism
    (see below)

JOBS
Tenure-track-JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY, College of Science,  
Engineering and Technology, Department of Biology
    (see below)
Ireland - Climate Modeller: Community Climate Change Consortium for  
Ireland (C4I)
    (see below)
Princeton, New Jersey - UCAR Visiting Scientist Program at the  
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
    (see below)

***************************************************
Science News
Protecting the Pacific Island Countries from Cyclones
    World Bank news Pacific Island countries rank among the most  
vulnerable in the world to natural disasters. In the 1990s alone,  
reported natural disasters cost the Pacific Islands region US$2.8  
billion. A new report says there's no doubt disasters in the region  
are becoming more intense and calls for urgent action to reduce the  
risks facing the island countries. Full article: http://tinyurl.com/ 
97ymg
********************
New [U.S.] Grant System Excludes Mac Users
    from the Washington Post (Registration Required)
    What if the federal government were about to give away more than  
$400 billion in grants, but only people whose computers ran on  
Microsoft software could apply?
    That is the predicament that many scientists, scholars and others  
say they are in as the government enters the final phase of its five- 
year effort to streamline its grant-application process.
    The new "Grants.gov" system, under development at a cost of tens  
of billions of dollars, aims to replace paper applications with  
electronic forms. It is being phased in at the National Institutes of  
Health, Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal  
agencies. All 26 grant-giving agencies are supposed to have their  
application processes fully online by 2007. http://tinyurl.com/96bdg
  ********************
Declining Snowpack Cools Off Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Winter Soils
    A recent decrease in Rocky Mountain snowpack has slowed the  
release of heat-trapping carbon dioxide gases from forest soils into  
the atmosphere during the dead of winter, according to a new  
University of Colorado at Boulder study. http://www.sciencedaily.com/ 
releases/2006/02/060210092330.htm
********************
Major new Dutch climate progamme and Campagn
    We’re very pleased to announce that after one year of  
preparations more than 40 Dutch Nature Conservation, Environment,  
Development and Humanitarian NGOs have joined together to start a  
huge joint climate change program and a related public campaign. The  
campaign started this week. The coalition includes Oxfam, Red Cross  
Netherlands, Unicef, PLAN, WWF and many other national and  
international NGOs.
The total budget of the programme and the campaign is € 16.3 million  
for the period 2006 – 2007.
    The objectives are (1) to reduce the risks of climate change by  
integrating responses to climate change and climate variability into  
disaster risk reduction, poverty reduction and sustainable  
development efforts (2) to raise the sense of urgency by using the  
climate risk reduction projects within the programme as climate  
‘witnesses’ and (3) to reduce emissions by convincing at least one  
million consumers to take action.
    Although the public campaign has no policy objectives in itself,  
we consider the public campaign as essential to strengthen the  
ongoing activities to influence government policies and the climate  
policy of major Dutch companies.
    The communications concept is shown here. ‘Hier’ means ‘here’.  
This concept can help to show that climate change is not an abstract,  
long term environmental problem, but that it is happening here and  
here and here. It also helps to show that each person and  
organisation can be part of the solution, here, here and here. To  
cite Bill Clinton from his speech during the last CoP:  "Here's what  
I am going to do!"
    The concept can be used by the participating NGOs, other NGOs and  
participating organisations, like local authorities. It can also be  
used by the business sector, in offering a well-defined package of  
products like efficient light bulbs, the most efficient (Top Ten)  
appliances, green electricity and climate-neutral products.
The name of our campaign website is www.hier.nu  (hier.nu means  
here.now)
    The Program is intended to be internationally relevant as well:
    The chosen approach to include humanitarian an development NGOs  
to raise the sense of urgency is innovative and will hopefully  
contribute to their involvement in other countries.
    More than half of the projects will take place in developing  
countries, especially the projects of development and humanitarian  
NGOs. They offer new opportunities for climate impact stories and  
climate ‘witnesses’;
    The communications approach is meant to be easily be copied in  
other countries;
    The Dutch Top Ten project for the most efficient products is part  
of an innovative international project to introduce Top Ten websites  
in ten European countries (see www.topten.info) and to create buyer’s  
groups like local authorities and banks. This international approach  
can create enough volume to transform markets;
    At least half of the compensation of climate neutral products  
will come from ‘gold standard’ CDM projects.
    On our site www.klimaatbureau.nl you can find an overview of our  
programme, including a short description of the different projects  
(page in English) and a short film on the first phase of our public  
campaign (unfortunately in Dutch, but the basic ideas can easily be  
understood).
    I hope you enjoy it. We do!
    Sible Schöne
    Klimaatbureau
    sible at klimaatbureau.nl
    31(0)302393064
    31(0)655328722
***************************************************
Summer Programs, Courses, Internships, Meetings, Opportunities
  Capacity Building for Project Staff Regarding Kyoto Mechanism
    The group-training course on Capacity Building for Project Staff  
Regarding Kyoto Mechanism
    This is the information for those who intend to apply to the  
training
course in Japan.
    This training course for overseas participants will  
systematically introduce measures to reduce emission of greenhouse  
gases and give participants better understanding of Kyoto Mechanism  
and role of the developing countries in CDM projects.
    This course is organized by Chubu International Center, JICA  
(Japan International Cooperation Agency), and implemented by ICETT  
(International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer) under  
the ODA program.
    This course is already allocated to the following contries;
    Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Kenya,  
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Phillippines, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet  
Nam Those who intend to apply to this training course should contact  
with JICA office in their countries.
    1.COURSE TITLE: Capacity Building for Project Staff Regarding  
Kyoto Mechanism
    2.DURATION: June 12, 2006 to July 30, 2006
    3.APPLICATION DUE & REQUIRED ITEMS: April 12, 2006 (for  
acceptance in the JICA office or Embassy of Japan), Nomination Form,  
Country Report and Summary of Job Report
    4.NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 10
    5.LANGUAGE: English
    6.PARTICIPANTS ? OCCUPATION:
    1)Administrative officers or researchers of national government  
who are in charge of making and/or implementing the policies and/or  
projects concerning Kyoto Mechanism.
    2)Experts who specialize in CDM, working in the field of energy  
sectors.
    *Applicants would rather belong to Designated National  
Authorities (DNA) or other corresponding organizations like National  
Focal Points (NFP) and CDM offices.
    7.COURSE OBJECT
    Upon successful completion of the course, the participants are  
expected to gain capacity building in order to develop sound  
projecting skills and also to deepen their understanding of:
    1)Kyoto Protocol and the Rule of Kyoto Mechanism
    2)Scientific Aspect of Global Warming;
    3) Role of the developing countries for the facilitation of CDM  
projects;
    4) Measures to limit and/or reduce emissions of Green House  
Gasses (GHGs).
    3690-1,Sakura-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie 512-1211, Japan
INTERNATIONAL CENTER for ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ( ICETT )
    Koichi Kikuchi  Associate Director / Training Division
    TEL +81-593-29-3500      FAX +81-593-29-8115
***************************************************
Jobs
Planktonnet: Great listserv for aquatic-science jobs
To subscribe to the list, send an empty email to:
planktonnet-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
Or, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/planktonnet/ and click on  
'Join this group'
Tenure-track-JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY, College of Science,  
Engineering and Technology, Department of Biology
    Jackson State University, located in metropolitan Jackson, is the  
4th largest state supported institution in Mississippi with an  
enrollment of approximately 8,500 students.  The College of Science,  
Engineering, and Technology consists of two academic schools: The  
school of Engineering with four departments (Civil and Environmental  
Engineering; Communication Engineering; Computer Engineering; and  
Computer Sciences), and the School of Science and Technology with  
five departments (Biology; Chemistry; Mathematics; Physics,  
Atmospheric and General Science; and Technology); the Multi- 
disciplinary Environmental Science Ph.D. Program; and the Department  
of Aerospace Studies. Over 2,000 students are enrolled in the  
undergraduate and graduate programs, and 100 full-time faculty  
members are involved in teaching, research and service.
    The Department of Biology, Jackson State University at Jackson,  
Mississippi invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track position  
in marine science / coastal environmental science.  The start date  
for this position is August 14, 2006.  The candidate selected will be  
required to teach aquatic/marine science and environmental science  
courses, develop courses in his/her area of expertise, and direct our  
undergraduate and graduate degree concentrations in marine science.   
Preferred areas of research experience include, but are not limited  
to: fisheries biology, fish population dynamics and stock assessment,  
coastal/marine ecology, coastal/marine science, coastal/marine  
ecosystem assessment and management, and/or coastal/marine resources  
management.  The successful candidate is expected to develop active,  
externally funded research programs; provide effective teaching and  
services to the university community; and develop/establish  
collaborations with scientists from the MS Department of Marine  
Resources, Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, USM-Gulf  
Coast Research Laboratory, NASA Stennis Space Center, National  
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other institutions, to  
strengthen the marine science program. The candidate must have proven  
research and successful grantsmanship records. He/She must hold a  
Ph.D. degree or equivalent in coastal/marine science, fisheries  
biology or a closely related area. Preference will be given to  
applicants with at least a post-doctoral experience in aquatic and  
fishery sciences.
    Rank and salary will be commensurate with experience.  Review of  
applications will begin March 15, 2006, and will continue until the  
position is filled.
    For additional information please contact:
    Willis Baker, Willis F. Baker & Associates
    Executive Search Consultants
    (513) 651-3535 - willis.baker at fuse.net
    Jackson State University is an equal opportunity, affirmative  
action employer.
********************
  Ireland - Climate Modeller: Community Climate Change Consortium for  
Ireland (C4I)
    Applications are invited for the position of Computer Climate  
Modeller to work as part of a climate research team. The Community  
Climate Change Consortium for Ireland (C4I) has been established,  
with University College Dublin (UCD) and Met Éireann (the Irish  
National Meteorological Service) as partners. Preliminary climate  
simulations have been carried out and are available at www.C4I.ie .  
Major ensemble climate modelling experiments are planned.
    Purpose of Position
    The purpose is to carry out large-scale computational experiments  
to simulate the future climate of Ireland using a Regional Climate  
Model (RCM).  The overall goal of the C4I Project is to enhance our  
knowledge and understanding to future climate of Ireland, and the  
likely impacts of climate change.
    Location
    The modeller will be based in the Meteorology & Climate Centre,  
School of Mathematical Sciences, UCD, but will collaborate closely  
with the climate modeling team at Met Éireann in Glasnevin  
(www.met.ie). The modeller will work under the direct supervision of  
the Director of the Meteorology & Climate Centre, Prof Peter Lynch.
    Principal Duties and Responsibilities
    The Computer Climate Modeller will be involved in developing and  
implementing climate simulations using regional and global climate  
models on parallel high performance computing platforms. Ensembles of  
climate simulations will be executed using lateral boundary data from  
ensembles of global runs. The Modeller will be expected to  
participate in the overall design of these experiments, and in their  
execution. There will also be limited opportunities for independent  
research studies provided that these serve the overall goals of the  
C4I Project.
    Computational facilities includes access to the Cosmogrid cluster  
in UCD and the Irish Centre for High End Computing (ICHEC) (see  
http://www.ichec.ie/)
    Selection Criteria
    The applicant must have
    * A strong background in computing and computational science.
    * A Ph.D. in atmospheric or earth sciences, physics, mathematics  
or related disciplines, or in computer science.
    * Knowledge of and experience in using the Unix operating system.
    The applicant should have at least some of the following:
    * Experience in working with regional climate models
    * Knowledge of FORTRAN and facility in programming in this language
    * Facility in working with large and complex data-bases
    * Experience using advanced visualization tools.
    Remuneration
    The salary will be in the range €34,000 - 48,000, the level being  
commensurate with experience.
    FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information, please see http:// 
www.ucd.ie/meteorology
********************
Princeton, New Jersey - UCAR Visiting Scientist Program at the  
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
    The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is  
recruiting postdoctoral scientists and short-term senior visitors to  
work in Princeton, New Jersey at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics  
Laboratory (GFDL) as part of the Climate Change Research Initiative  
(CCRI).
    GFDL conducts fundamental and applied oceanic and atmospheric  
research on a variety of problems of importance to society and  
central to NOAA's mission.  These problems include global climate  
change; hurricane prediction; modeling and prediction of El Nino and  
its influence on the global atmosphere;  atmospheric radiation,  
aerosol and cloud physics, atmospheric  chemistry; the carbon cycle  
in the oceans and on land; and problems in fundamental oceanic and  
atmospheric fluid dynamics that have the potential to impact future  
applications.
    For the past three decades, GFDL has been a world leader in  
global change research,  specializing in the computer modeling of the  
climate system.  In the past several years  GFDL has reorganized to  
develop a new generation of climate and Earth system models to  
support its research for the coming decade. Teams of scientists from  
the Laboratory and Princeton University have been developing a new  
software infrastructure and new atmospheric, oceanic, land,  
atmospheric chemistry, and oceanic biogeochemistry models which are  
currently being enhanced and integrated into an interactive system  
for studies of variability and change.
    GFDL has recently received additional funding from the CCRI to  
enhance its core research capability so as to enable policy related  
research and product generation. GFDL expects some of these new  
postdoctoral positions to evolve into permanent civil service hires  
as it expands its staff in the next several years. Placement into  
permanent civil service positions may require additional competition.  
These positions are intended to expedite the development of this new  
generation of climate models as well as the climate change research  
conducted with them.
    The following are specific areas that have been identified as  
priorities for post-doctoral positions:
    -- collaborative studies with GFDL models and the UCAR's  
Community Climate System Model (CCSM) to better understand  
differences in equilibrium and transient responses to changes in  
radiative forcing, including predictions of regional climate change
    -- studies of radiative forcing of climate, both natural and  
anthropogenic; aerosol direct and indirect effects; modeling of  
aerosol distributions and aerosol and cloud microphysical processes  
relevant for climate change
    -- detection of climate change and the attribution of these  
changes to human and natural causes, including extreme events and  
regional climate change; retrospective analysis and simulations of  
observed climate changes to evaluate model sensitivity and feedbacks;
    -- the sensitivity of midlatitude stormtracks and tropical storms  
to global warming;  analyses of simulated natural variability on  
interannual and decadal time scales and its predictability
    -- modeling of regional climate change with  high resolution  
global atmospheric models and/or limited area atmospheric models
    -- modeling issues relevant to climate change in the Arctic,  
including sea ice and Arctic ocean circulation
    -- atmospheric subgrid parameterizations and model development:  
planetary boundary layer, moist convection, and middle atmospheric  
gravity waves; stratospheric processes affecting climate variations  
and change
-- large-scale ocean dynamics and ocean circulation, and its effect  
on the climate system and climate variability
    -- studies of the ocean's role in climate and climate change;  
ocean model development; ocean initialization for climate change  
simulations
    -- modeling of land hydrology and biogeochemical cycles in the  
land and ocean; the effect of climate change on the carbon, nitrogen,  
iron, and silica cycles.
    In addition to junior post-doctoral applicants, GFDL is looking  
for senior  visitors interested in the areas listed above, with a  
particular emphasis on visitors from other climate change modeling  
centers interested in model intercomparisons.
    How to apply:
    There is no application form.  Send the following materials to  
the UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs:
    --Cover letter identifying this program
    --Curriculum vitae with a list of publications in refereed journals
    --Names and addresses of three references. It is the applicant's  
responsibility to contact the references and request that they submit  
letters in support of your application to VSP.
    --PhD thesis abstract
    --Proposed project description, including a statement of  
relevance to the CCRI.  Proposal must be titled and not exceed three  
pages.
    Application deadline is April 15, 2006.  Applications are  
reviewed twice yearly by a steering committee and will not be  
reviewed unless they are complete, including letters of reference.
    Send applications and letters of reference to:
    Meg Austin, Director
    UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs
    P.O. Box 3000
    Boulder, CO  80307-3000 USA
    For further information, please call 303-497-8649, send e-mail  
to: vsp at ucar.edu or visit the VSP website at: www.vsp.ucar.edu
    UCAR is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.
**************************************************
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  
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         Moving? Send address changes to dialog at whitman.edu or  
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**********
C. Susan Weiler, Ph.D.
Office for 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
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   Workshop Report, Meeting the Needs of
     Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Graduates in a
          Changing Global Environment
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