[DIALOGnews] DISCCRS News 9/1/2006
Ruth Ladderud
ladderra at whitman.edu
Fri Sep 1 15:40:50 CDT 2006
DISCCRS News
9/1/2006
************************************
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DIALOG FUTURE
Message from Sue Weiler: The grants which have supported the last
four DIALOG symposia, webpage and newsletter have now ended. After
lengthy discussions with program officers from the various supporting
agencies (NSF, NASA, ONR, NOAA), a decision has been made that, with
the current tightness of Federal research funds in the U.S., the
scope of the DIALOG initiative should be reduced to focus on
activities directly related to the symposia. The activities
concerning the webpage and newsletter will no longer be supported by
the research programs which have funded DIALOG. I will continue to
seek other sources of support for these activities. Maarten Boeersma
has tried several times to obtain funds from outside the U.S. to
support annual DIALOG symposia and these have not been successful. If
anyone has ideas on how to obtain non-US funds for DIALOG, please let
me know.
I am pleased to announce that the U.S. Federal agencies have
encouraged me to resubmit a proposal for bi-annual symposia (ca. 24-
month cycle) with the DIALOG goal of bringing together the the
brightest minds in biologically oriented aquatic science for a
focused workshop to: facilitate intellectual cross-fertilization;
enhance inter-disciplinary thinking, catalyze establishment of long-
lasting interdisciplinary, international collegial peer networks; and
foster development of interdisciplinary collaborative research over
professional lifetimes. The next symposium will most likely be in 2008.
Those already subscribed to DIALOG, and those subscribing to
the DISCCRS Newsletter will receive updates once funding for the
DIALOG VIII Symposium has been obtained. Announcements will also be
posted on the ASLO website and the DISCCRS website. Aquatic
scientists already on this newsletter will automatically continue on
the DISCCRS News. If you don't wish to continue receiving the
newsletter, send a message to phd at whitman.edu. Aquatic scientists are
most welcome to register with DISCCRS We will keep the "DIALOG"
button active on the Ph.D. Dissertation Registration form. So,
basically you won't notice much change except that the only aquatic
science info will be that related to climate change.
RESOURCES
Announcement of Opportunity: National Oceanographic Partnership
Program (NOPP) Interagency Committee on Ocean Science and Resource
Management Integration (ICOSRMI)
http://www.onr.navy.mil/02/baa/
(see RESOURCES 1 below)
Seed Funding Facility of Wetlands International
www.wetlands.org/WPRP
(see RESOURCES 2 below)
New Report: Up in smoke? Latin America and the Caribbean: The threat
from climate change to the environment and human development
English: http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/uploads/
15erpvfzxbbipu552pnoo1f128082006213002.pdf
(see RESOURCES 3 below)
East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students
(EAPSI) NSF Wide Programs
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5284
(see RESOURCES 4 below)
FORUM
Nominate colleagues for ASLO Lindeman Award for outstanding paper by
young scientist
http://www.aslo.org/information/awards.html
(see FORUM 1 below)
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the
United States: Research Priorities for the Next Decade
http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_public_comment.html
(see FORUM 2 below)
SCIENCE NEWS
'Dead Zone' off Oregon Creates Alarm, and Skepticism
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/23/us/23deadzone.html?
_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin
Clues from a hotter Earth
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/nation/15368284.htm
California's Historic Deal on Warming
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/08/31/
MNGMGKSMHH1.DTL http://tinyurl.com/lbl6g
(see NEWS 1 below)
California Takes Lead in Global-Warming Fight http://
www.csmonitor.com/2006/0901/p01s01-usgn.html
(see NEWS 2 below)
In Oregon, a Close-Up Look into a Coastal Dead Zone
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0825/p01s04-usgn.html http://
tinyurl.com/hazcz
(see NEWS 3 below)
High-Elevation Studies Try to Predict Impact of Climate Change
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/27/
MNG5TKQA5Q1.DTL
http://tinyurl.com/k9hn6
(see NEWS 4 below)
Unearthing Storm Clues in West Africa
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0829/p07s02-woaf.html http://
tinyurl.com/kjgaa
(see NEWS 5 below)
Cities in Peril as Andean Glaciers Melt
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1860206,00.html
http://tinyurl.com/j52kt
(see NEWS 6 below)
Bacteria Can Help Predict Ocean Change
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060816014332.htm
(see NEWS 7 below)
NASA study solves ocean plant mystery
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2006/
mystery_plants.html
(see NEWS 8 below)
Climate Changes Shift Springtime
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5279390.stm http://
tinyurl.com/fwq2x
(see NEWS 9 below)
JOBS
Research Technician - Oceanic carbon dioxide (CO2) studies - Bermuda
Biological Station for Research (St. Georges, Bermuda) http://
www.bbsr.edu/Labs/co2lab/co2main.html
(see JOB 1 below)
Faculty Position - SAGE (Center for Sustainability and the Global
Environment) University of Wisconsin, Madison WI (USA) http://
www.sage.wisc.edu/)
(see JOB 2 below)
Post-Doctoral Research Position - Zooplankton Ecology - Prince
William Sound Science Center, Cordova, Alaska (USA) http://
www.pwssc.org
(see JOB 3 below)
Post-doctoral Scholar - Ocean biogeochemical modeling - The
Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine
(USA)
(see JOB 4 below)
Tenure-Track - Human Geography - U.C. Berkeley, California (USA)
(See JOB 5 below)
Resident Lecturer in Environmental Policy and Socio-Economic Values
Center for Marine Resource Studies,Turks & Caicos Islands (British
West Indies)
(See JOB 6 below)
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Resources
(RESOURCES 1) Announcement of Opportunity: National Oceanographic
Partnership Program (NOPP) Interagency Committee on Ocean Science and
Resource Management Integration (ICOSRMI) http://www.onr.navy.mil/
02/baa/
The National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) and the
President's Interagency Committee on Ocean Science and Resource
Management Integration (ICOSRMI) have released their Broad Agency
Announcement for this year. It may be accessed directly at: http://
www.onr.navy.mil/02/baa/docs/baa_06_029.pdf
This announcement seeks proposals under Topic 4, "Collaboration"
addressing: Topic 4A - Coastal Effects of a Diminished-Ice Arctic
Ocean Topic 4B - Marine Mammals
Please note that Topic 4A, Coastal Effects of a Diminished-Ice
Arctic Ocean, represents an International Polar Year opportunity for
arctic scientists. Full proposals are due Thursday, 30 November 2006.
********************
(RESOURCES 2) Seed Funding Facility of Wetlands International
www.wetlands.org/WPRP
Greetings from Wetlands International. We are very please to announce
the recent launching of the Seed Funding Facility of the Wetlands and
Poverty Reduction Project of Wetlands International. The facility is
an opportunity to provide funds to support the process of project
proposal development and local partnerships strengthening for on-the-
ground activities that deepen the understanding of how well-managed
wetlands can help sustain the livelihoods and security of wetland-
related communities. The intention is that the Seed Funding Facility
will allow different sectoral organizations (i.e. conservation and
development/aid) to work collaboratively and engage with local and
regional actors in the development of a project proposal that address
wetlands-poverty issues. The Seed Funding Facility is not intended to
fund small projects – only processes whose aim is the development of
a project proposal. Upon completion of developing the proposal, the
partners will be expected to submit their proposal to a donor for
funding consideration. The maximum amount that can be requested under
the Seed Funding Facility is €25.000.
Criteria and guidelines for applications can be all downloadable from
Wetlands International website www.wetlands.org/WPRP. Kindly contact
Maria Stolk, Seed Funding Facility Coordinator at
maria.stolk at wetlands.org for more information about the Seed Funding
Facility or for sending your application. The 2006 deadline for
submission is October 15.
********************
(RESOURCES 3) New Report: Up in smoke? Latin America and the
Caribbean: The threat from climate change to the environment and
human development
English: http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/uploads/
15erpvfzxbbipu552pnoo1f128082006213002.pdf
And Spanish: http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/uploads/
15erpvfzxbbipu552pnoo1f128082006213236.pdf
The third report from the Working Group on Climate Change and
Development, a coalition of 20 major environment and development
groups is now available. With a foreword by Juan Mayr, former
Colombian Environment Minister and President of the first Conference
of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the
report catalogues the impact of climate change and environmental
degradation ranging from drought in the Amazon to floods in Haiti and
elsewhere; vanishing glaciers in Colombia to extreme cold in the
Andes; and hurricanes, not only in Central America and the Caribbean,
but also in southern Brazil.
********************
(RESOURCES 4) East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S.
Graduate Students (EAPSI) NSF Wide Programs
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5284
The East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) provide U.S.
graduate students in science and engineering 1) first-hand research
experience in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, or Taiwan; 2) an
introduction to the science and science policy infrastructure of the
respective location; and 3) orientation to the society, culture and
language. The primary goals of EAPSI are to introduce students to
East Asia and Pacific science and engineering in the context of a
research laboratory, and to initiate personal relationships that will
better enable them to collaborate with foreign counterparts in the
future. The institutes last approximately eight weeks from June to
August. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) co-sponsor the Summer
Institute in Japan.
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Forum
(FORUM 1)Nominate colleagues for ASLO Lindeman Award for outstanding
paper by young scientist
This is a great way to recognize a colleague, former student or
postdoc, etc. etc. The nominator must be an ASLO member, but the
paper doesn't have to be written by an ASLO member. It is not a
difficult process. cheers, sue
Raymond Lindeman Award for the Outstanding Paper in Aquatic
Science by a Young Scientist
Detailed information about the awards, the history and criteria,
as well as the composition of the current committees is on the ASLO
web site at: http://www.aslo.org/information/awards.html
PROCEDURES: The process for nominating someone is for the “lead
nominator” to submit a full nomination package to the particular sub-
committee (there is a separate sub-committee for each award). The
package will consist of a CV of the nominee, letters of support, and
an essay of why this individual should receive the particular award.
Nomination packages must be submitted on the ASLO web site: http://
www.aslo.org/forms/awards.html
********************
(FORUM 2) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Charting the Course for Ocean Science
in the United States: Research Priorities for the Next Decade
http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_public_comment.html
The public comment period is now OPEN for Charting the Course for
Ocean Science in the United States: Research Priorities for the Next
Decade, a draft document that outlines the national ocean research
priorities for the United States for the next ten years. All
interested parties are encouraged to review the document and provide
input during this 45 day public comment period (scheduled to close
October 20, 2006).
Called for in the U.S. Ocean Action Plan and developed by the
Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology, this draft
document, along with a follow-on Implementation Strategy, will
describe a vision for U.S. ocean science and technology, highlight
key areas of interaction of our society and the ocean, and identify
critical ocean research priorities for these areas.
***************************************************
Science News
(NEWS 1) California's Historic Deal on Warming
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/08/31/
MNGMGKSMHH1.DTL http://tinyurl.com/lbl6g
San Francisco Chronicle California will become the first state
in the country to require industries to lower greenhouse gas
emissions under a deal struck Wednesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
and Democrats that could dramatically reshape the state's economy.
After weeks of intense negotiations between the administration
and legislative leaders, and just a few hours after Schwarzenegger
threatened to veto the bill, Democrats and the governor announced an
agreement on legislation that sends the state on a markedly different
environmental path from the federal government.
By 2020, when industries would have to lower carbon dioxide and
other greenhouse gases by 25 percent, solar panels, alternative fuels
and electric cars could be commonplace, according to advocates of the
legislation.
********************
(NEWS 2) California Takes Lead in Global-Warming Fight http://
www.csmonitor.com/2006/0901/p01s01-usgn.html
Christian Science Monitor -- LOS ANGELES AND BOSTON -
California's landmark deal to require a 25 percent cut in industrial
greenhouse gases by 2020 is a largely symbolic victory with only a
tiny impact on climate. But it's one that could prompt significant
change in the nation's stance on global warming - and give the state
a competitive edge in future years.
The agreement, which has not yet cleared the state legislature,
would require industries - including oil refineries, chemical
manufacturers, and utilities - to slash carbon-dioxide emissions.
Coming just two weeks after seven Northeast states officially
approved a cap on CO2 emissions from electric utilities, California's
far broader measure could presage a growing push among states to cut
emissions.
Thus far, the Bush administration has resisted efforts to
institute federal mandatory reductions on CO2 that might increase
costs to business and harm the economy. Many California business
groups also worry the measure will encourage businesses to locate
elsewhere.
********************
(NEWS 3) In Oregon, a Close-Up Look into a Coastal Dead Zone
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0825/p01s04-usgn.html http://
tinyurl.com/hazcz
Christian Science Monitor --- OFF CAPE PERPETUA, ORE. - A half-
dozen scientists huddle in a cramped lab aboard the research vessel
Elakha, bracing themselves against the rolling swells. As they stare
at a pair of TV monitors, images of an aquatic graveyard glide across
the screens. Some 150 feet below, a robotic submersible . . . motors
just above the bottom, capturing macabre images of Oregon's newly
minted and poorly understood "dead zone."
The zone is a bottom-hugging layer of water with oxygen levels so
low that it can't support the variety of marine life that typically
lives in these near-shore coastal waters. The bottom is littered with
dead crabs, worms, and starfish. White anemones, brilliant in the
submersible's spotlights, look as if they are taking their last gasp.
In two runs lasting roughly an hour each, not one fish - dead or
alive - appears on screen.
Unlike the dead zone that sets up each year in the Gulf of
Mexico, Oregon's version can't be traced to the effects of nutrient-
laden river run-off. Here, as in a handful of other coastal regions
worldwide, the culprit may be global warming.
********************
(NEWS 4) High-Elevation Studies Try to Predict Impact of Climate Change
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/27/
MNG5TKQA5Q1.DTL
http://tinyurl.com/k9hn6
San Francisco Chronicle -- Some of the world's best evidence of
global warming was buried under 18 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada
last winter, and Connie Millar was determined to dig it out.
Millar, a veteran field scientist for the U.S. Forest Service,
sweated uphill with three colleagues on a July morning, headed deep
into Lundy Canyon, just north of Mono Lake, one of the few access
points to the Sierra crest along its rugged eastern flank. She was
hunting for rock glaciers – a cache of ice under a pile of boulders
- which she suspects may be more common than realized in the Sierra.
Insulated by its rocky cover, the ice is slow to melt and could
become a significant source of summer water for mountain animals and
plants if one of the main predictions of global warming is realized:
a radical reduction in the Sierra's snowpack. Millar is finding and
monitoring as many of these hidden ice caches as she can, to better
predict how ecosystems might change as temperatures rise.
********************
(NEWS 5) Unearthing Storm Clues in West Africa http://
www.csmonitor.com/2006/0829/p07s02-woaf.html http://tinyurl.com/kjgaa
Christian Science Monitor -- KAWSARA, SENEGAL - Ed Zipser knew
Ernesto as a baby. The meteorologist flew through the weather system
a little over a week ago when it was just a patch of turbulence off
the coast of West Africa. Ernesto then grew up to be the first
hurricane of the 2006 season.
Scientists know that 4 out of 5 tropical storms hitting the
United States - including the deadly and destructive hurricane
Katrina a year ago – start out in the waters off Africa before
bowling across the Atlantic.
What they don't really understand is why some systems fizzle and
others whip up into monster hurricanes. So Professor Zipser and his
colleagues are in West Africa, trying to unlock the secrets of the
storm as part of the NASA-backed study known as NAMMA (Nasa African
Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses).
********************
(NEWS 6) Cities in Peril as Andean Glaciers Melt http://
www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1860206,00.html http://
tinyurl.com/j52kt
The Guardian (UK) ---Andean glaciers are melting so fast that
some are expected to disappear within 15-25 years, denying major
cities water supplies and putting populations and food supplies at
risk in Colombia, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina and
Bolivia.
Although a few glaciers in southern Patagonia are increasing in
size, almost all near the tropics are in rapid retreat. Some glaciers
in Colombia are now less than 20 percent of the mass recorded in 1850
and Ecuador could lose half its most important glaciers within 20 years.
The rate of glacier retreat has shocked scientists, says a report
on the effects of global warming in Latin America by 20 UK-based
environment and development groups who have drawn on national
scientific assessments. Their study says climate change is
accelerating the deglaciation phenomenon.
*******************
(NEWS 7) Bacteria Can Help Predict Ocean Change
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060816014332.htm
Every creature has its place and role in the oceans -- even the
smallest microbe, according to a new study that may lead to more
accurate models of ocean change.
Scientists have long endorsed the concept of a unique biological
niche for most animals and plants -- a shark, for example, has a
different role than a dolphin.
Bacteria instead have been relegated to an also-ran world of
"functional redundancy" in which few species are considered unique,
said Jed Fuhrman, holder of the McCulloch-Crosby Chair in Marine
Biology in the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
In The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' Early
Edition, Fuhrman and colleagues from USC and Columbia University show
that most kinds of bacteria are not interchangeable and that each
thrives under predictable conditions and at predictable times.
*******************
(NEWS 8) NASA study solves ocean plant mystery
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2006/
mystery_plants.html
NASA press release 06-306 - A NASA-sponsored study shows that by
using a new technique, scientists can determine what limits the
growth of ocean algae, or phytoplankton, and how this affects Earth's
climate.
Phytoplankton is a microscopic ocean plant and an important part
of the ocean food chain. By knowing what limits its growth scientists
can better understand how ecosystems respond to climate change.
The study focused on phytoplankton in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
It is an area of the ocean that plays a particularly important role
in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide and the world's climate.
This area of the ocean is the largest natural source of carbon
dioxide to the atmosphere.
"We concluded that nitrogen is the primary element missing for
algae growth and photosynthesis in the northern portion of the
tropical Pacific, while it was iron that was most lacking everywhere
else," said Michael J. Behrenfeld, an ocean plant ecologist from
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore.
Scientists determined when phytoplankton is stressed from lack of
iron; it appears greener, or healthier than they really are.
Normally, greener plants are growing faster than less green plants.
When iron is lacking, enhanced greenness does not mean phytoplankton
are growing better. They are actually under stress and unhealthy.
These conclusions solved the mystery why healthy looking
phytoplankton are actually not so healthy.
"Because we didn't know about this effect of iron stress on the
greenness of algae or phytoplankton before, we have always assumed
that equally green waters were equally productive," Behrenfeld said.
"We now know this is not the case, and that we have to treat areas
lacking iron differently."
For the tropical Pacific, correction for this "iron-effect"
decreases scientists' estimates of how much carbon ocean plants
photosynthesize for the region by roughly two billion tons. This
figure represents a tremendous amount of carbon that remains in the
atmosphere that scientists previously thought were being removed.
The results about the false health of phytoplankton allow
scientists using computer models to re-create the movement of carbon
around the world much more accurately. Resource managers will become
more knowledgeable about where carbon is going and the impact of
recreational, industrial or commercial processes that use or produce
carbon. Researchers better understand the Earth as an ecosystem, and
can incorporate these findings in future modeling, analysis and
predictions.
While satellite data from NASA's Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view
Sensor played an important part in the study, the real cornerstone of
the discovery was ship-based measurements of fluorescence.
Fluorescence occurs when plants absorb sunlight and some of that
energy is given back off again as red light. Scientists looked at
approximately 140,000 measurements of fluorescence made from 1994 to
2006 along 36,040 miles of ship tracks. They found that phytoplankton
give off much more fluorescence when the plants do not have
sufficient iron. It is this signal they used to fingerprint what
parts of the ocean are iron-stressed and what parts are nitrogen-
stressed.
It is important that scientists understand how ocean plants
behave because all plants play a critical role in maintaining a
healthy planet. Plants annually take up billions of tons of carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and use this
carbon to create the food that nearly all other organisms on Earth
depend on for life.
Nutrients that make ocean plants thrive, such as nitrogen and
phosphate, mostly come from the deep parts of the ocean, when water
is mixed by the wind. Iron also can come from dust blowing in the air.
Approximately half of the photosynthesis on Earth occurs in the
oceans, and the remainder on land. Ocean and land plants share the
same basic requirements for photosynthesis and growth. These
requirements include water, light and nutrients. When these three are
abundant, plants are abundant. When any one of them is missing,
plants suffer.
An article on this technique appears in a recent issue of Nature.
********************
(NEWS 9) Climate Changes Shift Springtime
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5279390.stm http://
tinyurl.com/fwq2x
BBC News Online -- A Europe-wide study has provided "conclusive
proof" that the seasons are changing, with spring arriving earlier
each year, researchers say. Scientists from 17 nations examined
125,000 studies involving 561 species.
Spring was beginning on average six to eight days earlier than it
did 30 years ago, the researchers said. In regions such as Spain,
which saw the greatest increases in temperatures, the season began up
to two weeks earlier.
The findings were based on what was described as the world's
largest study of changes in recurring natural events, such as when
plants flowered. The team of researchers also found that the onset of
autumn has been delayed by an average of three days over the same
period.
***************************************************
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'
********************
(JOB 1) Research Technician - Oceanic carbon dioxide (CO2) studies -
Bermuda Biological Station for Research (St. Georges, Bermuda) http://
www.bbsr.edu/Labs/co2lab/co2main.html
The Bermuda Biological Station for Research, Inc. (BBSR) is
seeking an energetic and motivated research technician for several
related studies on the oceanic cycling of carbon dioxide (CO2),
funded by research grants from the National Science Foundation and
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Our research
at BBSR has focused on understanding the biological, chemical and
physical processes that control the ocean carbon cycle and the
exchange of CO2 between the ocean and the atmosphere. The project at
BBSR will involve a variety of aspects including collection and
analyses of seawater samples for dissolved inorganic carbon and
alkalinity, as well as a maintenance and data synthesis of data
collected from several automated seawater and atmospheric CO2 sensors.
The successful applicant must have at least a B.Sc. (preferably
M.Sc.) degree in marine chemistry, oceanography or related subject,
and several years of demonstrated technical and chemical analysis
experience, preferably with CO2 analytical methods. An ability to
troubleshoot and maintain seawater CO2 analytical instrumentation,
requirement to participate in regular oceanographic cruises, and a
high degree of self-confidence and independence is expected. Ability
to program with LabView and simple basic programming languages will
be an asset.
Contact: Dr. Nick Bates, 17 Biological Lane, St Georges,
Bermuda, GE 01. (Nick.Bates at bbsr.edu).
The Bermuda Biological Station for Research, Inc. (BBSR) is an
U.S. incorporated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research and education
institution employing a multi-national staff of approximately 80
people and based in Bermuda since 1903. Activities include
oceanographic and marine biological research conducted by resident
and visiting scientists, and university level courses on topics
ranging from marine pollution to biogeochemical cycles in the
Sargasso Sea. Additional information on BBSR and these research
positions can be found on the World-Wide-Web at http://
www.bbsr.edu/. BBSR is an Equal Opportunity employer.
Dr. Nicholas R. Bates, Ph.D. Associate Director of Research/
Senior Research Scientist, Bermuda Biological Station For Research,
17 Biological Station Lane, Ferry Reach, GE01, Bermuda Phone: (441)
297-1880 x209; Fax (441) 297-8143 E-mail: Nick.Bates at bbsr.edu
********************
(JOB 2)Faculty Position - SAGE (Center for Sustainability and the
Global Environment) University of Wisconsin, Madison WI (USA) http://
www.sage.wisc.edu/)
We just got approval to hire the fourth and final position in a
cluster on Global Environmental Change, Natural Resources and Human
Well-being. A range of research areas - cutting across many divisions
of the earth sciences and public health - could fit this call,
especially relating to:
- Changing global environmental conditions and the emergence of disease
- Connections between atmospheric chemistry, air pollution and human
health
- Urban environment systems
- Environmental change and natural disasters
- Effects of global environmental change on freshwater resources or
agriculture
- Vulnerability / resilience of human-environment systems to
environmental change
- Application of system dynamics, modeling or environmental
informatics to problem solving
UW-Madison has been hiring over the past few years around
"clusters"... research themes that cut across departments. Faculty
are hired by the cluster hiring committee, then placed in the
appropriate department(s).
SAGE is a great place to work, and Madison is a fantastic place
to live. UW-Madison has a very structured mentoring program for new
faculty, and it is a university that really wants its assistant
professors to succeed and get tenure.
Please don't hesitate to contact me, Tracey Holloway,
(taholloway at wisc.edu; 608 262 5356) if you have any questions. I'm
involved in this search, and I would be happy to answer any
questions... whether specific to this position, or more generally
about UW-Madison, SAGE, the Nelson Institute, cluster hires, etc You
can also email Jon Foley (jfoley at wisc.edu), who is the Director of
SAGE and chair of the search committee.
********************
(JOB 3) Post-Doctoral Research Position - Zooplankton Ecology -
Prince William Sound Science Center, Cordova, Alaska (USA) http://
www.pwssc.org
The Prince William Sound Science Center, a non-profit research
and education institution located on the shores of Prince William
Sound (http://www.pwssc.org) in Cordova, Alaska, is seeking a highly
motivated and enthusiastic person for a post-doctoral research
position focused on high-latitude zooplankton population dynamics.
This individual will join a multi-disciplinary and multi-
institutional team working on the ecosystem dynamics of Prince
William Sound.
Applicants are required to have oceanographic and zooplankton
research experience. The project will involve operation of
electronically controlled multiple-net zooplankton sampling devices.
The post-doc will work both at sea and in the laboratory. The
successful applicant will be expected to work independently, but in
collaboration with other researchers, be able to publish the research
findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals, as well as write
proposals, reports, and other publications. The ideal applicant will
be organized, self motivated, independent, pro-active, have a proven
ability to produce tangible results from significant or difficult
tasks, have strong communication skills, be able to work as part of a
research team, and complement the research interests of existing
personnel. Some travel within the region will be required. This
position is for 15 months with extension contingent on funding.
Applicant must be US or Canadian citizen or have US Permanent
Residence status. The salary range is $50,000-$52,000 annually with
an excellent benefit package.
To apply, please send electronically your curriculum vitae, a
statement of research interests, how you think you would fit into our
organization, your professional experiences, and the names of three
references with their contact information to: Dr. Tom Kline, Prince
William Sound Science Center E-mail: tkline at pwssc.gen.ak.us Review
of applications will begin on Friday, 15 September 2006. The position
is open until filled.
********************
(JOB 4)Post-doctoral Scholar - Ocean biogeochemical modeling - The
Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine
(USA)
Postdoctoral scholar needed to participate in research on ocean
biogeochemical cycles. The project involves the implementation of
state of the art Newton-Krylov computational techniques to global
ocean biogeochemistry models with the goal of producing fast offline
models that are suitable for performing extensive parameter
sensitivity analyses. The successful candidate will work closely with
François Primeau and Keith Moore to construct and test hypotheses
regarding the role of the iron cycle, particulate fluxes and re-
mineralization profiles on the large-scale distributions of
biogeochemical tracers during past and present climates. The position
will be initially for 1 year, renewable up to 3 years, salary
commensurate with qualifications. The successful candidate should
have a PhD in oceanography or related fields. Experience with the
development and running 3D ocean general circulation models including
biogeochemical modules is desirable. Send applications including CV,
a statement of research interests and a list of three references to:
Dr. François Primeau, Rm 3216 Croul Hall, Department of Earth System
Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-3100.
Electronic submissions are preferred and can be sent to
fprimeau at uci.edu.
*******************
(JOB 5) Tenure-Track - Human Geography - U.C. Berkeley, California (USA)
University of California, Berkeley, tenure-track Assistant
Professor position, starting 1 July 2007, pending budgetary
approval. We are searching for a Human Geographer who studies
problems of Geographical Vulnerability and Human Security. We are
particularly interested in scholars with specializations in
migration, health, and disease -- especially as they are shaped by
forces like natural disasters, global climate change, war and civil
conflict, economic dislocation, or agrarian upheaval. Topical
interests might include, but are not limited to: international
migration; health and disease among slum dwellers in mega-cities;
environmental refugees from extreme events such as floods, droughts,
and epidemics; displacement and impoverishment caused by war and
violence; and vulnerability to agro-ecosystem changes caused by
global warming. This is a social science position, but we would look
with favor on a social scientist familiar with bio-physical systems
and thus able to complement our strengths in the areas of human-
environment relations and the geographic dimensions of global
environmental change. Any regional, comparative, or transnational
interest will be considered. Submit letter of application,
curriculum vitae, up to three reprints, and three letters of
reference (please refer your referees to the University's statement
on confidentiality, found at http://apo.chance.berkeley.edu/
evalltr.html) by December 1, 2006. Apply to: Search Committee,
Department of Geography, 507 McCone Hall. The University of
California is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer.
*******************
(JOB 6) Resident Lecturer in Environmental Policy and Socio-Economic
Values Center for Marine Resource Studies,Turks & Caicos Islands
(British West Indes)
Position Summary: 1. Teach the Environmental Policy and Socio-
economic Values course, and one third of the summer course. 2. Lead
designated components of the Center's Five-Year Research Plan and as
part of this, oversee, mentor, and grade the student directed
research projects that relate to these research lines.
Minimum Qualifications: 1. Ph.D. and University-level teaching
experience in Environmental Policy, Socio-Economics, Anthropology,
Sociology, Environmental/Ecological Economics, Community Development/
Planning or similar field. 2. Extensive field research experience,
preferably in the fields of sustainable community development;
cultural anthropology, or ethnography. 3. Demonstrated ability to
work as part of an interdisciplinary teaching and research team 4.
Good track record of research publications 5. Proven track record of
grant writing success 6. Current first aid certification
Preferred Qualifications: 1. Demonstrated experience working in
collaboration with small island governments 2. Demonstrated
commitment to environmental issues 3. Residential student group
management and risk management experience highly desirable
Other Expectations: 1. Willingness to work flexible hours and
live on site at the field station with a small team of permanent
staff, groups of US undergraduate students and visiting researchers
or programs, and participate in all center activities 2. Represent
SFS at local and international conferences 3. At all times, work to
ensure good relations between the SFS and the local community
Start Date: September 1, 2006 Salary: Salary ranges from
$27,000 - $29,000 USD depending on experience and qualifications,
plus excellent benefits, on-site room and board, and relocation
assistance.
TO APPLY: Email a cover letter and resume outlining relevant
experiences to: The School for Field Studies at
jobs at fieldstudies.org. Faxes and hard copies will not be accepted.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Resident Lecturer, Environmental Policy and
Socio-Economic Values
Institutional Mission: The School for Field Studies (SFS), an
international non-profit academic institution, provides environmental
education and conducts research through its field-based programs. SFS
is committed to providing: hands-on interdisciplinary education and
environmental research in partnership with natural resource dependent
communities. Our goals are to: provide students with a unique and
challenging educational and life experience that assists them in
successfully advancing their careers as skilled professionals and
globally aware citizens; work with local community stakeholders to
develop models for the sustainable management of their natural
resources.
Center Objective: To develop scientifically and environmentally
sound, culturally and politically acceptable and economically
feasible policy recommendations that will lead to the sustainable
use, development and stewardship of the marine and coastal resources
of the Turks and Caicos Islands, in particular for South Caicos in
the light of a possible increase in tourism to the island.
Course Overview: The Environmental Policy and Socio-economic
Values course is designed to assist students in understanding the
political, legal, economic, ethical and social pressures that
influence the environment and the community’s attitudes toward
development.
Issues to be addressed include: social and political systems (TCI
and Caribbean); economic status of South Caicos (within context of
TCI and Caribbean); Environmental policy (marine and terrestrial);
Political Ecology; Artisanal fisheries in the TCI and Caribbean;
Anthropological and sociological aspects of community development;
Politics and processes of environmental regulation development;
Environmental/ecological economics (marine emphasis); Economic
assessment techniques; Social survey techniques; Globalization and
free trade impact on the local and regional community; Urbanization;
Pollution impacts (terrestrial and marine); Marine protected areas
In addition, the empowerment of local people in the creation of
sustainable development projects will be examined within the context
of the current development plans for South Caicos. This course is
based on a comprehensive approach that encompasses management,
economics, policy, legal and social issues. The Environmental Policy
and Socio-economic Values faculty will work closely with our Tropical
Marine Ecology, and Marine Resource Management faculty to deliver an
inter-disciplinary program. The successful candidate will provide
high quality, experiential teaching and participate fully in the
implementation of the center's multi-year research plan that
addresses these issues. The publication of research results is critical.
Duties and Responsibilities:
A. SFS-CMRS Teaching--As part of an interdisciplinary teaching
team, teach one third of the academic program (minimum 50 lecture
hours per semester)--Plan, revise, and effectively deliver a
challenging, problem-based interdisciplinary curriculum--Organize
lectures and prepare course materials in a timely and professional
manner--Adhere to the daily academic schedule--Prepare, administer,
and grade assignments, quizzes, mid-term and final examinations in a
timely manner--Supervise and mentor 10-12 students in their directed
research projects--Actively support and counsel students on academic
issues
--Maintain records of: lectures, exams, quizzes, readings, field
experiences and homework assignments
B. SFS-CMRS Research--Conduct designated research according to
the center's five-year research plan--Identify appropriate components
of the center's research suitable for student Directed Research
projects--Prepare research results for clients and partners and/or
for publication and conference presentations--Assist in the creation
and implementation of center research policies, priorities, budgets
as required--Implement appropriate data management and record
keeping--Present research findings at local and international
conferences (budget dependant)
C. Administration--Participate in planning activities prior to
the program start and in review/analysis following students'
departure--Participate in training activities for new center staff
prior to and during the program, particularly interns --Participate
in and lead parts of the orientation and re-entry components of the
program presented to students at the beginning and end of each
program period --In cooperation with other center staff, provide day-
to-day coordination of Interns as delegated by the center director --
Participate in resolving group management issues and student
discipline problems --Participate in preparation of the final
reports, academic handbook revisions and other required reports --As
requested by the center director, assist with other logistical, group
management and administrative tasks
D. Safety & Risk Management --Take responsibility, as an
individual and as a member of the center faculty/staff team, for the
safety of all program participants --Participate in the review and
revision of center risk assessment and management plans --Recommend
and review policies and procedures needed to manage risks --Know the
emergency procedures plan for the center, including evacuation plan --
Participate in the safety portions of the on-site orientation and
conduct safety briefings for students and/or staff --Complete
incident reports when appropriate and contribute to safety audits --
Comply with, actively model, and enforce all SFS and center policies
and procedures --Ensure that first aid certifications are kept up to
date via periodic courses offered by SFS between program sessions
E. Daily Center Life --Live on-site for the duration of each
program period and take meals with the students --On a rotating
basis, take responsibility for center-specific "staff of the day"
duties --Take part in, and occasionally lead community outreach,
center upkeep projects, social and field activities --At the request
of the center Director, serve as caretaker for center during program
breaks and center rentals --Drive standard transmission vehicles and
boats as needed --Adhere to, actively model and enforce all SFS and
center policies and procedures
Reports to: SFS-CMRS Center Director Location: South Caicos, The
Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies
**************************************************
This newsletter has been developed by C. Susan Weiler to distribute
information of potential interest to recent PhDs engaged in
interdisciplinary 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. DISCCRS News is
supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation through EAR-0435728
to Whitman College. The views and opinions expressed do not
necessarily reflect those of the funding agency 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 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
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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