[DIALOGnews] DISCCRS News 7/27/2007
Ruth Ladderud
ladderra at whitman.edu
Fri Jul 27 13:04:26 CDT 2007
DISCCRS News
7/27/2007
************************************
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESOURCES and FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
National Science Foundation Report: The Changing Research and
Publication Environment in American Research Universities
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf07204
Overview of Funding Opportunities at the NSF - powerpoint talk by Tom
Baerwald at the AAG (American Association of Geographers) in San
Francisco in April, 2007
http://www.disccrs.org/career.html
Tom Baerwald gave a great overview of NSF Funding Opportunities
at the last AAG, and his powerpoint slides are now posted on the
DISCCRS career resources web page. The talk includes information on
how NSF is organized, how the proposal process works, what they're
most interested in funding ( e.g. Dynamics of Coupled Natural and
Human Systems), and much more.
A New Climate Treaty: US Leadership after Kyoto by Eileen Claussen
and Elliot Diringer of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change
http://hir.harvard.edu/articles/1594/
European Water Partnership's Web Blog
www.questjournalists.com or www.ewp.eu
This is an invitation to register for and contribute to Blue
Gold, the European Water Partnership's water blog at. Blue Gold, one
of the very few if not the only pure water blog on the Net, serves as
an information and discussion platform for the water community and
welcomes members and contributions from across the globe.
FORUM
Good read: "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman.
From Sue Weiler: I haven't read this book yet, but it has been
highly recommended on the Eanth listserve. For a review by Gary
Kamiya see http://www.salon.com/books/review/2007/07/23/weisman/
index.html
SCIENCE NEWS
Renewable Energy Not Green - Science Live
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070726/sc_livescience/
studyrenewableenergynotgreen
A Godsend for Darfur, or a Curse?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/weekinreview/22polgreen.html?
ref=science Or: http://tinyurl.com/3acdso
(see NEWS 1 below)
London Science Museum Chief: Cut Birthrate to Save Earth
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,2132219,00.html Or:
http://tinyurl.com/2mta4n
(see NEWS 2 below)
Humans 'Affect Global Rainfall'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6912527.stm Or:
http://tinyurl.com/272m2n
(see NEWS 3 below)
Ozone Has 'Strong Climate Effect'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6916162.stm Or: http://
tinyurl.com/ywvtxt
(see NEWS 4 below)
SUMMER PROGRAMS, COURSES, INTERNSHIPS, MEETINGS, OPPORTUNITIES
Marie Curie Training Course 2008 – 18th to 27th February 2008 -
Freie Universität Berlin (Germany)
www.fu-berlin.de/ffu/hdgec-school
(see COURSES 1 below)
JOBS
Air Pollution Specialists (multiple positions) - ARB's Research
Division: climate change and greenhouse gas program – Sacramento,
CA (USA)
http://www.spb.ca.gov/employment/more_info.cfm?recno=325551
Principal Researcher -
International Institute of Environment & Development (IIED) -
Drylands Programme, Natural Resources Group - Edinburgh or Central
London (UK)
(see JOB 1 below)
Research - Biogeochemistry, ecosystems, and climate research -
Princeton University – Princeton, NJ (USA)
(see JOB 2 below)
Asst Prof, Tenure track - Physical Geographer (fluvial geomorphology,
soils, or hydro-climatology) - University of Oklahoma - Norman, OK
(USA)
(see JOB 3 below)
Postdoc - Research & Evaluation Associate - The Dynamics of Cross-
Disciplinary Science and Technology Research - University of Delaware
Education Research & Development Center - Delaware Biotechnology
Institute – Newark, DE (USA)
(see JOB 4 below)
***************************************************
Science News
(NEWS 1) A Godsend for Darfur, or a Curse?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/weekinreview/22polgreen.html?
ref=science Or: http://tinyurl.com/3acdso
New York Times (Registration Required) - The announcement by
researchers at Boston University last week that a vast underground
lake the size of Lake Erie had been discovered beneath the barren
soil of northern Darfur, a blood-soaked but otherwise parched land
racked by war for the past four years, was greeted by rapturous hopes.
Could this, at last, bring deliverance from a cataclysmic
conflict that has killed at least 200,000 people and pushed more than
2.5 million from their homes?
..."There is a very strong link between land degradation,
desertification and conflict in Darfur," said [a new] United Nations
Environmental Program report, which noted that rainfall in northern
Darfur has decreased by a third over the last 80 years.
"Exponential population growth and related environmental stress
have created the conditions for conflicts to be triggered and
sustained by political, tribal or ethnic differences," the report
said, adding that Darfur "can be considered a tragic example of the
social breakdown that can result from ecological collapse."
********************
(NEWS 2) London Science Museum Chief: Cut Birthrate to Save Earth
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,2132219,00.html Or:
http://tinyurl.com/2mta4n
Guardian (UK) The new head of [London's] Science Museum has an
uncompromising view about how global warming should be dealt with:
get rid of a few billion people. Chris Rapley, who takes up his post
on September 1, is not afraid of offending.
'I am not advocating genocide,' said Rapley. 'What I am saying is
that if we invest in ways to reduce the birthrate - by improving
contraception, education and healthcare - we will stop the world's
population reaching its current estimated limit of between eight and
10 billion.
'That in turn will mean less carbon dioxide is being pumped into
the atmosphere because there will be fewer people to drive cars and
use electricity. The crucial point is that to achieve this goal you
would only have to spend a fraction of the money that will be needed
to bring about technological fixes, new nuclear power plants or
renewable energy plants. However, everyone has decided, quietly, to
ignore the issue.'
********************
(NEWS 3) Humans 'Affect Global Rainfall'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6912527.stm Or:
http://tinyurl.com/272m2n
BBC News Online - Human-induced climate change has affected
global rainfall patterns over the 20th Century, a study suggests.
Researchers said changes to the climate had led to an increase in
annual average rainfall in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.
But while countries such as Canada, Russia and northern Europe
had become wetter, areas including India and parts of Africa had
become drier, they added. The findings will be published in the
scientific journal Nature on Thursday.
Climate models have, for a number of years, suggested that human
activity has led to changes to the distribution of rain and snow
across the globe. However, the computer models have been unable to
pinpoint the extent of our influence, partly because drying in some
regions have cancelled out moistening in others.
********************
(NEWS 4) Ozone Has 'Strong Climate Effect'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6916162.stm Or: http://
tinyurl.com/ywvtxt
BBC News Online - Ozone could be a much more important driver of
climate change than scientists had previously predicted, according to
a study in Nature journal. The authors say the effects of this
greenhouse gas - known by the formula O3 - have been largely overlooked.
Ozone near the ground damages plants, reducing their ability to
mop up carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. As a consequence,
more CO2 will build up in the atmosphere instead of being taken up by
plants.
"Ozone could be twice as important as we previously thought as a
driver of climate change," co-author Peter Cox, from the University
of Exeter, UK, told the BBC News website. "Arguably, we have been
looking in the wrong place for the key impacts of ozone."
***************************************************
Summer Programs, Courses, Internships, Meetings, Opportunities
(COURSES 1) Marie Curie Training Course 2008 – 18th to 27th February
2008 - Freie Universität Berlin (Germany)
www.fu-berlin.de/ffu/hdgec-school
The Marie Curie Training Course will be held from 18th to 27th
February 2008 in Berlin at the Freie Universität Berlin.
The Training Course is the second in a series of four Marie Curie
Training Courses and is hosted by Environmental Policy Research
Centre of the Freie Universität Berlin. The training course is the
second in a series of four training courses on the Human Dimension of
Global Environmental Change, which are organised biannually in
rotation with the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, IVM.
The theme of the 2008 Training Course will be “The Human Dimension
of Global Environmental Change – Participation in Earth
Governance” and is held around the 2008 Berlin Conference “Long-
Term Policies: Governing Social-Ecological Change”, which takes
place at the 22nd and 23rd February 2008 at the Freie University in
Berlin as well.
The series of courses aims to train and educate advanced doctoral
students and young researchers about the latest theoretical
developments and empirical and practical implications from the field.
It also provides the opportunity for participants to present the
results of relevant research. It finally aims at establishing a
network of young researchers and developing a research agenda for the
future
. For further information about the application contact
hdgec.school at fu-berlin.de
Note: Submissions should be sent by email before October 15, 2007 to:
hdgec.school at fu-berlin.de.
Important dates: Application submission deadline: 15th October, 2007
Notification of acceptance: 15th November, 2007
Training course paper due: 21st January, 2008
***************************************************
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) Principal Researcher - International Institute of Environment
& Development (IIED) - Drylands Programme, Natural Resources Group -
Edinburgh or Central London (UK)
http://www.iied.org/aboutiied/HR/PR_Dry.html
Are you a dynamic water professional with experience of
developmental work in Africa? IIED, an international policy research
institute working for more sustainable and equitable development, has
an exciting opportunity for someone to lead its water-related
research and policy advocacy activities in West Africa.
Natural resource governance and water rights are critical themes
addressed by all the groups within IIED, particularly the Natural
Resource Group. The Drylands programme within the Natural Resources
Group is now recruiting a Principal Researcher to coordinate the
Global Water Initiative in West Africa. The post-holder will also
drive the programme’s related work on water rights, governance and
conflict, and participate in the Making Decentralisation Work
initiative. They will be responsible for building links on water-
related work within the Natural resources group and with the Climate
Change, Sustainable Markets and Human Settlements groups at IIED.
This will include liaison with IIED’s on-going work on climate
change and sustainable markets.
Educated to postgraduate level in a relevant discipline, you will
have a proven ability to manage and lead a research team working on
large, multi-country research projects involving multiple
stakeholders. Excellent people management and communication skills,
including the ability to communicate with both specialist and non-
specialist audiences in English and French, are also needed. Other
essential requirements include: experience of designing and
implementing policy-orientated research, particularly on natural
resource management in the water sector in dryland Africa; and a
significant record of innovative and influential work demonstrated by
lead authorship of peer-reviewed publications and/or impact on policy.
How to apply: CVs without a completed application form will not
be accepted.
Closing date for applications: Friday 17 August 2007
Interviews: w/c 3 September 2007
********************
(JOB 2) Research - Biogeochemistry, ecosystems, and climate research
- Princeton University – Princeton, NJ (USA)
We invite applications for several postdoctoral or more
experienced researcher positions involving model and data based
studies of ocean, atmosphere, and terrestrial biogeochemical cycles
with relevance to the carbon cycle, climate change, and the response
of ocean life to climate change. Areas of particular interest
include but are not limited to: Southern Ocean processes; use of
observations and models to infer the spatial and temporal
distribution of carbon sources and sinks; applications of satellite
observations; and response of ocean biology to global warming,
including fisheries. The successful candidates will join a vigorous
interdisciplinary research group and will be able to take advantage
of a wide range of related research at Princeton University and GFDL/
NOAA.
Applicants are asked to send vitae, a statement of research
experience and interests, and names of at least 3 references to Jorge
Sarmiento c/o Laura Rossi (lrossi at princeton.edu), Atmospheric and
Oceanic Sciences Program, Princeton University, 300 Forrestal Road,
Princeton, NJ 08540. We will begin reviewing applications as soon as
they are received, and continue until the positions are filled.
For general information about applying to Princeton University
and how to self-identify, please see http://web.princeton.edu/sites/
dof/ApplicantsInfo.htm.
********************
(JOB 3) Asst Prof, Tenure track - Physical Geographer (fluvial
geomorphology, soils, or hydro-climatology) - University of Oklahoma
- Norman, OK (USA)
The Department of Geography at the University of Oklahoma invites
applications for a nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor
position in Physical Geography, beginning August 16, 2008. Ph.D.
required at time of appointment. Salary commensurate with experience.
The Department of Geography seeks a broadly trained physical
geographer with research interests in fluvial geomorphology, soils,
or hydro-climatology. Research and teaching in environmental
conservation with a regional interest in the Great Plains or other
semi-arid regions preferred. The University and the College of
Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences provides collaborative
opportunities with the School of Meteorology and National Weather
Center programs, ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics, and
Departments of Life Science. The candidate must engage in both
graduate and undergraduate education programs, including introductory
courses.
Letters of application should include a statement of teaching
experience and goals and a C.V. and the names and contact information
for three referees. Applicants must also provide an outline of their
current and continuing research program including potential for
extramural funding.
Review of applications will begin October 15, 2007 and continue
until the position is filled.
Apply by email to Dr. Bruce Hoagland (bhoagland at ou.edu),
Committee Chair, Department of Geography, The University of Oklahoma.
Norman, OK 73019.
********************
(JOB 4) Postdoc - Research & Evaluation Associate - The Dynamics of
Cross-Disciplinary Science and Technology Research - University of
Delaware Education Research & Development Center - Delaware
Biotechnology Institute – Newark, DE (USA)
Position Description: We seek a recent Ph.D. to join an exciting
collaboration at the intersection of the social studies of science
and science and technology (S&T) project evaluation. The person in
this two-year position will play a major role in an NSF-funded
ethnographic study of innovation and organizational change in two
emerging multidiscipline university research centers. The position
will also involve participating in mixed-methods evaluations of NSF
and NIH-funded cross-disciplinary research initiatives in Delaware.
These S&T studies and evaluation activities are complementary efforts
to understand the social structure, cultural dynamics, and project
management of cross-disciplinary S&T research.
The Research & Evaluation Associate will work closely with the
project leader and other team members to develop and implement
innovative methods of data collection, analysis, and reporting. The
Associate will assist in supervising and mentoring graduate and
undergraduate research assistants. In addition to co-authoring
evaluation reports, the Associate will have the opportunity to co-
author research articles based on these projects for peer-reviewed
journals.
Qualifications: Applicants must have a Ph.D. in science &
technology studies, anthropology, sociology, education, evaluation,
or a related field. Candidates who have conducted ethnographic
studies of groups or organizations are strongly preferred. In
addition, the strongest candidates will possess some or all of the
following:
· Familiarity with social network analysis and/or
bibliometric analysis.
· Subject matter knowledge of science, technology,
engineering, and/or medicine.
· Experience in mixed-method research and/or project
evaluation
This position calls for a person who can manage multiple tasks,
respond creatively to ambiguity and unexpected challenges, and
collaborate across disciplines. The work will sometimes require a car
to travel to field sites.
Salary & Start Date: This is a two-year position, with the
possibility of a third year if funding is available. Annual salary is
$50,300, plus medical and other benefits. A start date in September-
October, 2007 will be negotiated.
Application Information: Review of applications will begin
immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants
should send (by postal service or email) 1) cover letter, 2)
curriculum vitae, 3) graduate transcript (unofficial is acceptable),
4) sample of academic writing relevant to this position, and 5)
contact information for three professional references to: Steve
Fifield, Ph.D., University of Delaware, Delaware Education Research
and Development Center, 108B Pearson Hall, Newark, DE 19716
fifield at udel.edu
**************************************************
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 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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