Environmental Studies Department Weekly Update
April 20, 2009
For submissions or corrections, or to be added/removed from the mailing list, please email ES Academic Technician, Vallie Edenbo
edenbov@dickinson.edu
EARTH ISSUES / EVENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS / GRADUATE PROGRAMS / JOBS & INTERNSHIPS
Earth Issues:
How sustainable is Kaufman? Kaufman Hall Baseline Environmental Performance Data
Tuesday, April 21
12pm – 1pm, HUB Side Room 205-206
This Earth Issues seminar will feature student presentations about various aspects of green renovations that are being
planned for Kaufman Hall. The presentation with include findings and discussion related to the History and People of
Kaufman, Air pollution, Porous pavement, Wind Power, Water conservation, Green roofing, Monitoring of Building
Systems and Perceptions of Sustainability. Students, faculty and staff from across the college are invited to join us to
learn about student research findings and discuss opportunities for becoming involved in green-building renovation
projects at Dickinson.
Environmental Studies Student Internship/ Research Presentations
Tuesday, April 28
12pm – 1pm HUB side room 205-206
Claire Cooper will present Art from the Dickinson College Farm
The Spring 2009 Earth Issues Schedule is available at http://www.dickinson.edu/departments/envst/news.html.
Sponsored by the Environmental Studies Department, Earth Issues is a presentation/discussion of environmental issues.
Seminars are held on Tuesdays, from 12:00-1:00 PM in the HUB Siderooms, unless otherwise noted. If you are a student,
faculty member, alumnus or professional in the field of environmental studies or environmental science, and you are
interested in presenting for an upcoming Earth Issues, please let us know by emailing edenbov@dickinson.edu
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Events:
On-Campus Events:
April 29 – Climate Change Action Plan Town Meeting
4:30-5:30pm, Stafford Lecture Hall, Rector Science Building
Details TBA
May 2 – Medication Collection and Disposal Event
10 am – 2pm, Dickinson College Drop off site in the Kaufman Hall Parking Lot.
Drop off you unwanted and expired medications, both prescription and over – the-counter, in tablet, liquid ointment,
inhaler, powder or patch form.
Call 717-240-6489 for more information
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Off Campus Events
Monday, April 20th
7:30pm in Pfahler Auditorium
Ursinus College, 601 East Main Street, Collegeville, PA
An evening with renowned author and naturalist Scott Weidensaul, discussing the explorations of North America’s
natural heritage chronicled in his book Return to Wild America.
Scott Weidensaul, a native of the Appalachians of eastern Pennsylvania, has written more than two dozen books on
natural history, including Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize;
The Ghost with Trembling Wings, about the search for species that may or may not be extinct; and his most recent book,
Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding. Weidensaul's writing has also appeared in dozens of publications,
including Smithsonian, the New York Times, Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife and Audubon, among many others. In
addition to writing about wildlife, Weidensaul is an active field researcher whose work focuses on bird migration. Besides
banding hawks each fall (something he's done for almost 20 years), he directs a major effort to study the movements of
northern saw-whet owls, one of the smallest and least-understood raptors in North America. Most recently, he has joined
a continental effort to understand the rapid evolution, by several species of western hummingbirds, of a new migratory
route and wintering range in the East. For more information, please e-mail rwallace@ursinus.edu or call (610) 409-3730.
April 26-28, 1st Statewide Environmental Justice Conference: "Building Healthy & Improved Communities for
All" Sheraton Hotel Harrisburg-Hershey
Please visit the conference's web site for general information and to download the Registration and Scholarship
Application Forms http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/ejconference Scholarships are available! Scholarship applications must
be received no later than January 30, 2009. Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to register early. This Conference is
sponsored by: PA Environmental Justice Advisory Board, PA Department of Environmental Protection, Drexel University
School of Public Health, PA Department of Community & Economic Development, PA Department of Health, PA
Department of Transportation, PA Department of Welfare, PA Department of Education, Waste Management, Other
sponsors listed on our web site.
May 7-9- Working Together to Protect Our Land, Water, & Communities
Conference at Penn State co-sponsored by PA Land Trust Association and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
http://landandwater.org/
May 17 - 22 - The fifth annual Mountain Justice Summer Camp, in the beautiful mountains near Pipestem in southern
West Virginia. Workshops, great speakers like author Jeff Biggers ("United States of Appalachia") and Dr. Chad Montrie
(author "To Save the Land and People"), famous coalfield activists such as 2003 Goldman Prize winner Judy Bonds and
Mountain Keeper Larry Gibson, Earth First! co-founder Mike Roselle, plus mountain music, bonfires, dancing, good food,
skill-sharing, and action. The cost is very reasonable (under $100) for a week of fun and camping with a great group of
dedicated young people and experienced activists. We would love to have you join us!
http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org/events.php?id=139
June 3 Solar Workshop, Penn Future
June 4 Stimulating PA's 21st Century Energy Economy Conference
PennFuture's annual clean energy conference will be held on June 4 with the theme, "Stimulating PA's 21st Century
Energy Economy," at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel, Camp Hill, Pa.
The featured speakers include: James Cawley, Chair of the Public Utility Commission, DEP Acting Secretary John
Hanger, Sen. Edwin Erickson (R-Delaware), Representatives Eugene DePasquale (D-York) and Gregory Vitali (DDelaware) and Mark Alan Hughes, Director of Sustainability of the City of Philadelphia.
There will also be a pre-conference Solar Workshop and Networking Session on June 3 from 1:00 to 5:00.
For more information: http://my.pennfuture.org/site/DocServer/2009JuneEnergyConfAgenda.pdf?docID=361
Backyard Farming Series
Spoutwood Farm Center, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational farm located in Glen Rock, PA, in southern York County,
is proud to announce its 2009 Backyard Farming series. For details, please visit www.spoutwood.org
April 22: Getting Started in Organic Agriculture
May 20: Backyard Vegetable Farming
June 17: Backyard Chickens: Raising Layers
July 15: Backyard Beekeeping
August 20: Preserving Summer’s Bounty
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Announcements:
UMass Boston offers undergraduate Marine and Coastal Ecological Research Summer Course
BIOL 306/597 Marine and Coastal Ecological Research
Supervised research on the adaptations and interactions of organisms of the beaches, salt marshes, sand dunes, and
embayments of Nantucket. Meets every weekday during two weeks of the summer at the University’s Field Station on
Nantucket. In addition to learning the ecology of Nantucket’s fascinating marine and coastal habitats, this course will give
students experience in field research, experimental design, data analysis, and research presentation.
http://www.umb.edu/nantucket/courses.html
The Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC) at Columbia University is accepting applications for
The 2009 Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates (SEE-U) program; study-abroad courses that provide
undergraduate students of all majors with a global understanding of ecology and environmental sustainability.
SEE-U offers a five week, six credit field ecosystem course in Brazil (São Paulo) for undergraduate students.
SEE-U Brazil runs July 11 - August 14, 2009.
They also offer a two and a half week, three credit program in Black Rock Forest (Hudson River Valley of New York).
SEE-U Black Rock Forest runs June 17 - July 3, 2009.
For more information please visit: www.cerc.columbia.edu/education_seeu.html.
Application deadline is Monday, April 27th, 2009.
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Graduate School Opportunities:
Jobs and Internships:
Roof Garden Development Assistant, Carlisle Syntec, Inc.
Part-time unpaid internship, 5/18 - 7/31, Dates and hours flexible
Duties will include:
Research & development of new Roof Garden projects and peripheral equipment
Hands-on experimentation (including rooftop gardening!)
Downtown Carlisle Roof Garden installation
This is a great way to obtain some direct experience in a booming Green Collar industry!
For more information, contact: Zach Williams, CCM Roof Garden Manager
Zachary.WILLIAMS@syntec.carlisle.com
Sustainability Interns, Facilities Management
http://www.dickinson.edu/departments/sustainability/jobs.html
In conjunction with Dickinson SAVES, the Office of Sustainability is seeking to employ five student employees to help
develop and maintain sustainability programs at Dickinson College. Examples of typical responsibilities include, but are
not limited to:
• Designing promotional materials to publicize sustainability
• Researching and composing articles about sustainability topics
• Organizing and running sustainability events for the Dickinson community
• Assisting in the development of the Climate Change Action Plan for Dickinson
• Gathering background information for future sustainability projects at Dickinson
Residential Eco-Intern, Facilities Management
http://www.dickinson.edu/departments/sustainability/jobs.html
In conjunction with Dickinson SAVES, the Office of Sustainability is seeking to employ four student employees to help
develop and implement our new residential hall focused sustainability program. The goal of the program is to meet the
demands of the Presidents Climate Commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by focusing on conserving energy
and water during the 2009-2010 academic year. The specific responsibilities will include:
• To organizing the Green Devil Challenge & other events
• To develop an interactive campus-wide, residential hall sustainability program
• To meet with students in residents halls
• To distribute sustainability materials to residence halls
• To assist in monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness of and response to the residence hall
sustainability program
Intern Opportunities with the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education
Two paid internship positions are available with the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education in Fall and
Spring 2009. The internships are eligible for transcript notation. Applications FOR FALL due May 1. A full position
description and application details are available at http://www.dickinson.edu/departments/cese
Farm Employment Opportunities
The Dickinson College Farm will have positions available starting the fall 2009. Students interested in engaging in farmrelated projects; from compost to renewable energy are welcome to apply! Students can earn up to 10 hours of work per
week at a competitive pay rate. To access an application, please go to: www.dickinson.edu/storg/sisa and click on the
"student farmer" link.
Environmental Studies Program Assistant, Colgate University
Colgate University solicits applications for the position of Program Assistant to the Environmental Studies (ENST)
Program for the 2009-2010 academic year. Job responsibilities include organizing the Environmental Studies brownbag
lecture series, designing the semiannual newsletter, keeping the ENST web site up to date, compiling and disseminating
information for ENST majors, and assisting the Program Director with the day-to-day running of the program. The
Program Assistant will serve as the liaison with the campus sustainability coordinator and other related campus
organizations, for example Students for Environmental Action, the Outdoor Education Program, the Campus Ecology
Group, and affiliated departments. Bachelor's degree and experience in environmental studies required. Preference will
be given to individuals with knowledge of Colgate's Environmental Studies Program and the local community. Send
cover letter, resume and names of references to Robert W. Turner, Environmental Studies Program Director, Colgate
University, 13 OakDrive, Hamilton, NY 13346 or email the materials to rturner@mail.colgate.edu. Review of resumes will
begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Colgate University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer. Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty, student body, and staff further the University's educational
mission. Applicants who need special accommodations due to a disability should request assistance in advance.
The National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office in Annapolis, Maryland is seeking a Student Conservation
Association Intern to complete detailed field surveys at sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay along Captain John
Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, and in the Chesapeake Bay
Gateways and Watertrails Network.
The National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office administers the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, the
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, and the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network.
From our offices on Spa Creek in Annapolis, we work with hundreds of sites and trails that connect people with the
Chesapeake Bay and its natural and cultural heritage. The Chesapeake region is comprised of an incredible diversity of
regional natural and cultural ecosystems that have supported peoples from different cultures for centuries, witnessed
pioneers, leaders and events that have changed the course of history, and become home to over 16 million people as well
as our national capital and three state capitals. The eastern and western shores of the Chesapeake contain an array of
outdoor environments for hiking, biking, swimming, boating, and exploring.
Two principle activities will include:
1) Complete detailed field surveys at sites along the Trails and in the
Network, including detailed inventory sheets, GPS coordinates and extensive
photographs/ video documentation of built and landscape characteristics and
viewsheds. Sites may include some or all of the following: existing or
proposed museums, visitor centers, refuges, parks; landscapes; interpretive
waysides; public boat ramps and other water access facilities; and other
sites related to the Trails and the Gateways. Some site data may be
collected by water craft. (60-80%)
2) At the Annapolis office, create and maintain a database of site
inventory data; enter and manipulate GPS data in GIS software; and organize
photo and video documentation into an image library. (20-40%)
The ideal candidate has some familiarity with natural and cultural landscape characteristics; experience surveying the
natural and built environment, including viewsheds; familiarity with interpretive media; and enjoys digital photography.
Candidates should also be familiar with compiling and manipulating databases and a familiarity with or a willingness to
learn how to manipulate GIS data.
Ideal candidates are self-motivated, enthusiastic, have a keen eye for detail, and like to explore and document places
from traditional and new angles. The candidate should enjoy interacting people at the sites they visit and within an office
environment. Candidates must have reliable personal transportation. Travel expenses while on duty will be reimbursed.
This is a 16-week position from June 1 to September 18; however, start and end dates are flexible. A stipend of $3200 will
be provided. A housing stipend of $700/month will be provided. Summer housing options are plentiful in the Annapolis
area.
A writing sample may be requested as part of the application process.
To apply for this position, please complete the online application through the Student Conservation Association website at
www.theSCA.org (position #9198) Questions may be directed to Suzanne Copping, 410-295-3149,
Suzanne_copping@nps.gov
United Plant Savers ’INTERN PROGRAM, 2009
Hard Working? Motivated to learn about medicinal plants? Want to experience United Plant Savers' 360-acre plant
sanctuary in Ohio? Join us in our UpS Sanctuary Intern Program!
Spring: April 27, 2009 – June 5, 2009
Fall: Aug. 31, 2009 – Oct. 9, 2009
NEW! Applicants will now be accepted on a first-come basis. As soon as your application and references are received
and reviewed, we will inform you of your status. We will no longer wait until the application deadline to accept final
applicants.
Interns Will learn...
• General plant propagation techniques
• Working with “At-Risk” an endangered species
• General farm upkeep and maintenance, & landscape care
• Greenhouse work
• Medicinal plant identification
• Sustainable wild harvesting principles and practices
• Medicine making
Interns work 30 hours/week doing a variety of medicinal plant conservation and cultivation projects. A hands-on practical
approach. Classes and opportunities to work with staff teachers and Chip Carroll, Program Manager.
Details available online at www.unitedplantsavers.org. You may also or write for details and application.
Betzy 802-476-6467 or Lynda 707-824-0731 plantsaversmail@earthlink.net or lynda@unitedplantsavers.org
2 Biological Science Technician Seasonal positions with Northeast Exotic Plant Management Team
ALL APPLICATIONS DUE BY APRIL 17, 2009
Duty station: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation AreaBushkill, PA
Service Period: May/June through November, not to exceed 6 months, at GS-0404-04 level.
Park coverage: Region of 13-16 units in the Northeast the National Park Service, from PA/NJ north to ME
For application instructions and position requirements, go to www.USAJOBS.gov<http://www.USAJOBS.gov%20>, Job
Announcement Number: SH-NERO DEU-09-58T. Or go to URL:
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=80322748&AVSDM=2009%2D04%2D06+16%3A34%3A22&Logo=0&lid=
316&jbf571=5&paygrademin=4&paygrademax=4&FedEmp=N&sort=rv&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedPub=Y&SUBMIT1.x=
79&SUBMIT1.y=19
For all inquiries: Kathryn Aiello Phone: 770-751-8638 Email: Kathryn_Aiello@nps.gov<mailto:Kathryn_Aiello@nps.gov>
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