Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Climate Change event
Scientists and Evangelicals Share Concerns on Climate Change
Tuesday, November 17th
1:00PM - 2:30 PM
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628
Sponsored by Senators Kerry and Lugar
Please bring a photo ID for admission
Dear Friends,
Please join us at our upcoming Senate briefing, bringing together four prominent scientists and four leading evangelical Christians to share their concerns about climate change. Rarely have these two groups spoken with one voice, but they are coming together with a shared sense of urgency about the profound implications of climate change for human health and for the natural support systems that sustain all life on Earth, and about the political paralysis in Washington on this issue.
Featuring: Dr. Eric Chivian, Rev. Richard Cizik, Dr. Jim McCarthy, Rev. Joel Hunter, Dr. Nancy Knowlton, Rev. Gerald Durley, Ms. Deborah Fikes, and Dr. Tom Lovejoy (who will be filling in for Dr. Edward Wilson).
Energy Efficiency event
Wednesday, November 18, 1:15 p.m. EST
Room SVC 202, United States Capitol Visitor Center
Please RSVP to Corinne Hart, chart@energyfuturecoalition.org
Unprecedented business‐labor‐NGO coalition forms around national goal to retrofit 50 million buildings by 2020; Senators Brown and Merkley and Representative Welch to discuss the benefits energy efficiency projects provide for job creation and economic growth.
“Rebuilding America” urges comprehensive investment and standards for energy efficiency in buildings – to create hundreds of thousands of good paying jobs, stimulate economic growth, deliver savings to consumers and reduce energy waste that harms the environment.
GAO Internship
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
International Affairs and Trade
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the “congressional watchdog,” is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress to improve the performance and ensure the accountability of the federal government. GAO supports Congressional oversight by auditing agency operations to determine whether federal funds are being spent efficiently and effectively; reporting on how well government programs and policies are meeting their objectives; and performing policy analyses and outlining options for Congressional consideration. Based on this work, GAO provides the Senate and House of Representatives with reports, testimonies, and other information related to federal programs.
GAO is offering an internship at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. for graduate students or well-qualified undergraduate students with experience or interest in international affairs issues. The internship will provide an opportunity for the student to gain work experience in the International Affairs and Trade (IAT) team at GAO, specifically in the areas of international counterterrorism, international security, multilateral organizations, international trade, development assistance, or foreign affairs management. Specific assignments will be made based on the student’s availability, interests, and GAO’s needs. Interns will be involved in one or more of the following activities:
Working with a project team to research and analyze federal programs related to international affairs, which could involve:
o Helping to “design” a project by determining the methodology for addressing Congressional requests,
o Conducting background research and literature reviews,
o Interviewing external parties and Executive branch agency officials,
o Analyzing data from executive branch agencies and other sources, and
o Contributing to written products, such as reports, testimonies, and Congressional briefings.
Conducting research to help identify issues of interest to key Congressional committees with jurisdiction over international issues and funding.
Assisting in strategic planning activities related to international affairs issues.
This internship is an unpaid position for the spring semester of the school year; the specific start date is flexible (January-February 2010). The work schedule is negotiable; all work will be performed at GAO headquarters in Washington, D.C. Interns must be U.S. citizens. Ideal candidates are students with one year of graduate study and a strong interest in international affairs issues, although strong undergraduate students will also be considered. A letter of recommendation will be provided to the student after successful completion of the internship.
To apply, please send an e-mail with your resume and a brief description of your background and interest in GAO to IATInterns@GAO.GOV by December 1, 2009. Please include the phrase “IAT Unpaid Internship” in the subject line of the e-mail. Candidates will be contacted to arrange an interview. No phone calls please.
Internship at American Security Project
Internship Opportunity
--------------------------
ASP is looking for current or recently graduated students interested in hands-on public policy experience for full- and part-time internships. Interns will support ASP researchers and staff in multiple areas including communications, development, programming and research.
Our current research needs are in the following areas:
1. Terrorism
2. Energy
3. Climate Security
4. Nuclear Proliferation
5. Government Reform
Applicants for the 2010 spring semester should send a cover letter, resume, references and a short writing sample to Christine Bartolf at cdehn@americansecurityproject. org no later than 30 November 2009.
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Lorax Redux
In the story, the forest home of the Lorax is threatened by a greedy entrepreneur named the Once-ler. The Once-ler sets up a manufacturing business to turn the forest’s fluffy Truffula Trees into knitted garments called “Thneeds.” As his business rapidly expands it becomes more and more destructive, until the last Truffula Tree is felled. The once-rich forest is left abandoned, in ruins.
On the book’s final pages, the Once-ler reveals that he has one remaining Truffula Tree seed, which he deposits into the hands of a small boy. Plant a seed, the book seems to urge, and save the planet.
Last week in my environmental politics course, we wondered, is planting a tree the height of our political creativity? Or are there other actions that should also be taken by those concerned with fostering ecological wellbeing? How would the story continue if the Once-ler were to consider the sources of REAL political change?
Here, in true Dr. Seuss fashion, is the addendum to the book that my class came up with:
THE LORAX REDUX
After tossing the seed, the Once-ler looked down
And was surprised to see the boy wearing a frown
What are you waiting for? The Once-ler said
If you wait any longer, the seed might be dead!
But the boy kept frowning, his eyes pleading for help
“Mr. Once-ler, I can’t do this by myself.”
The seed I can plant, but what of the dirt?
If it is not healthy, this tree will be hurt
And what if the clouds don’t ever bring rain
If there is no water, this tree will feel pain
And if I bring water, what if it's bad?
Film screenings and discussion: Galapagos course and others
By Professors Chris Palmer, Larry Engel, Bill Gentile, Kiho Kim, Simon Nicholson, Sarah Menke-Fish and Students
Learn about Classroom in the Wild and future opportunities to produce films and new media in exotic places. Professors discuss their goals and expectations for these non-traditional courses. Students present their films and discuss their experiences and challenges in this exciting filmmaking environment
Tuesday, November 17 at 7 pm in the Wechsler Theater
3rd Floor, Mary Graydon Center, American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-8017
Directions: http://www.american.edu/maps/
FREE ADMISSION AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
No Reservation Required
Friday, November 13, 2009
Environmental Biology Seminar
Hosted by Departments of Biology & Environmental Science
DR. LAURA PETES
AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow
NOAA Climate Program Office
*****
Effects of environmental stress on
bivalve populations: gaining insight into
climate change
Monday Nov. 16, 2009; 2:10 – 3:25 pm
Room 118, Kogod School of Business
The Event is Open to the Public
Contacts: Dr Kim (x2181) or Dr Tudge (x2033)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Microfinance Jobs
Training/Program Officer, Financial Education
Job Description:
Microfinance Opportunities (MFO) seeks a Training/Program Officer to develop and disseminate its Global Financial Education Program (GFEP) curriculum globally. The Training/Program Officer will be responsible for conducting market research, designing, planning and conducting Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops and adapting the learning sessions for dissemination through multi-media and other learning channels. Candidates should be dedicated to the MFO mission of delivering high-quality financial management skills as a key tool for poverty alleviation.
MFO is a microenterprise resource center that promotes client-led microfinance. Its mission is to create a world where every poor person can benefit from financial services. Our work focuses on the design and delivery of high-quality microfinance products and services that match the needs and preferences of low-income households. MFO’s core competency areas include: research and analysis, innovation, and dissemination.
For more information, please visit our website at www.globalfinancialed.org.
Duties and Responsibilities
· Adapt existing financial education curricula to local context based on results of field work and market research
· Design and implement financial education Training of Trainers workshops on a variety of microfinance topics
· Develop and adapt financial education curricula and assessment tools
· Provide additional technical assistance to partner organizations as required
· Write program reports
· Contribute to quarterly newsletter, proposal development, impact assessments, and research and outreach efforts as needed
· Oversee individual project-specific budgets and deliverables
Required Qualifications
· Technical expertise in learner-centered, participatory training and curriculum design
· Knowledge of financial services for low income households
· Masters degree in international development, adult education, economics or related field
· 3 to 5 years of experience working in international development/training/ curriculum design
· Experience training adults and/or youth in developing countries
· Strong cross-cultural and communication skills
· Ability to communicate and train in Spanish, or other second language
· Pro-active work style and ability to work both independently and cooperatively with other trainers, staff, organizations, and training participants
· Excellent computer skills (MS Word/Excel/PPT)
· Strong writing and editing skills
· Ability to monitor budgets and program deliverables
· Previous program management experience
· Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
· Flexibility and willingness to work in a small but rapidly growing organization
· Willingness to travel internationally 20%-30% of the time
All interested applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at time of application. Salary is commensurate with experience.
How to Apply:
Send a resume and a letter of interest by mail, fax, or e-mail to the address below. Please indicate “Training/Program Officer, Financial Education” on the subject line. Due to the high volume of applicants, we cannot respond to individual inquiries. No phone calls please.
Microfinance Opportunities
1701 K St. NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202-721-0050
Fax: 202-721-0010
E-mail: financialed@mfopps.org
www.microfinanceopportunities.orgEnvironment America Jobs
2. The 2010-2012 Fellowship Program: Job description
Environment America’s Fellowship Program is designed to give you an opportunity to make an immediate impact even as you gain the training and experience you need to become a leader in the environmental movement.
Through the Fellowship Program, you will develop basic expertise on critical issues—for example, clean energy—and work to carry out our strategy for winning positive policy change—for example, pushing a new initiative that will bring solar power to thousands of homes and families. One week, you might take part in a coalition meeting, speak at a news conference, lobby lawmakers or their staff, and write an op-ed for publication in the state’s top paper. Another week, you might call a list of civic leaders to seek their endorsements of pending legislation, organize a town hall meeting with a lawmaker, and hold a rally in a key legislator’s home district.
In addition to developing policy expertise and lobbying on issues, fellows play an important role in mobilizing and engaging the public on critical issues. You’ll canvass during the year and run citizen outreach canvass offices during each summer of the two-year program. By the end of the program, you will have learned how to raise funds, build a membership, recruit and manage staff and volunteers, work with lawmakers and community leaders, earn media coverage, and run a successful grassroots campaign.
Qualifications
We are seeking recent college graduates who are ready to commit their time, talent and energy to grassroots political action on behalf of our environment. We look for academic excellence, problem-solving ability, creativity and top-notch written and verbal skills. We value leadership experience, especially with campus and other activist groups.
Training and experience
Starting in mid-August 2010 in Boston, Environment America Fellows will participate in 10 days of paid initial training. Additional trainings will take place throughout the year, with a mix of lectures, discussions, role-plays and in-the-field practice. Most importantly, you will learn through hands-on experience, and guidance and feedback from our current staff—including some of the nation’s top environmental advocates and organizers. In addition to learning about the issues and how to influence the political debate, you will learn organization-building skills, such as grant-writing, volunteer recruitment and how to manage staff and direct campaigns.
Placement
Fellowship candidates are hired nationwide and placed in Environment America offices across the country. If you are interested in particular locations, you will be asked to identify them during the interview process. In most cases, final placement, including location and position, occurs during the August training in Boston.
Salary and benefits
As a recent graduate, you earn $23,750 in your first year and $24,250 in your second year. You’re eligible to opt into our group health plan, and accrue two weeks paid vacation over the course of your first year and an additional three weeks over your second year. You’re eligible to apply for college loan assistance. In your second year, you’re eligible to participate in our 401(k) plan. Salary and benefits vary in California and New York.
Locations
Environment America is currently hiring for positions in: Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco and Santa Barbara, CA; Denver, CO; Hartford, CT; Washington, DC; Miami and Tallahassee, FL; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Des Moines, IA; Portland, ME; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Ann Arbor, MI; Minneapolis, MN; St. Louis, MO; Missoula, MT; Las Vegas, NV; Concord, NH; Trenton, NJ; Albuquerque, NM; Albany and New York, NY; Raleigh, NC; Columbus, OH; Portland, OR; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA; Providence, RI; Austin, TX; Richmond, VA; Seattle, WA; Madison, WI.
How to apply
Pick up a brochure at your career placement office and schedule an on-campus interview, or apply online at www.EnvironmentAmerica.org/jobs.
Questions
Please contact Maria Schweitzer in our Recruitment Department with any questions. E-mail her at Jobs@EnvironmentAmerica.org or call (202) 683-1250.
Find us on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/EnvironmentAmericaCareers
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EnvAm
Federal Transit Administration Environment Job
As Environmental Protection Specialist, you will use your educational
background and extensive experience in environmental planning,
transportation planning, urban planning, architecture, environmental
law, or the physical or environmental sciences, to provide leadership
in: (1) guiding the environmental assessment of specific transit
projects proposed for FTA financial assistance such as the
construction of transit bus facilities by a county or the construction
of a new rail transit system by a regional transit authority; (2)
developing and implementing agency-wide policies and procedures
related to the assessment and mitigation of the environmental or
community impacts of transportation improvements; and (3) initiating
and performing other duties of the office related to its environmental
activities, such as developing and managing environmental research
projects, developing planning courses and website material, responding
to correspondence dealing with environmental issues, and budget
development for the environmental office.
The ideal candidate for this position will be an experienced
environmental protection specialist who has excellent communication
skills, analytical skills, and leadership skills. This position is
also good for a person who wants to be challenged, desires a
professional career with the Federal government, excellent benefits
and a competitive salary.
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=84413174&aid=62057337-9119&WT.mc_n=125
The New Green Economy
Date: January 20-22, 2010
Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center - Washington, DC
The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) welcomes you to the 10th National Conference on Science, Policy, and the Environment: The New Green Economy. Marking a decade of conference history, the signature event will be held January 20-22, 2010 in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in the heart of Washington, DC.
NCSE's national conference engages leading thinkers and doers from a diversity of disciplines, sectors, and perspectives in a structured conversation about the meaning of the green economy and how investment in green education, research and jobs can help solve both the economic and environmental crises.
Welcoming over 1000 attendees, The New Green Economy will bring together leaders in sustainable business, environmental policymakers, civil society, university faculty, students from across the nation, and educated citizens.
NCSE uses a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach that engages involved scientists and decisionmakers from a wide range of organizations. Our conferences are highly interactive, including renowned speakers, topical symposia to explore issues in more depth, and breakout sessions to develop (and publish) recommendations on how to advance science and connect it with policy and decision-making
Full Time Student
Full Conference Registration Fee: $220.00
Single Day Fee: $110.00
Single Day Workshop Fee (January 20, 2010 Only): $25
Registration Code: STUDENT
For more information: http://ncseonline. org/conference/ greeneconomy/
Environmental Conflict and Climate Change
featuring
Sylvia Aguilera, Acting-Director, Socios México - Centro de
Colaboración CÃvica (Partners-Mexico)
Tom Peterson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for Climate
Strategies
Geoff Dabelko, Director, Environmental Change and Security Program,
Woodrow Wilson Center
Moderator: Anne Devero, Director for International Programs, Center for
Climate Strategies
Thursday, November 12, 2009
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
5th Floor Conference Room
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 20004, USA
Please RSVP to ecsp@wilsoncenter.org with your name and affiliation.
Latin American and North American experts will come together to discuss
policy changes and inter-sectoral cooperative efforts to better manage
local environmental disputes and mitigate contentious issues. Sylvia
Aguilera will explore adaptation strategies in Mexico. Tom Peterson
will focus on his fieldwork implementing mitigation strategies on a
sub-national level. Geoff Dabelko will discuss how mitigation and
adaptation may induce conflict in already unstable communities.
Location: Woodrow Wilson Center at the Ronald Reagan Building, 1300
Pennsylvania Ave., NW ("Federal Triangle" stop on Blue/Orange Line), 5th
Floor Conference Room. A map to the Center is available at
www.wilsoncenter.org/directions. Note: Due to heightened security,
entrance to the building will be restricted and photo identification is
required. Please allow additional time to pass through security.
Environmental Diplomacy Event
Environmental Diplomacy Leading to Copenhagen
A Seminar and Book Launch on International Negotiations to Address
Global Environmental Challenges
With the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen on the horizon, predictions abound regarding the efficacies and inadequacies of international efforts to address climate change. From a diplomatic standpoint, what can we expect from the Copenhagen meeting, and how will we define success?
During his nine years as principal deputy assistant secretary in the Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Richard J. Smith led negotiations on some of the most significant environmental and scientific agreements of the late and post-Cold War era. Negotiating Environment and Science: An Insider’s View of International Agreements, from Driftnets to the Space Station , a new book from RFF Press, is Smith’s unprecedented historical account of eight landmark negotiations that he led, including the London agreement to amend the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the international space station agreement, the U.S.-Soviet (eventually, U.S.-Russian) agreement on scientific cooperation, the U.S.-Canadian acid rain agreement, and the negotiations in Sofia, Bulgaria that established a first link between human rights and the environment. These negotiations set important precedents for facing the environmental and scientific challenges of today.
This RFF seminar will use the historical insights and lessons learned from Negotiating Environment and Science as a launching point to explore salient themes in environmental diplomacy leading up to the Copenhagen meeting, including the U.S. domestic policy framework for confronting climate change, the importance of U.S. leadership on environmental issues, and, more broadly, the role of diplomatic agreements in addressing global environmental challenges.
Who: Presenter:
Richard J. Smith, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State (1985-1994)
Discussants:
Frank E. Loy, former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs (1998-2001)
Alan D. Hecht, Director for Sustainable Development, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
When: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 12:45 p.m. - 2 p.m.
A light lunch will be available at 12:30 p.m.
Where: Resources for the Future, 1616 P Street NW, Washington, DC
First Floor Conference Center
Registration is required.
To RSVP for this event, please visit RFF's event registration page.
Natl Wildlife Fed Internship
on Global Warming and Forest Justice Issues. See details below. To
apply: https://secure.nwf.org/careergateway/index.cfm?fuseAction=view&positionID=10615
They are looking to fill this position very quickly!
Description: The GW Intern will work within the Global Warming Team to
help address global warming solutions and to engage others in this
important dialogue. The GW Intern will assist staff in building
support for an international climate treaty and domestic climate and
clean energy legislation that includes key international components.
He/She will help coordinate the Forest Justice campaign, advocating
for the protection of the world’s remaining forests in our efforts to
stop climate change. He/She will also assist with NWF’s regional fair
climate summits, bringing together diverse constituents across the
U.S. to engage in a dialogue on the necessary efforts to address
climate change at the local, national and international level.
For the Forest Justice campaign, he/she will assist both online and
on-the-ground outreach. He/she will help plan logistics for the Fair
Climate Summits and other Fair Climate events. He/She will also be
involved in contacting members of Congress regarding international
climate policy issues and helping to coordinate NWF’s advocacy within
coalitions. This includes scheduling meetings for constituents of NWF
and our partner organizations with members of Congress, and attending
congressional hearings and briefings. The GW intern will also help to
develop advocacy materials, which provides opportunities to research
and write about international climate policy. In addition, he/she will
conduct website maintenance and design to bolster our campaign
efforts, and help with online action alerts and electronic
communications to constituents.
Position Type: Internship
Position Duration: 11 months
Department: Conservation Programs
Salary Range: $10 per hour
Education: BA/BS in international relations, political science,
environmental policy, or a related field is required. A Masters degree
and some previous work experience are preferable. Experience working
with domestic or international climate change frontline communities on
environmental justice issues a definite plus.
Required Skills: The position requires attention to detail, excellent
research, writing and communication skills, the ability to multi-task,
and to meet strict deadlines. Experience with website maintenance and
online organizing are strongly preferred and good computer skills are
a must. The GW Intern will work with diverse organizations and
individuals to collaborate on and organize various campaigns and
summits.
Sustainable Food Jobs website
Check it out at sustainablefoodjobs.wordpress.com! Or follow us on Twitter at sustainfoodjobs for daily updates! If you know of any current jobs in sustainable food currently not listed on the website, please feel free to e-mail them this way. As opposed to general career websites, posting here lets you target specialized brain power. Garner a better qualified applicant pool that shares your values for a better food future in America! Any and all comments are greatly appreciated. Enjoy!
--
Thank you,
The SFJ Blog
E-mail: sustainablefoodjobs@gmail.com
Website: http://sustainablefoodjobs.wordpress.com
Twitter: Sustainfoodjobs
Millions Fed: Proven Successes in Agricultural Development
Invitation
Millions Fed
Proven Successes in Agricultural Development
Thursday, November 12, 2009
12.15 pm – 1.45 pm
Light lunch available from 11.45 am
2033 K St NW
Fourth Floor Conference Room
Washington, DC 20006
Speakers
Rajul Pandya-Lorch, Millions Fed Leader, IFPRI
David J. Spielman, Research Fellow, IFPRI
Prabhu Pingali, Deputy Director, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Raul Montemayor, General Secretary, Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives Inc.
Chair
Joachim von Braun, IFPRI
Learning from successes in agricultural development is now more urgent than ever: Progress in feeding the world’s billions has slowed, while the challenge of feeding its future millions remains enormous and is subject to new uncertainties in the global food and agricultural systems.
In late 2008, IFPRI, with support from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, embarked on a project to identify and assess interventions in agricultural development that have substantially reduced hunger and poverty; to document evidence about where, when, and why these interventions succeeded; to learn about the key drivers and factors underlying success; and to share lessons to help inform better agricultural policy and investment decisions in the future. Following a rigorous review process, the project ultimately identified 20 proven successes in agricultural development. This event will present highlights of these successes – what worked, why it worked, and what we can learn.
Complimentary copies of the book, Millions Fed: Proven Successes in Agricultural Development, will be available at the event.
Please feel free to share this announcement with your colleagues. Kindly RSVP to Simone Hill-Lee (Tel: 202.862.8107; s.hill-lee@cgiar.org).
Masters work: Brown University
Kindly forward to potentially interested people. We are recruiting Master's students to work with Phil Brown, Kathryn DeMaster, and Timmons Roberts starting in Fall, 2010. Applications need to be in by January 2 to be considered for financial aid.
Professor Phil Brown will recruit one or two students to work on environmental health and environmental justice projects: developing and testing ethical, effective, and practical methods for reporting individual exposure results to participants in biomonitoring and household exposure studies; studying how four existing research projects provide individual results to study participants; science and policy interfaces for the proliferation of flame retardants; regulatory, policy, industry, scientific, and legal implications of chemical biomonitoring research, as carried out by national-level population surveillance, state-based biomonitoring programs, advocacy biomonitoring, and community-based studies; ethical issues in xenotransplantation of human fetal tissues into rodents, to study how environmental stressors alter pathways and dose-response relationships, and produce novel biomarkers of effect. Applicants should have experience in environmental health and justice and in community-based participatory research and/or community-engaged research.
Professor Kathryn DeMaster - In the next few years my research work will emphasize three primary areas: local and regional sustainable agricultural movements and food justice and food security in Providence, RI specifically and New England generally; investigations into the environmental and social impacts of containment animal feeding operations (CAFOS) run by multinational conglomerate Smithfield Farms in Poland, North Carolina, and Mexico; and exploring the application of European agri-environmental policies into the New England regional context. I would be keen to work with any students who have interests in the intersection of agriculture and the environment and would especially welcome collaborations with students who are interested in conducting qualitative research on food justice in the Providence, RI area.
Professor Timmons Roberts is looking to work with 1-2 new Master's students in 2010 to work on projects that link to issues of climate change and international development, especially the role of foreign assistance in helping poor nations adapt, and the linking of ecological debt and global justice. He has new projects on education about adaptation to climate change in Latin America, West Africa, and Rhode Island, and a project on what social factors explain which nations are most able to adapt to climate change, and reduce their emissions.
The Masters of Arts in Environmental Studies at Brown is a practical degree, designed to help students understand emerging environmental problems and to strengthen their competence in managing them.
Environmental problems are complex and interconnected; our institutions and governments as they are currently organized are largely unable to manage them. Students learn to speak the languages of science and policy, to understand the different vantage points of each, and to integrate them. Rather than beginning with traditional disciplines and searching for their application to environmental problems, we instead focus on the problems of decision and action, learning how to draw information from the disciplines that bear on these decisions.
Coursework: The program consists of four core courses, four carefully- chosen electives, experience as a teaching assistant, and a Master's thesis. Requirements for the Master of Arts degree are described on our website at: http://envstudies.brown.edu
The Master's Thesis:The Master of Arts program in Environmental Studies requires successful completion of a Master's thesis, the presentation of thesis results at a departmental seminar and an oral defense of the thesis. The master's thesis is the keystone and the integrative culmination of our program.
Program Information: the full list of faculty and their research interests are at http://envstudies.brown.edu and there are details about Master's program requirements and admissions at http://envstudies.brown.edu/academics/masters.html
--
J. Timmons Roberts
timmons@brown.edu
Director, Center for Environmental Studies Professor of Sociology and Environmental Studies Brown University
135 Angell Street
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: (401) 863-3449
http://envstudies.brown.edu/
skype: timmonsroberts
Project-Level Aid (PLAID) project website:
http://www.wm.edu/irtheoryandpractice/plaid
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Forest Management and Climate Change
WHAT: Climate Change and Adaptation: Options for the Management of Forests under a Changing Climate
WHO: Dr. Linda Joyce, USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station
WHEN: Tuesday, November 10, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
WHERE: US Forest Service International Programs (near McPherson Square Metro). 1099 14th Street, NW, Suite 5500W, Washington, DC 20005
Please R.S.V.P to Pari Henkai via at phenkai@fs.fed.us or 202-219-9776
Note: Security measures in our building require all guests to sign in at the central security station before the presentation. You will be required to leave a photo ID with the officer. Please make sure to retrieve your ID when you are leaving. You will be scanned with a hand-held metal detector before being escorted to our office.
***********************************************************************
ABOUT THE PRESENTATION
The scientific evidence is clear; the earth’s climate is warming. Multiple independent measurements confirm widespread warming; plants, animals, and ecosystems are being affected. Climate-mediated disturbances will reorganize forests and woodlands, but humans are also influencing the landscapes. Please join Dr. Linda Joyce for a presentation and discussion on management options to promote forest adaptation in forests in the US and elsewhere. The presentation will focus on human action to adjust management to reduce the impact of climate change and seek opportunities in response to observed or expected changes in climate and associated extreme weather events. Management options exist to adapt. In the near-term, maintaining the status quo may be the best, or in some cases the only, option. For the long-term, proactive management strategies must encompass a mix of options. The challenge is to prioritize short-term resource concerns with longer-term resource management objectives, both at home and around the world.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Linda Joyce is a research scientist with the US Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Research Station in Fort Collins, CO. Her research examines the effects of climate change on ecosystems, wildlife habitat, and the forestry and wood products sector. She is working with National Forests across the western US to develop adaptation options for natural resource management under climate change. She is also the Climate Change Specialist for the USFS national assessment, responsible for coordinating the analysis of climate change effects on the condition on US forests and rangelands. She was the lead author on the National Forests chapter in a recent national synthesis report "Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-sensitive Resources and Ecosystems," and also contributed to the recent IUFRO report "Adaptation of Forests and People to Climate Change, A Global Assessment Report."
For more information on US Forest Service International Programs, please visit http://www.fs.fed.us/global
Clamate Change in Asia
United Nations Association of the National Capitol Area (UNA-NCA)
Climate Change in Asia: What Comes After the Kyoto Protocol?
Wednesday, Nov 11th
6:00-8:00pm
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at The Johns Hopkins University
Dupont Circle Metro
Please RSVP to:
Our panel's theme is focused around the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference on Dec 7-19 in Copenhagen, as the follow-on to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. We will explore the views of key countries in the Asian continent going into the conference, possible outcomes, and an outlook for policy developments in climate change and emissions reductions for these countries. China's shift in climate policy is particularly interesting given its rapid economic growth and most recently, China's agreement with India to address these issues together.
Our distinguished panel will be led by Dr. Carla Freeman, Associate Director of China Studies at Johns Hopkins University- SAIS, and feature additional subject matter experts from the U.S. government, the United Nations and Think Tank communities in Washington, DC.