Tomorrow: Neil Chambers @ AU

Feb. 29: Mongolia: Mining Challenges a Civilization

Mon, Feb 27: Emerging Scarcity in a Land of Plenty: Water and Water Policy in Canada

The Canada Institute and the Environmental Change and Security Program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars present

Emerging Scarcity in a Land of Plenty: Water and Water Policy in Canada

with

Lars Hallstrom

Associate Professor of Political Studies, University of Alberta

Director, Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities

 

and discussant: 

Betsy Otto

Aqueduct Director, World Resources Institute

Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, American Rivers

Monday, February 27, 2012

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

5th floor conference room

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20004 USA

RSVP to Canada@wilsoncenter.org or (202) 691-4301

Canada is a state blessed with the world’s largest supplies of fresh water. While other natural resources (oil, grain, timber) figure largely in Canada’s economic and international profile, water is rapidly becoming recognized as a core of these other resource-based industries, and a resource that is increasingly challenged both in terms of supply and quality.

This is particularly true in the western province of Alberta, a province where the combination of climate, geography, hydrology, regulatory politics, economic development, and corresponding population growth make the concept of “peak water” more than just a rhetorical tool. Alberta is already a land with a history of significant drought and variation of supply with important challenges ahead. Dr. Hallstrom will discuss how the factors noted above are increasingly converging upon water as a critical challenge in the province, and the importance of water as a core element of sustainable development. 

Please allow extra time to enter the building. A photo ID is required for entry. Directions at www.WilsonCenter.org/directions.

Calling Sustainability Leaders! U.S./Canada Citizen's Summit for Sustainable Development, March 24th and 25th at Yale University

As a Steering Committee member for the Summit, the Human Impacts Institute is proud to announce an open call for participants in the U.S./Canada Citizen's Summit for Sustainable Development, which will take place on Saturday March 24th and Sunday March 25th, 2012, at Yale University in New Haven, CT.  

This FREE summit is open to all sustainability practitioners in the U.S. and Canada and will be an opportunity for all to network, share resources, build skills, and engage our communities in the Road to Rio+20 and sustainable development!  Space is limited to only 180 registrants, so please confirm your nominations for attendance ASAP.  

Nominated participants should be current practitioners in sustainability in the U.S. or Canada and we welcome public officials, private sector representatives, educators, activists, students, funders, NGOs, community organizers, indigenous, faith leaders, artists, and many more.  To nominate yourself or a colleague, please fill out the nomination form here: U.S./Canada Citizen's Summit Nomination Form. Nominations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis, so please send your nominations soon!  

Many thanks for your participation.  We look forward to seeing you at Yale!

Sincerely,
Tara DePorte

Founder and Executive Director

The Human Impacts Institute

NOTE:  There is no travel or lodging funding available at this time. Participation in the Summit is FREE and we request that organizations/groups select 1-2 representatives for the Summit to increase our diversity.  

Waking the Green Tiger - March 19 @ AU

Undergraduate Fellowships from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Applications for the Leonard M. Rieser Undergraduate Fellowships, offered by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, are due March 15, 2012. Rieser Fellowships provide the successful undergraduate applicants with a one-time award of up to $4,000 to pursue projects that explore issues at the intersection of science, global security, and public policy, focusing on a significant aspect of nuclear security, climate stabilization, or biotechnology. Click here for additional details and the online application form. Any undergraduate student studying at a U.S. college or university is eligible to apply. The 2012 deadline is March 15. The Rieser Committee’s decision will be announced online no later than April 15, following notification of all applicants. In addition to the monetary award, each Rieser Fellow will be eligible to submit his or her fellowship project results to be considered for publication on the Bulletin’s website or for use in a Bulletin program. Rieser Fellows and alumni will also be eligible to participate in the Bulletin’s annual Doomsday Clock Symposium each January. Leonard M. Rieser (1922–1998) was an outstanding physicist, professor, mentor, and vocal advocate for the peaceful resolution of conflict. Through the Leonard M. Rieser Fellowships in Science, Global Security, and Public Policy the Bulletin honors his belief in the ability of the next generation to play a critical role in finding solutions to persistent global problems.

WRI Event: Building Climate Smart Agriculture and Resiliency in the Sahel

March 1 2012, 10:00am - 12:00pm

World Resources Institute
10 G Street, NE
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20002

Contact:

• Robert Winterbottom, Director, Ecosystem Services Initiative
  rwinterbottom@wri.org+1 (202) 729-7897

Please RSVP - Discussion on experiences in the Sahel using Climate Smart Agriculture to increase productivity and resiliency including lessons learned from farmer innovations and observed landscape transformations in Niger, Burkina Faso & Mali
This event features leading global experts who will discuss lessons learned from farmer innovations and observed landscape transformations in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. The speakers will draw on their experiences in the Sahel to explore how to use Climate Smart Agriculture to increase productivity and resiliency.
In the wake of the latest crisis in the Horn of Africa, concerns are mounting about a potential food crisis in the West African Sahel. This event will focus on scaling up interventions to address the root causes of chronic food shortages while strengthening household economies.

SPEAKERS

• Chris Reij, Senior Fellow, WRI; Free University, Netherlands
• Mike McGahuey, Natural Resources Management Specialist, USAID
• Gray Tappan, Remote Sensing Specialist, US Geological Survey
• Emmy Simmons, Board Member, the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa

MODERATORS

• Jerry Glover, Science & Technology Policy Fellow, USAID
• Edward Cameron, Director, International Climate Initiative, WRI

Please RSVP (Registration required)

MS Fellowship in in the Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management

Master of Science (MS) Fellowship in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management, Utah State University, starting Fall 2012

This fellowship will support a MS student to pursue a degree in the Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management (HDESM) program in the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University (USU) starting August 2012. This fellowship is funded by USDA National Needs Graduate Fellowship Competitive Grant No. 2011-38420-20087 from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The full proposal is available at http://www.cnr.usu.edu/wild/htm/available-ms-fellowships. Our goal is to create a small cohort of graduate students whose research will be linked under the theme "Managing for Resilience in Forested Ecosystems of the Intermountain West." Current topics related to management, adaptation, resilience and human dimensions of forest ecosystems in a changing climate will be emphasized. Student fellows will participate in several outreach projects in cooperation with USU Extension Forestry including the planning of a Restoring the West regional conference and publication of at least one article each in the Utah Forest News. The student fellows will also benefit from coordinated mentoring by an Advisory Board of faculty members from the Wildland Resources and Environment and Society departments in the College of Natural Resources - Dr. Karen Mock, Dr. Jim Long, Dr. Mike Kuhns, and Dr. Zhao Ma; and Dr. Barbara Bentz with the USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, and Dr. Paul Rogers with the USU-affiliated Western Aspen Alliance.

Research topics for the HDESM MS student will be developed through discussions among current student fellows, their supervisory committees, and faculty Advisory Board members, and may include:

* Assessing "tipping points" in human systems that are linked to forest ecosystem thresholds,

* Assessing forest landowner perceptions of and responses to increasing drought, insect outbreak and fire under changing climatic conditions,

* Determining the ecological and non-ecological factors affecting the decision-making process of forestry institutions,

* Assessing how forestry institutions prioritize aspen regeneration, bark beetle control, and other aspects of forest management and conservation,

* Identifying opportunities for promoting the adaptive capacity of forest landowners, managers, and institutions to cope with a changing climate.

The fellowship support includes a stipend of $17,000 per year for 2 years (Fall 2012 through Spring 2014), an out-of-state tuition waiver, and subsidy for student health insurance. Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and we strongly encourage applications from groups who are underrepresented in natural resources professions. Fellowship candidates are required to be a citizen or national of the United States of America.

Additional Information: For general information about the HDESM graduate program, please visit http://www.cnr.usu.edu/envs/files/uploads/ENVS%20Stuff/Human_Dimensions_grad_info.pdf

Logan is a valley community of about 125,000 people, 90 miles north of Salt Lake City, and a great place to live with respect to low cost of living and excellent outdoor recreation opportunities (more information at http://www.tourcachevalley.com/).

Qualifications and Application:
* A bachelor's degree
* Good GPA and GRE scores
* Good communication and writing skills
* A strong interest in collaborative, multi-disciplinary approaches to problem solving
* Ability to work both independently and in a team

To apply, please submit the following materials to Dr. Karen Mock via email (karen.mock@usu.edu):
* A resume describing your education, employment, and publication/presentation history
* A list of three references (and their contact information)
* A copy of your academic transcripts (unofficial) and GRE scores
* A cover letter describing your research interests, why you would be a good candidate for this fellowship, and how you found the fellowship advertisement

We will begin screening candidates on March 5, 2012, and will continue until suitable candidates are found. Formal application to the USU graduate school will ultimately be required for selected candidates.

Zhao Ma, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Environment and Society
College of Natural Resources
Utah State University
5215 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5215

Phone: 435-797-9180
Fax: 435-797-4048
Email: zhao.ma@usu.edu<mailto:zhao.ma@usu.edu>

Internship Fair - February 25!

Bethesda Green's
Third Annual Fields of Green Internship Fair

Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, 10 am - 2 pm
4825 Cordell Avenue

Second Floor above the Capital One Bank

The Internship Fair provides college-age young people an opportunity to meet representatives from a number of companies and non-profits offering job experience in the green business sector. 

More than 25 companies will be in attendance. Learn about internships, academic and government programs, as well as a variety of volunteer opportunities in the Washington metro region.


http://www.bethesdagreen.org/Programs/FieldsofGreenInternshipFair/tabid/339/Default.aspx

Malawian Permaculture Center Seeks Managing Director, Volunteers

KUSUMALA INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY:

The Kusamala Institute of Agriculture & Ecology (KIAE) is an organisation focusing on environment, food and nutrition security, based in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. With experience in agro-ecology and permaculture, we aim to enhance the uptake of ecologically sound, efficient and productive agriculture techniques.

KIAE was formalised in June 2011 and operates as a CONGOMA (Council for NGOs in Malawi) registered, not-for-profit organisation. The institute runs Nature’s Gift Permaculture Centre (in operation since December 2009) in Lilongwe, Malawi, where we have developed an extensive demonstration site, conduct the majority of our trainings and run our commercial, organic garden.

For more information, please see the website for our demonstration centre- www.naturesgift.org.

MANAGING DIRECTOR:

KIAE is seeking a creative and impassioned Managing Director (MD) who shall lead our young organisation as we strive to achieve our goals, including the continued success of our demonstration plots, trainings and our organic, commercial garden.

The MD is responsible for the organisation's continued progression and will lead and manage the organisation in accordance with the strategic plan, budget and founding principles, in collaboration with fellow staff members and the Board of Directors. The MD will have significant scope to determine the future direction of the organisation according to his/her aspirations and available opportunities.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

•       Ultimate responsibility for and co-ordination of all organisational matters, including institute finances, marketing, recruitment, human resources, legal, tax and administration.

•       Provide continuous and coherent programmatic, financial, and organisational leadership.

•       Assure the organisation has a long term strategy for its continued growth and development and is consistently working in accordance with the annual goals.

•       Identify and develop proposals to obtain appropriate sources of funding for projects that are complimentary to KIAE’s work experience and goals.

•       Oversee all financial management including financial analysis, payroll, reporting, budgeting, and projections.

•       Ensure financial viability of the institute, maximising revenue from current projects (including vegetable box schemes and general sales, demonstration plots and training courses) and introduce new funding streams.

•       Management of up to 30 current staff members, and international volunteers and interns.

•       Determine staffing requirements for organisational management and program or project delivery. Recruit, interview and select staff, including international interns and volunteers, with appropriate technical knowledge and skills and personal abilities.

•       Act as a spokesperson for the organisation. Establish and maintain sound working relationships with relevant stakeholders including Government of Malawi, NGO's, development agencies, research agencies, and private businesses.

•       Continue the hard-earned reputation of the institute as a prompt and effective communicator to all stakeholders.

•       Establish a positive, healthy and safe work environment through the encouragement of staff and volunteer development. Assist staff in relating their specialised work to the needs of the organisation.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

•       Essential:

o   Theoretical and practical background in Sustainable Business, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Agriculture, Agro-ecology, Organic Agriculture, or similar field.

o   Undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development, Business or related field.

o   3+ years professional experience, ideally in an area related to agriculture, international development or business management.

o   Experience in project/ programme management.

o   Professional level English

o   Technical proficiency with Excel and Word, and general computing skills

•       Preferred:

o   Master’s Degree in Non-profit Management, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development, Agriculture, Business or related field.

o   2+ years in a managerial role.

o   Experience in grant and proposal writing, preferably in agricultural and/or international development.

o   Budgeting and finance experience.

o   Understanding of carbon markets, particularly their relevance to developing countries and increasing focus within development funding.

o   Language abilities, including Chichewa.

The successful candidate shall be able to demonstrate compatibility with the above responsibilities and requirements, and a clear commitment to continuing the ethos of the Kusamala Institute of Agriculture & Ecology. While the ideal candidate will be able to combine commercial acumen with agricultural knowledge, the primary responsibilities of the MD will be of a business nature, with in-house expertise in agriculture and the environment already present.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Start Date: as soon as possible, latest 30^th April 2012.

Duration: Minimum one year, two years preferred.

Location: The position is based at Nature’s Gift Permaculture centre, approximately a 15 minute drive to Lilongwe City Centre. Lilongwe has a variety of supermarkets, bars and restaurants. Lake Malawi and other good weekend spots can be reached in a 2 hour drive from the capital.

Salary and benefits: Please note that the Managing Director must be prepared to work within a young organisation with low funding levels and understand that as the organisation grows and gains more success, salaries and benefits will directly increase.  The salary and benefits currently provided are as follows:

·       Monthly stipend;

·       Employment permit (if international);

·       Free low cost basic housing at the centre, if desired. MD housing consists of a thatched cottage, with separate kitchen and toilet/bathroom. Borehole water and electricity provided;

·       Free access to organic vegetable garden;

·       Free lunch on weekdays, usually consisting of fresh farm produce;

Please note that international applicants would be expected to fund their own travel costs to Malawi.

If you would like further information about the role, please email info@naturesgift.org

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for this role, please send an email with “MD – KIAE Application” as the subject, attaching a cover letter outlining your suitability (1 page maximum), a copy of your resume/CV (3 pages maximum, no photos) and the names and contact details of 3 referees to: info@naturesgift.org

Email is preferred, but as an alternative, please send applications to:

Kusamala Institute of Agriculture & Ecology, Managing Director, P.O. Box 30420, Lilongwe.

Closing date for applications is Friday, February 24th 2012 and short listed candidates will be contacted within a month of the closing date. Due to limited resources, we are unable to reply to all applications, if you have not heard back by the end of March 2012, please note that your application has been unsuccessful.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES:

Please note that the centre also offers 6-month long internships and short-term voluntary opportunities for candidates with experience in sustainable agriculture or business, with a particular interest in candidates with experience in marketing, proposal writing and project management. Further information can be found at http://www.naturesgift.org/opportunities/

Thank you for your interest in our organisation.

Seeking Grow Appalachia Coordinator

Grow Appalachia Coordinator

High Rocks seeks a highly-motivated self-starter with agricultural experience and project management background to coordinate the Grow Appalachia program. The Grow Appalachia coordinator will work with 13 local families and organizations to grow as much food as possible. The coordinator will also work closely with High Rocks and the Greenbrier Valley Local Foods Initiative to create a strong network of local foods in the area. This position has variable hours throughout the year depending on the demands of the season.

Additional responsibilities:
         ·    Recruit and manage volunteers
         ·    Supervise AmeriCorps members
         ·    Maintain and cultivate relationships with new growers and potential growers
         ·    Manage grant/project budget
         ·    Evaluate and report on volunteers, grower participation and food volumes produced
         ·    Organize educational workshops

Experience required:
         ·     College graduate or equivalent
         ·     Supervisory experience
         ·     Relevant agricultural experience
         ·     Canning and food preservation experience
         ·     Community organizing and facilitating capabilities
         ·     Ability to use farm machinery (especially a hand-operated tiller)
         ·     Ability to drive a manual transmission truck

What is Grow Appalachia?
The basic purpose of Grow Appalachia is to teach and support the people of Appalachia to grow, preserve and sell their own food and feed themselves and their families. The Grow Appalachia Coordinator will work with first time gardeners, experienced gardeners, and support people to develop market gardens. Visit the Grow Appalachia website for more information.
To Apply:
Send your resume and cover letter to
High Rocks
Attn: Amy Cole
HC 64 Box 438
Hillsboro, WV 24946
OR: Fax:(304) 653-4860
OR: email: amy@highrocks.org

** Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until position is filled **

Apply for FoodCorps!

Are you a leader passionate about healthy food, farms and kids?

Then we want you to be a FoodCorps Service Member!

FoodCorps recruits talented leaders for a year of paid public service building healthy school food environments in high-obesity, limited-resource communities.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

FoodCorps service members implement a three ingredient recipe for healthy kids:

• TEACH children about food and nutrition
• GROW healthy food with kids and communities in school gardens
• CHANGE what's for lunch by connecting farms and schools

WHERE YOU’LL SERVE

As a service member, you will be placed with one service site for your year-long term. Service sites operate under ten host sites, each of which is located in a different state: Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina and Oregon. Pending funding, FoodCorps will expand into Connecticut and Montana for the 2012-2013 service term.

WHAT YOU’LL GET

For your year of full-time service, you are eligible to receive the following benefits:

• A $15,000 living allowance
• A $5,550 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award
• Student loan forbearance
• Health insurance
• Partial childcare reimbursements
• Training and mentorship
• Alumni network
• The experience of a lifetime

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

To be considered for a FoodCorps service member position, you must:

• Be 18 years or older by the start of service (August 13, 2012)
• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States
• Hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent

APPLY NOW
The 2012-2013 Service Member Application is now open. The application will close at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on Sunday, March 25, 2012. We recommend that you submit your application prior to the deadline to avoid any technical difficulties. Once the application closes we will NOT accept late applications.

Before beginning your application, please make sure you have read through all of the sections linked to from this page, including the application instructions, APPLICANT FAQs, and WHERE YOU’LL SERVE. If you have additional questions please contact Simone Herbin at serve@foodcorps.org.