Fragments: Haiti Four Years after the Earthquake

The NIU Anthropology Museum is proud to announce the official opening of the exhibit, "Fragments: Haiti Four Years after the Earthquake." It will be an evening of performance and reflection from Haitian American artists and community leaders: Consul Lesly Conde, Judge Lionel Jean-Baptiste, Jan Sebon, Kantara Souffrant, and Elsie Hernandez.

The opening is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, January 24th, at the museum, located in Cole Hall, on the NIU campus in DeKalb.

For more information visit the website:

http://www.niu.edu/anthro_museum/index.shtml

Research opportunities for ENVS students

Summer Undergrad wildlife internship at Brookhaven National Lab
https://listserv.umd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1312c&L=ecolog-l&P=2091

Graduate research opportunity in water quality & phosphorus - Iowa State
https://listserv.umd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1312c&L=ecolog-l&P=2549 

Full Time Paid Summer Internship

Illinois River Energy

Environmental, Health & Safety Internship

http://www.illinoisriverenergy.com/documents/Internship%20-%20EHS.pdf

Midwest Groundcovers Summer Internship Program

Midwest Groundcovers Summer Internship Program

Midwest Groundcovers offers opportunities for students to experience working in several departments and locations of Midwest Groundcovers. Customer Service/Sales/Marketing Intern – St. Charles, Illinois The intern will perform various activities and learn the inner workings of our Customer Service department and spend time working in the Retail Shoppe and the Wholesale Yard.  The intern will learn many different aspects of marketing, including creating company promotional materials, assisting with imaging projects, learning and maintaining the plant database. Production Intern – Fennville, Michigan The intern will experience aspects of plant propagation including cutting, sticking, misting, and drenching. Additional work experiences may include inventory assistance, record keeping, cultural care, pruning, spacing, aiding in fertilization of plants, tracking degree days, disease and pest identification and production scheduling insight. Production Intern – Virgil, Illinois The intern will experience aspects of plant propagation including cutting, sticking, misting, and drenching. Additional work experiences may include inventory, record keeping, cultural care, pruning, spacing, tracking degree days, and production scheduling insight. Landscape Intern – St. Charles, Illinois The intern will be doing “hands on” work involving display gardens at the main office and leading the landscape crew on various projects. Midwest Trading Internship Program Horticultural Soils Interns – Virgil, Illinois Over the course of this internship work will be done in the Center for Horticultural Soils Testing and Research running laboratory analysis and collecting data for Soil, Soilless media and their components. This includes Nursery, Greenhouse, Landscape, Green Roof, Bioswale, and other engineered blends. Additionally a research project will be conducted and presented at the conclusion of the internship. This internship involves some physically demanding work in a variety of environments and weather. Proficiency in Microsoft Office preferred, especially Excel, with ability to work independently with attention to detail. This is an opportunity to learn and experience the brown side of the green industry.  There are opportunities for full-time and/or part-time Soils internships lasting from 3-6 months during the spring and summer. Our goal is to provide a multifaceted and meaningful opportunity for the student to experience the day-to-day operations in specified focused work areas.  The intern will have the opportunity to attend educational and social events such as trade shows, seminars, in-house training and our company picnic.  The intern program features an initial goal setting plan at the start of the internship with a review of the program and goal achievement at the conclusion of the program.

For further details on job opportunities within the Midwest Companies email us at: midwestjobs@midwestgroundcovers.com or call 847-742-1790 ext. 2017

Visit our website at www.midwestgroundcovers.com

http://b2science.org/outreach/reu 

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Program Information

The Biosphere 2 REU provides 10 undergraduates an opportunity to conduct guided research in environmental and earth systems science at a leading and unique research institution. Students will receive stipends of $5,000 for the 10-week research internship, housing on the Biosphere 2 campus, $500 to cover travel costs to and from Tucson, AZ and a food allowance. The program runs from the beginning of June to mid-August. Students will be selected from across the country to participate in the program. They will conduct research in Biosphere 2, in labs on the University of Arizona Campus, and potentially in the desert and mountain ecosystems in southern Arizona.

The REU program at B2 is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. We share the goals of the NSF to use the REU experience as a way to provide research opportunities for students who might not have such opportunities at their home institutions. The program will allow students to gain experience in research firsthand, as well as training and preparation for careers in science. It is our hope that participation in the REU program will help prepare students for graduate studies in science.

How To Apply 

To apply to the B2 REU program, click on "Apply". Your application package will consist of (1) an application form that includes contact information, educational background, and optional information on gender and ethnic background; (2) a 2-page maximum narrative statement of educational and career goals, research experiences and interests; and (3) two letters of recommendation from faculty at your home institution. Application materials, including letters of recommendation must be received by February 7th, 2014.

Am I Eligible to Apply?

Students majoring in, or in a curriculum leading to one of the following fields in environmental or earth system science will be well suited to participate in the B2 REU: biology, ecology, plant sciences, hydrology, soil science, atmospheric science, geology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, or computer science. You must be an incoming sophomore, junior, or senior in the fall following your REU experience. Students must have a minimum 3.0 G.P.A. to be eligible for the program. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for NSF/REU grant support. We encourage applications from students in groups underrepresented in science.

Questions?

Please contact the program coordinator, Dr. Mitchell Pavao-Zuckerman or Dr. Katerina Dontsova if you have questions about the program.

Paid Undergraduate Research Position

Paid Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Position in the Jones Lab

Faculty Name: Dr. Holly Jones http://www.bios.niu.edu/jones/lab/

Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Title: Restoration intern

Requested for: Spring Semester 2014 (January 13th - April 30th)

Hours per week: 10

Pay: $10/hour.  Potential for internship credit in addition to pay.

Position Description: As resource use grows and land uses change, restoration of degraded ecosystems is becoming a key tool to stem biodiversity loss. Restoration historically has had a botanical bias, with less focus on higher trophic levels. Trophic interactions help determine community structure and ecosystem function, leaving key components of responses to restoration poorly understood. In this project, a student will examine the community structure and trophic interactions of small mammals within a tallgrass prairie. The undergraduate will help trap small mammal populations and perform seed removal experiments in prairies that have been restored from 1-25 years ago. Specific learning objectives are to: 1) describe how mammal populations change with time since restoration and 2) evaluate how seed removal by small mammals changes through time and relate those changes with observed plant diversity.

List of duties and responsibilities: Trap small mammals at Nachusa. Help deploy seed predation experiments at Nachusa. Collect and analyze data from Nachusa. Perform laboratory duties to help process stable isotopic samples from Nachusa.  Attend weekly Jones lab meetings.

Qualifications: The ideal student will have: 1) taken biology, ecology, or ENVS 302; 2) a strong work ethic; 3) A GPA of 3.0 or higher and 4) the ability to work in extreme conditions.

Information on how the student should apply: Email: 1. Letter of interest which includes career goals 2. Resume 3. Unofficial transcripts to Dr. Holly Jones at hjones@niu.edu by December 31st, 2013.

Career Planning Class - Spring 2014

Gendered Planet: Ethics, Ecology, and Equity -- Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals

Students, Faculty, Staff, Community Activists!

We invite your participation in the 38th Wisconsin Women's Studies and 9th LGBTQ Conference as it expands to represent a broader Midwestern participation.

Wisconsin and Midwest 
Women’s, Gender, and LGBTQ 
Studies Conference

October 17-19, 2014
University Center 
UW-River Falls

Seeking proposals on the broadly defined theme of
'Gendered Planet:  Ethics, Ecology, and Equity' from across the disciplines addressing research, scholarship, program development, pedagogy, curriculum, creative work and/or community activism in the fields of Ecofeminism, Women’s Studies, Gender Studies, LGBTQ Studies, and Sexuality Studies, especially as they as they intersect with such areas as: Ethnic Studies, Disability Studies, International Studies, Poverty Studies, Peace Studies, and Environmental and/or Sustainability Studies, and other inter-disciplines.
Participants are encouraged to draw upon the range 
of perspectives on gender and social justice to examine the present and  future for our planet.  Considering intersections of issues that include (but are not limited to)  human oppression, animal exploitation, ecological degradation,
as we promote ethical responses, solutions, and mindful decisions that create greater equity and sustainability for our humanity, animals, and earth.

http://www.womensstudiesconsortium.org/


Co-sponsors: Alverno College, Beloit College, Marquette University, St. Norbert College, Winona State University, the UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies, the UW-River Falls Women’s and Gender Studies Program, and the University of Wisconsin Women’s Studies Consortium made up of the 14 Women’s and Gender Studies Programs and Departments in the UW System, the Office of the Women’s Studies Librarian and the Women & Science Program

Student Career Success

Internship Opportunities with Midwest Groundcovers

Midwest Groundcovers Internship Programs! Accepting applications for 2014 Internships. Midwest Groundcovers offers an opportunity for students to experience working in several departments and locations of Midwest Groundcovers. Customer Service/Marketing Intern The intern will learn a variety of different aspects of marketing, including creating company promotional materials, assisting with imaging projects, learning and maintaining the plant database. The intern will capture plant and other images as directed by the Marketing department. The student will also perform various activities and learn the inner workings of our Customer Service department and spend some time in our Retail Yard. Landscape Intern – St. Charles, Illinois The intern will be doing “hands on” work involving display gardens at the main office and leading the landscape crew on various projects. Production Intern (Michigan) The intern will experience aspects of plant propagation including cutting, sticking, misting, and drenching. Additional work experiences may include inventory assistance, record keeping, cultural care, pruning, spacing, aiding in fertilization of plants, tracking degree days, disease and pest identificatio and production scheduling insight. Production Intern (Illinois)The intern will experience aspects of plant propagation including cutting, sticking, misting, and drenching. Additional work experiences may include inventory, record keeping, cultural care, pruning, spacing, tracking degree days, and production scheduling insight.

Midwest Trading Horticultural Soils Internship Accepting applications for 2014 Internships. Over the course of this internship work will be done in the Center for Horticultural Soils Testing and Research running laboratory analysis and collecting data for Soil, Soilless media and their components. This includes Nursery, Greenhouse, Landscape, Green Roof, Bioswale, and other engineered blends. Additionally a research project will be conducted and presented at the conclusion of the internship. This internship involves some physically demanding work in a variety of environments and weather. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel preferred with ability to work independently with attention to detail. This is an opportunity to learn and experience the brown side of the green industry. There are opportunities for full-time and/or part-time internships lasting from 3-6 months during the spring and summer. Our goal is to provide a multifaceted and meaningful opportunity for students to experience the day-to-day operations in specified focused work areas. ALL INTERNS have the opportunity to attend educational and social events such as trade shows, seminars, in house training and our company picnic. The intern program features an initial goal setting plan at the start of the internship with a review of the program and goal achievement at the conclusion of the program.

http://www.midwestgroundcovers.com/careers/careers.asp

Get your Wildfire Management Certification

http://training.nwcg.gov/online.html

Online Courses

Note to wildland firefighter personnel taking a course to fulfill NWCG training requirements:
The NWCG will only acknowledge completion of these courses by those who are affiliated with an NWCG member agency (through direct membership or agreement) or a member of a fire department. To receive credit from the NWCG for completing these courses, do not attempt this training unless you have been directed to do so by a wildland fire agency or fire department, and you are working with a course administrator.

A course administrator is a person responsible for guiding a student through a self-paced course (computer based or paper based). Course administrators must meet qualifications set forth in the Field Manager’s Course Guide for each particular course; have general administrative knowledge of testing, certificates of completion and qualification system of record for the agency or agencies involved; and must be available in person, by phone, or by email to assist the student during the completion of the course.

To obtain a course administrator, Federal and State government employees must go through their agency or state fire training staff. If you are part of a local government agency please contact your State Forestry office to request their "sponsorship" for NWCG training. Contract employees must go through their company.

All students are encouraged to keep their NWCG online course certificates as proof of successful completion.

'I' Incident Command System
I-100 Introduction to the Incident Command System (2006) 

'S' Suppression
S-110 Basic Wildland Suppression Orientation (2003)

S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (2006)
S-260 Interagency Incident Business Management (2011) 
S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (2010)

Other
Firefighter Math
Note: this program may not display correctly in "IE8 Compatibility View", please switch your IE browser mode to "Internet Explorer 8" for the best display.
Investigating Railroad Caused Wildfires 
- Note: The audio on a few screens may not play the beginning of the narration. Please review the "Notes Tab" for missed audio.

Mountain Flying Training 2013

Using the Fire Incident Mapping Tool (FIMT) Tutorial

ENVS 450 Class Descriptions

Photosynthesis Talk

NIU Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

NOV. 21 Eat for a CAUSE! NIU Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Eat pizza. Make an impact. Thursday, November 21 11:00am - 1:00pm Pre-Order a Pizza Now!

CAUSE is excited to partake in NIU's Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week initiative with its Eat for a CAUSE fundraiser for the Northern Illinois Food Bank. CAUSE will donate all of the proceeds from our weekly pizza sale to the Northern Illinois Foodbank. Our goal is donate 1,000 meals to those in need. Just by purchasing and eating one of our delicious pizzas on Thursday, November 21 (11:00am -1:00pm), you will be providing meals to those in need in DeKalb County. As always, all of our pizzas are deep dish, with at least two toppings, made by CAUSE members. On Thursday, November 21, we will be making deliveries to those that order at least one whole pizza. If you'd like to order a whole pizza and Eat for a CAUSE, please click on the link above and fill out the form. If you don't want to order an entire pizza, we will be selling in the Barsema Hall atrium from 11:00am - 1:00pm. Prices are one pizza for $20, two slices for $5, or one slice for $3.   Each slice purchased will provide 9 meals to those in need Each pizza purchased will provide 72 meals to those in need Each extra dollar donated will provide an additional 6 meals to those in need Follow on Twitter Friend on Facebook Forward to a Friend

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

November 16 – 22, 2013 

Northern Illinois University students and faculty/staff groups are teaming up with community and student organizations to present a week of events in recognition of Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (HHAW)! Each year, one week before Thanksgiving, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness co-sponsor National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. 

The goal of HHAW is to educate NIU students about hunger and homelessness in our local,national, and global community while introducing them to the variety of ways they can help end hunger. During this week, hundreds of universities, colleges, high schools, and community and religious groups held Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week activities, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Contact communityservice@niu.edu if you have any questions about HHAW 2013. 

Schedule of Events

• Nov 12 - Nov 22Winter Coat Collection Drive
  Register to host a winter coat collection drive and compete against other teams across campus! There is a prize for the team who collects the most coats.
• Nov 18 11amFast-a-thon Registration
  Sign-up to participate in the fast-a-thon at tables hosted by the Muslim Student Association. Monday, Nov 18th Dusable 1-4 pm. Tuesday, Nov 19th Dusable 11-4 pm. Wednesday,...
• Nov 18 6pmLaura Vazquez Documentary and Civic Reflection
  Join fellow students as they watch two 20 minute documentaries produced by NIU's own Laura Vazquez. The films cover childhood homelessness as well as adolescent homelessness...
  Location:Stevenson Smart Classroom
• Nov 19 1pmNorthern Illinois Food Bank Pack
  Help re-pack food that is donated to the Northern Illinois Food Bank! This food is distributed locally and benefits our neighbors in DeKalb County. *To register for the...
• Nov 19 6pmHunger and Homelessness in DeKalb County: The Problem and Solutions
  Join in an open dialogue on hunger and homelessness, with a focus on the problems in DeKalb County and what can be done about them. Connect local issues and problems, as well...
  Location:Campus Life Building
• Nov 20 6:30pmFeed My Starving Children Manna Pack
  As a part of Project R.E.D and Housing & Dining, Grant North will be taking a group of students and staff to Feed my Starving Children location in Aurora to volunteer and pack...
• Nov 21 11:15amEat for a CAUSE Pizza Sale
  The Collegiate Association of Unreasonable Social Entrepreneurs (CAUSE) is selling deep dish pizza slices to help raise money for the Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB). Every...
  Location:Barsema Hall
• Nov 22 5:30amFast-a-thon
  From sun-up until sun-down get a glimpse of what it is like to live without food for a day. Students can sign-up to fast or donate to our local homeless shelter, Hope Haven,...
• Nov 22 4:30pmBreaking of the Fast Dinner & Discussion
  Come together to break the fast with other students, faculty, and staff who fasted during the day. Dinner will be provided while the Muslim Student Association, STAND, and the...
  Location:Campus Life Building