Geology Colloquium

2015

SPRING COLLOQUIUM SERIES

PRESENTS

KENDRA CHRITZ,

Department of Biology, University of Utah

“10,000 years of ecology in East Africa

Using stable isotopes for perspectives on

past, present and future environmental change”

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

2:00-3:00 PM

Davis Hall 309

ALL ARE INVITED!

Sponsored by the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences and the

Graduate Colloquium Committee

Northern Star Employment

Attached is a message from the Northern Star. Environmental Studies has been lucky to have several students work for the Northern Star in the past couple of years, and the amount of environmental events, activities, classes, and issues covered has significantly increased. We support your need to know what is going on locally, and we hope that you will consider the request we have received from the Northern Star as they look to fill their staff for the next year.
______

Hey, you!

Would you like to increase your knowledge as an environmental studies major? Work for the Northern Star and get an edge over your peers after graduation.

The Northern Star is hiring news, entertainment and sports reporters, columnists, cartoonists and photographers for the fall semester. The Star is an award-winning twice-weekly newspaper and 24/7 online news source. We are student-run and independent from NIU.

Why work for us?

You’ll be learning while working for a newspaper that has a circulation of 10,000, gets more than 120,000 online page views a month, and has received second place in general excellence in the annual Illinois College Press Association competition three years in a row.

What can environmental studies majors get out of working for the Northern Star?

• Write news articles or columns about environmental issues, initiatives and events in and around campus.
• Focus on varying environmental campus activities like NIU Community Gardens initiatives, the environmental impact of campus facilities and administration, alternative energy initiatives and sustainability goals.
• Learn about and engage DeKalb politicians and community organizers in regards to environmental/sustainability city plans and goals.
• Research local environmental ordinances and agricultural practices.

What positions are available?

• News reporters write one to two stories a week covering a wide variety of news topics including DeKalb government and business, NIU administration, money, crime, and student organizations. People who chose news reporting tend to become well-rounded in different subject areas because news reporters are not limited by the subject of news they can cover.

• Entertainment writers write weekly articles or columns about local artists, musicians, hot spots, fashion, food and more. Entertainment writers are also able to write reviews and have interviewed big touring acts, such as Nick Swardson and the Swan Brothers.

• Perspective writers write engaging columns about local issues, but where a reporter has to be impartial a columnist is allowed an opinion. If you’d like to have the discipline of a reporter, but the option to choose a side, column writing may be for you.

• Political cartoonists are similar to columnists, but instead of column writing, they draw political cartoons, offering commentary on topics covered by news or other local issues. Cartoonists have the opportunity to employ wit and humor to fit a story into a single frame.

• Strip Cartoonists use three frames to tell stories based on observations and humor. You will make a great fit if you have passion for drawing, but don’t want your creativity to be limited to news topics.

• Sports writers get to cover NIU sports from Huskies football to men’s and women’s basketball. Each writer is assigned a sport to cover. Sports writers are allowed close viewing access during games and are able to interview players and coaches, all while learning the basics of reporting and news gathering.

• Photographers are not limited to any section, but are able to photograph spontaneous news events like protests, large festivals like Corn Fest, athletics and create photo illustrations for special news items or columns. Photographers can gain experience shooting in many different environments and reporting.

Where do you apply?

You can apply for a position at NorthernStarJobs.info or stop by the Northern Star office, Campus Life Building, Room 130, to fill out an application.

Eat at Potbelly's!

Did you know that by supporting the DeKalb County Community Gardens --  amazing things can be accomplished?

In their third season, they harvested more than 20,000 pounds of organically grown produce

·       Delivered vegetables to

·       Food Pantries

o   Elder-Living Locations and Senior Centers

o   Low-Income Housing Locations

o   Day Care Facilities

o   Community Meal Sites

o   Schools

o   Hope Haven and Safe Passage

     On Thursday, April 30, 2015 from 4pm to 8pm -- DCCG has partnered with Potbelly's for the last time before school lets out! In the spirit of “kicking off” the planting season, please come out and enjoy some healthy food – 25% of ALL proceeds benefit DCCG!

     See attached flyer for more information! They will have live bands performing at the event! Tell your friends! No vouchers or coupons needed to participate!

Lab Class at the Communiversity Gardens

New in Fall 2015!

About the Course

This course is being offered for the first time in the fall semester and is open to all students who have an interest in learning more about food systems. It is a two credit hour course that will meet three days per week IN the garden and one day per week in the classroom to discuss course content. There will be two amazing books to read (see below), and some course assignments such as presentations, social media contributions, and a semester project.

Books

•          Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education by Michael Pollen
•          Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating by Jane Goodall, Gary McAvoy, and Gail Hudson

Future Plans

•          This permanent course number (as of Fall 2016) will be ENVS 210: Introduction to Local Sustainable Food Systems. The current plan is to offer this course each semester.
•          ENVS 210 should be included in the PLUS general education curriculum in the Nature and Science Knowledge Domain starting in 2016. The reasoning for the 2 credit hour course is to encourage students to continue to take four credit hour lab courses and consider taking ENVS 210 to complete the six credit hour requirement.
•          ENVS 210 will also be included in the Sustainability Pathway that is being developed this summer (2015).
•          In the fall of 2016, students will be able to pursue a Certificate of Undergraduate Study in Sustainable Food Systems. ENVS 210 will be required for all students in this certificate program.

Contact Info

Melissa Burlingame mburlingame@niu.edu 815-753-5987

EPA Job Opening - Due April 27th

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/401141400
 

SALARY RANGE:	$43,362.00 to $68,950.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD:	Thursday, April 23, 2015 to Monday, April 27, 2015

Job Title:Environmental Engineer/Physical Scientist (Environmental)
This position is located in Region 5, Water Division, Watersheds & Wetlands Branch, Watersheds Section.
At the entry level of this position, you will:

- Provide technical assistance and guidance to the state technical contacts on state non-point source (NPS) programs , ensuring those programs are in compliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA).

- Review Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) and lists of impaired waters, commenting on guidance and regulations. Work to integrate the TMDL program and with related state and federal programs.

- Provide technical assistance on data evaluation, quality assurance, sampling and sample preservation techniques or analytical methodologies to Regional staff, state and local agencies, private industry and the general public.

- Provide assistance and advice to state, local and/or tribal governments on matters relating to the development, execution and monitoring of adequate environmental/scientific policies, plans and programs associated with the TMDL program.

- Assist in the exercise of management responsibilities for the full range of activities, including but not limited to initiating, administering and/or closing out grants, cooperative agreements and/or interagency agreements.

Elmhurst Garden Club College Scholarship

Sustainability Internship in Panama

Since the Summer of 2010 we have had students from 20 countries, 45 states, and 160 universities produce more than 500 individual research projects and reports in sustainability.

Please see program details or apply by clicking here: www.kaluyala.com/education/

H2Omx Film Showing

Opening for Building Analyst Associate

Check out this opportunity shared by one of the ENVS alumni.

Natural Resource Volunteers :R∙E∙A∙P (Restoration ∙ Education ∙ Appreciation ∙ Preservation)

Online GEOG courses offered this summer/fall

The following Geography courses are available this summer and fall. Both have no prereqs, will be 100% online, and potentially satisfy course requirements in ESE emphases.

GEOG 303: Water Resources and the Environment http://chubasco.niu.edu/filebox/temp/GEOG303.PNG

Evaluation of water as a resource; its availability, distribution, use, and quality. Operation of the hydrologic cycle and relationships between surface water and the soil, groundwater, and atmosphere. Human impacts on water resources and the management of water-related hazards, including flooding, drought, and the spread of disease. Lecture and field experience.

GEOG 306: Severe and Hazardous Weather http://chubasco.niu.edu/filebox/temp/GEOG306.PNG

Examination of fundamentals of atmospheric phenomena with an emphasis on understanding concepts and processes behind severe manifestations of weather and climate. Physical aspects of extratropical cyclones, winter weather phenomena, thunderstorm phenomena, tropical weather systems, and large-scale, longer-term weather events are analyzed. Case studies are employed to investigate human, economic, and environmental consequences of extreme weather and climate events.

If you have questions or would like to request a sample syllabus, please contact Dr. Walker Ashley at washley@niu.edu (GEOG 306) or Dr. Sharon Ashley at sashley@niu.edu (GEOG 303).

Research Internships in Plant Ecology, Archbold Biological Station

Wetland Science: Classification, Delineation, and Mapping

McCloud Aquatics Seasonal Employment

Nachusa Grasslands Volunteers Needed

Job: PDC Technical Services, Inc.

Stream Discovery Workshop in Elgin for Educators

Have you ever wanted to become a citizen scientist or involve your student group in real world scientific data collection?

Have you ever wanted to help protect Illinois streams and rivers but don’t know where to start?!

The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center invites you to attend a Stream Discovery and Creek Freaks Workshop May 16-17 in Elgin, IL. Stream Discovery trains grade 5-12 educators how to involve their student groups in water quality monitoring, analysis, and stream cleanup. For more information or to register for a Stream Discovery workshop, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creek-freaks-and-stream-discovery-training-workshop-elgin-il-tickets-13025707241

2015 Latino & Latin American Studies Film Festival

IAEP Student Research Grant Program

Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals

 2015 STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM

Due May 1st

APPLICATION DOWNLOAD

EPA Grants for Students

2015 EPA Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships for Undergraduate Environmental Study
http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2015/2015_gro_undergrad.html

EPA Star grants for graduate students are back and due in May

http://epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2015/2015_star_gradfellow.html#Eligibility

Bird Safety

NIU LEED Meetings

Fall Internship at NIU Lorado Taft Campus

Internships at the Midwest Museum of Natural History

Fulbright Workshop & Opportunities

Fulbright Opportunities in Arctic Affairs We are writing to you with some information about exciting opportunities in the 2016-2017 Fulbright U.S.Scholar Program in arctic affairs that we thought might especially appeal to someone with your background and interests. Our organization, the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, administers the Fulbright Scholar Program on behalf of the United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Please feel free to forward this message to other interested colleagues and share through relevant associations and listservs. Iceland: Fulbright-National Science Foundation Arctic Research Grants Conduct research with any university, research organization or other appropriate partner in Iceland in the social or natural sciences field as they relate to the Arctic and the people living there. Specializations include ecology, glaciology, geography and sustainability science. Iceland: Fulbright-Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arctic Scholar Teach or teach and conduct research at the University of Iceland Centre for Arctic Policy in Akureyri. The grant is open to scholars in a wide variety of arctic fields including natural research studies, and environmental change and natural resources and development. As the grant is funded by the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the scholar will have access to Ministry officials. Norway: Fulbright Arctic Chair For scholars with five to 10 years of research experience, this award in Norway offers an excellent opportunity to collaborate with any institution in Norway on a teaching and research project. The Chair will research and teach within the areas of polar andarctic sciences and is expected to give public lectures, lead seminars and supervise/mentor Master's and PhD candidates. ​Sweden: All Disciplines Affiliate with any institution of higher education or research in Sweden. Applications are sought in all appropriate disciplines with preference for proposals on areas related to the Arctic region. Russia: All Disciplines Teach, conduct research or propose a combination of both in any area, including polarand arctic sciences. Scholars are encouraged to affiliate beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg. Additional opportunities can be found in Finland and Canada and the complete catalog of awards can found here. Our Application Guidelines provide helpful tips to reference during the process, and we are happy to answer any questions you or your colleagues may have. We also encourage you to explore and register for one or more of our webinars, which provide more detailed insight into various parts of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar program. A complete schedule of upcoming and archived presentations can be found here. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and the deadline for complete applications is August 3, 2015. Thank you for forwarding this announcement to your colleagues and we look forward to hearing from you. With best regards, Europe/Eurasia Fulbright Scholar Program Team Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) Institute of International Education (IIE) http://www.cies.org/us-scholar-programs	Photo courtesy of Suzanna Bräuer, 2014-2015 grantee to Finland Examples of Successful Past Projects  The Ice-Structure Interaction Problem: A Challenge to Arctic Engineering (Norway)  Transarctic Analysis of Aquatic Microbial Diversity (Sweden)  Linking Microbial Community Composition to Methane and Carbon Dioxide Flux: Assessing Climate Change from Boreal to Arctic Regions in Finland (Finland) "Through this Fulbright program, I was able to provide a small perspective on the potential of technology to improve our ability to understand the effects of climate change, fisheries, coastal habitats, and development in the High Arctic." ​ ~Mark Moline, Director, School of Marine and Science Policy, University of Delaware, U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Norway, 2011-2012 Stay Connected:

Fulbright Scholar Program
1400 K Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
The Fulbright Scholar Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is administered by CIES, a division of IIE.
If you wish to be removed from this group's mailing list, click here

Environmental Specialist Job Opening

DeKalb County Forest Preserve District 2015 Intern Opportunities in Natural Resources Management

2015 Intern Opportunities in Natural Resources Management

DeKalb County Forest Preserve District

DeKalb County Illinois

The DeKalb County Forest Preserve District carries out a broad range of ecological restoration and maintenance activities intended to address our core mission: acquire lands to “preserve, protect and restore the flora, fauna and natural beauties, as near as may be, in their natural state and condition, for the education and recreation of our citizens”.  Interns will assist and gain experience in all the routine activities of ecological restoration as carried out in the DeKalb County Forest Preserves.

It is anticipated that each position will be 4 or 5 days per week, potentially including some weekend work, from mid-May to mid-August.  This schedule may be adjusted, depending on the needs of the Forest Preserve District, the intern’s background and skills, or university requirements.  Be aware that many of the routine activities are often physically demanding.  The position pays $10.00 per hour.

Primary duties and activities:

1.     Invasive species control, including spraying (back-pack or vehicle mounted) or wicking herbicides, weed-eater operation, mowing, and hand-pulling.  Invasive species control is a frequent activity during much of the summer.  Cutting, hauling and burning brush may occur depending on seasonal conditions.

2.     Native plant community restoration and reconstruction, including planting, seeding, watering, weeding, barrier construction and predation control.

3.     Seed collection, and supervising groups of volunteers during seed collection activities.

4.     Assist staff with inventory and assessment activities including plant and animal identification, data collection, mapping and report preparation.

5.     Assist with monitoring and inventory of rare or endangered species.  This may include the use of telemetry and GIS equipment, and frequent wading in steams, marshes or ponds.

6.     Maintain a daily log, including activities and, as directed by the supervisor, plant lists.  The log will be reviewed periodically by the Natural Resources Manager.

7.     Other tasks, as assigned.  Occasionally, interns may be assigned to assist staff with tasks such as mowing, fence removal or construction, grounds maintenance or various other maintenance tasks.  Depending on intern skill sets, they may help guide tours or assist with educational programs.

Requirements:

1.      College student or recent graduate with education or background in biological sciences, forestry, ecology, botany, horticulture, environmental studies, or similar disciplines.

2.     Ability to carry out physically demanding tasks on a routine basis, while tolerating exposure to heat, humidity, insects, poison plants, and allergens.  In other words, working outdoors in native plant communities in Northern Illinois during the summer, all day long.

3.     Obtain an Illinois Pesticide Operator’s License through the Illinois Dept. of Agriculture.  This must be obtained within two weeks of hire, preferably before.

4.     Valid Driver’s license.

5.     Ability to work well with a team, as well as independently without direct supervision.

Preferred skills:

1.     A working knowledge of flora and fauna of northern Illinois or a strong interest in learning them.

2.     Basic digital age skills as applicable to natural resource management, including GIS, GPS mapping techniques, Microsoft Office Suite.

3.      Any experience with mechanized equipment is a plus: riding mowers, brush cutters, weed eaters, chain saws, Bobcat, tractor.

4.     National Wildfire Coordinating Group or Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Crew Training and a flexible schedule in March and April.

Applicants should submit a resume and contact information for two references by April 17, 2015 to:

                  Terry Hannan, Superintendent

DeKalb County Forest Preserve District

                  200 N. Main Street

                  Sycamore IL 60178

                  Or thannan@dekalbcounty.org

                  (815) 895-7191

Young & Seasoned Environmental Professionals Networking Event

The Lake Michigan State Section of the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA-LMSS) would like to invite you to a Young & Seasoned Environmental Professionals Networking Event on April 17^th at the IIT Chicago-Kent campus. For Students and Young Professionals, this is a great opportunity to network with Seasoned Environmental Professionals in a variety of fields. For Seasoned Environmental Professionals, this is an opportunity to check out Chicago’s up-and-coming talent!

Analyzing Earth Friendly Technologies: Studying Context, Culture and Design

FIND OUT MORE ON APRIL 12TH! INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR ON SUMMER COURSES: Analyzing Earth Friendly Technologies: Studying Context, Culture and Design

INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR: APRIL 12TH, 6 PM GMT (LONDON); 12 PM CST (MEXICO) Convert to your time zone RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Representatives from Engineers without Borders-UK, the Center for Appropriate Technology and Indigenous Sustainability (CATIS)-Mexico, theInternational Renewable Resources Institute (IRRI-Mexico) will be on the call to talk about the summer course and answer questions.  The Summer School explores the implementation of earth-friendly technologies in international development, considering social, technical and economic issues relevant to urban, peri-urban and rural contexts in Mexico. Find out more! See 2014 Summer School in Photos. Check out the presenters in our upcoming courses in the partner list below. Sign up for the webinar or schedule an individual call with the coordinating staff.