Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Dekalb Environmental Intern Positions

Do you have a strong interest in protecting and improving the environment? Would you like to
implement practical strategies for making the City of DeKalb more environmentally sustainable? If
so, the Citizens' Environmental Commission (CEC), an advisory group to the DeKalb Mayor and
City Council, would like to talk to you about some exciting internship opportunities. We are looking
for several undergraduate or graduate students with a strong interest and commitment to
environmental improvement to work with the CEC and other City staff on one or more of several
projects designed to increase environmental sustainability in DeKalb.

What We Offer

Meaningful, career-enhancing experiences in specific areas of environmental protection and sustainability
Opportunities to work alongside a variety of dedicated and experienced individuals committed to environmental improvement
Hands-on experiences and insights into the workings of local government
Networking opportunities with professionals working in public and private organizations inside and outside of DeKalb
Practical opportunities for creative thinking and problem solving on a number of multifaceted environmental issues
A unique chance to make a difference in the quality of life for residents of DeKalb

What We Require

A major or concentration in environmental science, engineering, biology, social science, education, public health, or a closely related area at an accredited college or university
A strong interest, commitment, or familiarity with environmental protection and improvement
Strong written and oral communication skills
Knowledge and experience with social media
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
Good organizational skills and an ability to prioritize work assignments
Ability to work alone and with others of different backgrounds and educational levels
Creativity and flexibility

What the Internship Entails

Successful candidates for an internship will work under the supervision of one or more CEC
members on specific projects related to the implementation of the City of DeKalb Sustainability
Plan. These projects will include one or more of the proposed actions described in the Sustainability
Plan (see City's Website for more information). These are summarized below.
Internship work schedules can be flexible and therefore should be able to accommodate your
school and other work responsibilities. In most cases, specific assignments will be based on your
background and interests. At the present time, the internships are not paid, although the Commission
will be seeking financial resources to provide interns with modest honorariums for their work. Our
success in obtaining these resources, however, cannot be guaranteed.

Specific Action Plans

Implementing a practical means for communicating environmental policies and expectations to City employees
Developing a mechanism to reduce and monitor the use of paper at all levels of City operations, including the establishment of a green purchasing network
Establishing a "no-idling" policy for City-owned non-public vehicles
Implementing a program to monitor energy use by City departments, including a protocol for baseline and subsequent measurements
Encouraging residential use of high efficiency stoves, furnaces, and fireplaces through the development and use of promotional materials and other means
Promoting community efforts to create a "DeKalb Businesses Going Green Award" and implementing a "Green Leaf" program where residents select and rank local businesses for their green practices
Improving support and better communications between local farmers and businesses within the City so as to provide adequate food security for all DeKalb residents
Ensuring continued support for existing community gardens and establishing new community gardens in cooperation with DeKalb County Community Gardens
Educating the public with regard to seed gathering and seed exchange networks, while encouraging seed preservation and diversity in local and residential gardens and markets
Exploring the development of a regional food hub, commercial kitchen, and processing facility in DeKalb in cooperation and partnership with existing resources
Developing content for a web page in conjunction with the City's website to provide environmental and "green" information and resources for local DeKalb residents
Promoting community-based education on nutrition and healthy food preparation in partnership with Live Healthy DeKalb County
Promoting habitat preservation and restoration by private property owners through incentives and educational programs in conjunction with the City planning department
Coordinating programs informing residents of the benefits of native plants with local academic institutions and the University of Illinois Extension Office
Providing property owners with information on sustainable property maintenance practices
Educating the community on the impacts of run-off from washing cars at home
Investigating the establishment of codes for new developments in DeKalb that exceed the requirements of the current State of Illinois Energy Code
Encouraging planting of a greater variety and number of native trees and plants than current City codes require
Encouraging developers to use "linked development" that connects new residential or commercial development projects to either a housing or commercial redevelopment project in an older neighborhood
Promoting the use of recycling containers at public events
Encouraging greater opportunities for commercial and residential composting in DeKalb
Promoting better transportation efficiency and alternate forms of transportation in DeKalb
Encouraging better water conservation in DeKalb through educational means

How to Apply:

To apply for an internship with the Citizens' Environmental Commission (CEC), please contact:

Tim Holdeman, City Staff Liaison, CEC: tim.holdeman@cityofdekalb.com or 815-748-2332vironmental sustainability in DeKalb.

2017 Ocean Science Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program

Students in our REU program can choose to conduct research in Monterey Bay in the following areas (the list of research topics within each area is not exhaustive):

Marine Biology and Ecology (includes population ecology, kelp forest ecology, marine landscape ecology, marine microbiology, population genetics, ecophysiology and biomechanics)

Ocean Engineering (includes ocean robotics, autonomous underwater vehicle design, computer programming, scientific instrumentation development)

Oceanography (includes mathematical modeling of ocean currents, ocean-atmosphere interactions, ocean acidification and plankton ecology)

Marine Geology (includes deep sea canyon formation, coastal hydrology, seafloor mapping, coastal erosion, plate tectonics and marine biogeochemistry)

This year through, supplemental funding provided by NSF's Polar Division, we will also be able to support two additional students with remote access to current NSF research in the Arctic and Antarctic as part of their REU experience.

In addition to electing to work with mentors at CSU Monterey Bay, students can also elect to work with mentors at our Monterey Bay area REU partner institutions. These include:

Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

Moss Landing Marine Labs

Naval Postgraduate School

Students will be provided with a $5,000 stipend in addition to support for travel, room and board. REU students will also receive post REU support to attend conferences and in applying to graduate programs. The application portal will close on February 13th, 2017 at 11:59 PM PST. Our 10 week summer program will run from June 4th to August 12th, 2017. Additional program details can be found on our homepage: https://csumb.edu/reu

We especially encourage applications from student groups historically underrepresented in the Ocean Sciences and students with limited to no research experience. Preference is given to student applicants who are sophomores or juniors.

Please feel free to contact our REU email: reu@csumb.edu.

Franklin Energy Services, LLC Scholarship Program

Program Information

**This site will close after the first 125 applications have been submitted.** Franklin Energy Services, LLC has established a scholarship program to assist Engineering and Environmental Science majors entering their junior or senior year of college. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited four-year college or university of the student's choice.

This program is administered by Scholarship America, the nation's largest designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance and other education assistance programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals. Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability or national origin.

Eligibility

Applicants to the Energy Efficiency Experts of Tomorrow scholarship program must:

Be current postsecondary undergraduates entering their junior or senior year who are enrolled in full-time study at an accredited four-year college or university for the entire 2017-18 academic year.
Have declared a major of Engineering or Environmental Science.
Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).

Awards

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $5,000 award. Up to four (4) awards will be granted each year. Awards are not renewable, but students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Application Process

Start by clicking Register to Apply at the bottom of this page. You must read and agree to a consent statement, supply a unique and valid email address, and create a username and password.
Correspondence throughout the application process will be by email. Email messages will be sent to the username and email address registered when you created your account. Be sure to add franklinenergy@scholarshipamerica.org to your contacts or address book and check your email regularly!
Complete the application by entering data in the format described. Proper punctuation and standard capitalization (Jill Smith, 10 Main Street, New York, NY) must be used.
During the application process, you may leave the site prior to submission by clicking Save and Log out.
Once all application requirements are satisfied, Lock and Submit will be available near the bottom of the Review Application page.
Carefully review your application before clicking Lock and Submit. Once submitted, you will no longer have access to your application.
It is recommended that you keep a copy of your application for your records.
You will receive an email acknowledgment of your submitted application.

Required Documents

The following documents must be uploaded as part of your application.

A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Unofficial or online transcripts must display student name, school name, grades and credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
A completed Applicant Appraisal Form (click to view and print the form).

Program Deadline

The first 125 applications submitted will be accepted for evaluation. The program deadline is February 1, 2017, or when 125 applications are submitted, whichever comes first.

Note: Customer Service is available Monday thru Friday 7:00 a.m to 4:40 p.m. Central Standard Time.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience, statement of goals and aspirations, unusual personal or family circumstances, and an outside appraisal. Financial need is not considered.

Selection of recipients is made by Franklin Energy Services, LLC. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

Notification

Applicants will be notified in April. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of Franklin Energy Services, LLC. Payment is made in one installment on August 1.

Obligations

Recipients have no obligation to Franklin Energy Services, LLC. They are, however, required to notify Scholarship America of any changes in address, school enrollment, or other relevant information, and to send a complete official transcript when requested.

Revisions

Franklin Energy Services, LLC reserves the right to review the conditions and procedures of this scholarship program and to make changes at any time including termination of the program.

Contact us:

Email: franklinenergy@scholarshipamerica.org

Call: 1-507-931-1682 and ask for the Energy Efficiency Experts of Tomorrow scholarship program

Omprakash Global Internship

NIU Global Internship Program

The NIU Global Internship is partnered with Omprakash, a nonprofit organization that works to connect educational institutions with social impact organizations. Omprakash offers opportunities across over 150 global organizations in more than 40 countries.

The program works hard to resist problematic trends in “voluntourism” by challenging students to immerse themselves in communities and address personal biases and misinformed assumptions. The goal of these internships is to urge students to do more than simply experience a new culture. You will learn to thoughtfully consider the needs and struggles of diverse global communities through new relationships and dialogue.

The program is broken into two parts:

A one-week training course at NIU (1 credit)
Internship chosen from Omprakash network of organizations (credit varies)

Omprakash also provides students with personalized mentoring throughout the internship experience.

Upon completion of the internship, students will complete a collaborative, creative, research-based capstone project to share with their host organization, Omprakash and NIU.

For more information, contact Renique Kersh.

Graduate Scholarships in Solid Waste Research

Online Application Opens Thursday, December 1, 2016

The Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) is one of the largest sources of solid waste research funding in the U.S., allocating approximately $1 million annually in research grants and graduate level scholarships.

Thus far, over 50 students have been EREF scholars, many of whom are now in key academic and professional positions across the U.S.

Click here to access the application for the 2017-2018 academic year. The application deadline is May 3, 2017 at 5:00 pm (eastern). Click here to view a list of information/materials required for the application.

Applications will be considered from those who:

will be this year or are now a full-time master's or doctoral student, and
have a clearly demonstrated interest in solid waste management research. EREF defines solid waste management to pertain to municipal solid waste, construction & demolition waste, industrial waste (e.g. coal ash), WTE ash, etc. Note: this definition does not include agricultural wastes or wastewater treatment plant sludge.

Submissions must be made online.

All qualified candidates will be considered for scholarships without regard to race, religion, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, or disability. Applications from students outside the United States or studying abroad will receive equal consideration. Award decisions by the Environmental Research and Education Foundation and its directors are final and not subject to appeal.

EREF Scholarships recognize graduate students pursuing excellence in solid waste management research and education. Recipients are chosen based on credentials and potential contributions to the solid waste industry and its scientific community. Awards are based on:

Academic performance
Professional experience
Relevance of one's work to the advancement of solid waste management science
Potential for success

Award amounts consider the cost of tuition at the recipient's institution and any other funds received. Full scholarships may not be awarded to students who will be receiving full-tuition scholarships from other sources (excluding direct university assistance such as tuition remission or assistantship income) but may still be considered for partial awards.

Doctoral scholarships are awarded up to a minimum of $12,000 per year and paid monthly. Doctoral/post-doctoral scholarships are renewable each year to a maximum of three years from the initial award date. Master's scholarships are awarded up to a minimum of $5,000 per year and renewable each year to a maximum of two years from the initial award date. Scholarship renewal is dependent upon satisfactory progress as determined by the student's academic advisor.

EREF is a 501(c)3 class charity that funds and directs scientific research and educational initiatives for waste management practices to benefit industry participants and the communities they serve. www.erefdn.org

STAY CONNECTED