Environmental Studies Department

Environmental Studies Department Weekly Update

September 4, 2007

EARTH ISSUES/ EVENTS/ ANNOUNCEMENTS/ STUDENT JOBS AND INTERSHIPS

Earth Issues:

Monday, September 10 (12:30 in Kaufman 155)

Life after Dickinson: Career and Grad school info for ES Majors

Rachel Spier, Dickinson College Career Center

Tuesday, September 18 (12:00 in HUB SR 201-202)

Environmental Global Education Experiences

Students representing UEA, UQ and SFS

Events:

Tuesday, September 11 (7pm in Stern)

Global Warming, Based on An Inconvenient Truth

Lance Simmens, special assistant to Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell

Sponsored by the Clarke Forum

Thursday, September 13

Local Food Systems and Sustainable Land Management

Kim Miller, farmer and past president of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture

Announcements:

Ready or Not….it is that time of year again!!! The annual Environmental Studies Department Spring Picnic will take place at the new Dickinson College Farm. Jenn Halpin and Matt Steiman will host the picnic on Saturday, May 5 at 5:00pm. Transportation is available beginning at 4:45 and returning to campus throughout the evening. If you would like to attend the picnic, please RSVP by emailing Vallie Edenbo or stopping by Kaufman room 121 before Friday, April 26. Please indicate the following: Banner student ID number, Type of meal plan (traditional vs. flex) Would you like to donate extra meal points? How many? Would you like to ride in the vans? Are you van certified and willing to drive?

Student Jobs and Internships:

(For more information, see postings outside the ES department office)

Paid Summer Field Work with U-Penn Research on Carbon in Soils

The Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania has 3-4 paid summer positions available for field work in New England and Wisconsin for July and August. The project involves collaboration with the US Forest Service and is examining the role of land use history as a control on soil Carbon content of forest soils in these regions. Responsibilities include careful note-taking, excavation of quantitative soil pits, soil horizon designations, and field measurements of soil samples. Interested students should be in good physical shape and be able to work well in groups of 2-3 people. Field sites are accessed on foot over sometimes rugged terrain and may involve hiking 2-3 miles day-1. All room and board expenses are covered for the duration of the work. No prior field work experience or existing knowledge of soils is necessary but classroom experience with soils would be helpful. Interested students should contact James Bedison at,

Cornell University Field Program in Earth and Environmental Systems Spring 2008 - Hawai'i Island The Hawaiian Islands are an outstanding natural laboratory, where we explore a variety of ecosystems, examine their development over time, consider human impacts on plant and animal communities, and experience geologic processes such as active volcanism and seismicity. Participants gain hands-on experience as we probe the interaction between earth, ocean, atmosphere and biosphere. Courses include Earth systems science, biogeochemistry, marine ecology, Hawaiian history and culture, and an internship experience in the local community. The courses are field-based and taught by Cornell faculty from the Departments of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Eighteen semester credit hours are earned during the 17-week program, which begins January 14, 2008. The program is designed for any student majoring in science with a strong interest in Earth and environmental studies. Additional information is available on the project web site, http://www.geo.cornell.edu//hawaii/. Interested students should contact the program director at ; initial applications are due May 15, 2007.

Planning Positions ,Community Services Department, Allegany County, MD

The Planning and Zoning Commission of Allegany County is embarking upon a new planning initiative and is seeking qualified applicants to fill entry to mid-level Planning positions in support of that initiative. Over the next three (3) years, the County will be developing, coordinating and implementing up to nine (9) regional plans as part of the County’s Land Use Planning Process.

The County is seeking candidates to serve as either Planning Technicians or Natural Resource/General Planners. Successful candidates will provide planning, technical and administrative assistance in support of the development and implementation of the County’s Comprehensive Plan and other planning, transportation and land use initiatives. Successful candidates will be selected to fill positions as Planning Technicians or Planners, based upon experience and education. The review committee reserves the right to consider the applications of candidates who possess the appropriate work history and/or practical experience, but who fail to satisfy minimum educational requirements. Interested applicants should contact the Allegany County Office of Human Resources at 301/777-5979 for a full position description and a County Job Application.

DICKINSON BIODIESEL PROJECT INTERNSHIPS

At the Facilities Management building, students and staff make biodiesel fuel from waste fryer oil that is collected from local restaurants. The fuel is cleaner burning than petroleum diesel and helps reduce our campus's contribution to air quality problems and greenhouse emissions. Fuel produced in the plant goes to power the college garbage truck, lawn mowers, farm machinery, and other diesel equipment. Currently we are making about 50 gallons of fuel per week, and we may increase production this summer if we have enough staff. This same fuel can also be run in any diesel engine, so if students want to learn to make their own fuel for the future, this is definitely a good opportunity! The internship involves hands-on operation of the biodiesel equipment, as well as some research into new production techniques and other topics. This semester's interns are helping to develop process diagrams for the plant, and taking data to determine the energy balance (aka sustainability) of our project. They have learned the plumbing skills necessary to build the biodiesel reactor and other components, and have now reached a level where they can produce fuel with minimal supervision. We are also making soap and doing educational demonstrations. Matt Steiman, biodiesel site supervisor, can reached at the college farm at 717 243 5996 or email at for more information.

Internships in Environmental Consulting www.eaeast.com

Now Hiring Summer Crew Leaders

The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps is now hiring Crew Leaders to guide young people ages 16-24 in the completion of high priority trail construction and watershed restoration projects across the state of Vermont in both residential and non-residential settings. Please visit http://www.vycc.org/positions/summer_leader.html for more information about this position or to apply on-line. If you have questions, please contact Christa Finnern at 802-434-3969 ext. 136 or . .

Summer REU (Research Experience for Undergraduate Students)
http://sols.asu.edu/ugrad/reu/index.php
Undergraduate students are invited to apply for a summer fellowship program. This program is sponsored by the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, the Central Arizona Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research Program at Arizona State University in conjunction with the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University and the National Science Foundation. The program offers opportunities for exceptional undergraduate students to gain experience conducting individual research projects. Students will interact with other scientists, including other undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty who are conducting research in environmental biology in the American Southwest or in the urban ecological system of the Phoenix metropolitan area.

The Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team (ACCWT) Internships

Build job experience working with local, state and federal organizations and dynamic local leaders to improve water quality in Appalachia! ACCWT is looking for Summer Interns to live and work in low-income communities dealing with contaminated streams, depressed economies and other issues related to abandoned mine lands. ACCWT Summer Interns will spend 8 or more weeks working closely with local community watershed groups that have mobilized to alleviate these problems. Positions are filling up on a rolling basis – apply now! Please send your resume and a 1-page letter of intent to Savanna at or call 304-461-3131 for more details. Learn more about the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team at http://www.accwt.org.

Dickinson offers Grants to support Summer Internship Expenses

Summer internship support is available up to $3,000! For more information contact the career center or visit the website at: http://www.dickinson.edu/career/student/internshipgrant.html