[DIALOGnews] DIALOG and DISCCRS News 02/03/2006
Susan Bennett
bennetsk at whitman.edu
Fri Feb 3 15:53:25 CST 2006
DIALOG and DISCCRS News
02/03/2006
************************************
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESOURCES
NSF FUNDING FOR IPY, INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR
U.S. National Science Foundation solicitation "International
Polar Year (IPY)" (NSF 06-534) has just been released: http://
www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf06534
SCIENCE NEWS
In a Lean Budget Year, A Pledge for Research
(see below)
Climate Expert Says NASA Tried to Silence Him
(see below)
OVER THE NORTHERN GULF COAST -- Last year's record hurricane season
didn't just change life for humans. It changed nature, too.
(see below)
Fish Tale -- 2 Pals Vie for Tiniest Find
(see below)
Conflicting Claims on Global Warming and Why It's All Moot
(see below)
Speaking Their Language: How to Communicate Better with Policymakers
and Opinion Shapers - and Why Academics Should Bother in the First
Place International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and
Economics Vol. 5 No. 4 December 2005 (381 - 386) by Geoffrey D. Dabelko
(see below)
SUMMER PROGRAMS, COURSES, INTERNSHIPS, MEETINGS, OPPORTUNITIES
Climate Change and Water in the Canadian Prairies
http://saskriverbasin.ca/conferences.html
JOBS
International Polar Year (IPY) Post-Doc opportunities, University of
Alaska
The University of Alaska will be offering 10 presidential IPY
postdoc fellowships The deadline for applications is the first of
April. http://www.alaska.edu/swacad/postdoc/
Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB)
(see below)
Post Doctoral Fellow Position at Canterbury University, New Zealand.
(see below)
Science Writers Wanted - VECO Polar Resources
(see below)
Two Senior Executive Service (SES) positions at NOAA.
(see below)
***************************************************
Resources
NSF FUNDING FOR IPY, INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR
U.S. National Science Foundation solicitation "International
Polar Year (IPY)" (NSF 06-534) has just been released: http://
www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf06534
The National Science Foundation solicitation "International Polar
Year (IPY)" (NSF 06-534) has been released: http://www.nsf.gov/
publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf06534
The "International Polar Year 2007-2008" (IPY) will extend from
March 2007 through March 2009. IPY is envisioned as an intense
scientific campaign to explore new frontiers in polar science,
improve our understanding of the critical role of the polar regions
in global processes, and educate the public about the polar regions.
Projects are expected to involve a pulse of activity during the IPY
period; have multi- and interdisciplinary scopes; leave a legacy of
infrastructure and data; expand international cooperation; engage the
public in polar discovery; and help attract the next generation of
scientists and engineers.
A number of NSF programs will respond to proposals for support of
IPY activities over the next several years. These are listed on an
IPY web page maintained by NSF's Office of Polar Programs (http://
www.nsf.gov/od/opp/ipy/ipyinfo.jsp). This list will be updated from
time to time and should be consulted when considering proposal
submissions.
In anticipation of IPY, the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) and
the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) have
identified special emphasis areas that will require preparation in
advance of IPY. The research emphasis areas are: ice sheet history
and dynamics; biological adaptations at the cellular and genomic
level to life in extreme cold and prolonged darkness; and the arctic
observing network. Proposed research activities must be integrally
related to one or more of these emphasis areas and adhere to the
guidance of the National Research Council's report "A Vision for the
International Polar Year 2007-2008" (http://www.nap.edu/html/
ipr2007-2008/0309092124.pdf), including specific significant linkages
to international activities.
The educational emphasis areas for this solicitation are: formal
science education experiences for K-12 teachers and undergraduate or
graduate students; informal science education for the broader public;
and coordination and communication for IPY education projects. In
addition to the educational activities normally integrated into
research proposals, this solicitation will consider standalone
proposals that specifically address one or more of these focus areas.
Proposals for IPY activities outside of these emphasis areas
should be directed to other solicitations from OPP and NSF. Related
programs are listed at the website above. Proposals submitted under
this solicitation may be co-reviewed with other NSF programs.
For further information, see the full solicitation at: http://
www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf06534
***************************************************
Science News
In a Lean Budget Year, A Pledge for Research
from the Washington Post (Registration Required)
With Washington bracing for an austere budget year, President
Bush last night proposed a 10-year, $136 billion initiative that
would double the federal commitment to basic scientific research and
train tens of thousands of new math and science teachers.
The president's "American Competitiveness Initiative" may lack
the ambition of last year's effort to dramatically reshape Social
Security, but in size and scope it dwarfs other domestic proposals in
health care and energy research that had been heavily promoted in the
run-up to the State of the Union address.
It was also welcomed by scientists, after two years of relative
austerity. The National Institutes of Health will absorb its first
spending cut in three decades this year; last year, the National
Science Foundation had to tighten its belt. http://tinyurl.com/a4e6p
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Climate Expert Says NASA Tried to Silence Him
from the New York Times (Registration Required)
The top climate scientist at NASA says the Bush administration
has tried to stop him from speaking out since he gave a lecture last
month calling for prompt reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases
linked to global warming.
The scientist, James E. Hansen, longtime director of the agency's
Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said in an interview that
officials at NASA headquarters had ordered the public affairs staff
to review his coming lectures, papers, postings on the Goddard Web
site and requests for interviews from journalists.
Dr. Hansen said he would ignore the restrictions. "They feel
their job is to be this censor of information going out to the
public," he said.
Dean Acosta, deputy assistant administrator for public affairs at
the space agency, said there was no effort to silence Dr. Hansen.
"That's not the way we operate here at NASA," Mr. Acosta said. "We
promote openness and we speak with the facts." http://tinyurl.com/ddp35
********************
OVER THE NORTHERN GULF COAST -- Last year's record hurricane season
didn't just change life for humans. It changed nature, too.
Everywhere scientists look, they see disrupted patterns in and
along the Gulf of Mexico. Coral reefs, flocks of sea birds, crab- and
shrimp-filled meadows and dune-crowned beaches were wrapped up in --
and altered by – the force of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Dennis.
"Nothing's been like this," said Abby Sallenger, a U.S.
Geological Survey oceanographer, during a recent flight over the
northern Gulf Coast to study shoreline changes.
For him, the changes are mind-boggling: Some barrier islands are
nearly gone; on others, beaches are scattered like bags of dropped
flour. http://tinyurl.com/ab2nd
********************
Fish Tale -- 2 Pals Vie for Tiniest Find
from the San Francisco Chronicle
A friendly international debate over the world's smallest fish
has turned into a biology lesson on why it pays to be tiny.
Two ichthyologists -- one in Seattle and the other in Switzerland
– recently claimed in separate scientific publications to have
discovered the smallest vertebrate animal ever known. And small they
both are.
One, discovered by Maurice Kottelat, the Swiss biologist, in the
acid water of an Indonesian peat swamp, is female and barely more
than a third of an inch long, or smaller than the eraser at the end
of a pencil. http://tinyurl.com/doxzg
********************
Conflicting Claims on Global Warming and Why It's All Moot
from LiveScience
A widely reported study last week said 2005 was the warmest on
record. But headlines failed to note that the results were not
concrete and a new study out this week challenges the findings.
Whatever the outcome, scientists say it is all moot: Last year
was surprisingly warm and the record will fall soon enough.
The latest result came Monday from the National Climatic Data
Center (NCDC), which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA). These are the folks that run the National
Weather Service. Their study concludes that the global temperature in
2005 can't be statistically distinguished from the record set in
1998. http://tinyurl.com/b2fud
********************
Speaking Their Language: How to Communicate Better with Policymakers
and Opinion Shapers - and Why Academics Should Bother in the First
Place International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and
Economics Vol. 5 No. 4 December 2005 (381 - 386) by Geoffrey D. Dabelko
Abstract: Scholars of international environmental politics who
want their work to affect policy must learn to speak and write in a
slightly different language – with extreme concision, an appealing
format, and ready solutions to pressing policy questions. While
communicating directly with policymakers and journalists can be time-
consuming and exasperating, the direct approach may be the only way
to rise above the din of the increasingly noisy marketplace of ideas.
Excerpt (p. 381): "...The competition for eyes and ears is
stiffer than ever. And many academics who are reluctant to stray
beyond the narrow bands of their disciplinary journals (or who are
afraid their research will be bastardized and mischaracterized by the
mass media) take that competition as confirmation that they should
let policymakers and journalists find them – not the other way
around. In many cases and for many issues of moment, however, such
withdrawal is a critical mistake. Communicating directly with
policymakers and journalists is not for all academics or researchers.
It is genuinely exasperating to be misquoted or read nuanced and well-
sourced scholarship that has been oversimplified and abused. But
scholars of international environmental politics who want their work
to play roles in policymaking – in the long term as well as the short
term – must go further than simply publishing books with academic
presses or articles in refereed journals. They must learn to speak
and write in a slightly different language – not in the cliche´s of
sound bites, but with extreme concision, an appealing format, and
ready solutions to pressing policy questions."
For a complete pdf copy please e-mail: jennmarlon at gmail.com
***************************************************
Summer Programs, Courses, Internships, Meetings, Opportunities
Climate Change and Water in the Canadian Prairies
http://saskriverbasin.ca/conferences.html
June 21-23, 2006 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Conference Themes:
Advances in Modeling Hydrological Processes
Advances in Modeling Socio-economic Response
Stakeholder Involvement and Public Risk Perception
Drought and Extreme Events in the Prairies
Watershed Planning and the Full Water Cycle
Agri-Food Systems and Irrigation Demand
Water Demands In Other Sectors (i.e. Forestry, Energy, Mining)
Policy Options Related to Change in Water Supply
Policy Options Related to Change in Water Quality
Institutional and Inter-jurisdictional Legal Issues
Comparative Lessons Learned (Canada and elsewhere)
From Policy to Practice
Submit your paper or poster abstract of 300 words or less to
jtr888 at mail.usask.ca with a title of 15 words or less and the names
and full contact details for all authors. Please identify the
conference theme most closely related to your contribution in your
email subject line.
Abstracts for papers and posters focusing on the topics listed
here will be reviewed and selected by the Program Committee, with:
Deadline for Abstract Submission: February 13, 2006. Authors'
Acceptance Notification: March 6, 2006. Deadline for Paper
Submission: June 8, 2006
***************************************************
Jobs
Planktonnet: Great listserv for aquatic-science jobs
To subscribe to the list, send an empty email to:
planktonnet-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
Or, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/planktonnet/ and click on
'Join this group'
Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB)
The Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
(IGB) in Berlin, Germany offers 6 job opportunities within an
interdisciplinary and international project on understanding the
dynamics of recreational fishing ...
The IGB is a member of the Research Society Wilhelm Gottfried
Leibniz (WGL) comprising 84 independent, non-governmentally based,
basic research institutes. IGB is devoted to study spatio-temporal
dynamics, structures and functions of freshwater ecosystems. From an
applied research perspective, the IGB has a major commitment to study
fish and fisheries systems including aquaculture and to develop
scientifically based principles for sustainable management. Two of
the five departments are exclusively dealing with fish and fisheries.
The IGB has an annual budget of more than 8 million, hosts 65 full
time scientists from various scientific disciplines such as fish
ecologists, fisheries scientists, hydrologists, chemists,
microbiologists, limnologists, 20 Ph.D. students depending on
external funding and about 60 administrative and technical employees.
Several experimental lakes, extensive laboratory facilities
practicing cutting edge molecular genetic and physiological methods
are available including a brand new wet lab constructed in 2005.
About 20 earthen ponds and several tanks and raceways are also
available together with a several field stations for aquatic
research. The institute is located in a water-rich landscape in the
highly vibrant German capital Berlin, Germany, next to the 700 ha
Lake Mueggelsee, and is in its form unique in central Europe. The
institute has close collaborations with all three Berlin universities
and is running a Masters Programme entitled Fishery Science and
Aquaculture at Humboldt-University of Berlin (http://www.agrar.hu-
berlin.de/studium/index_st_en.html). Therefore, scientific work
conducted at IGB can be submitted as a doctoral dissertation to one
of the Berlin universities. Heads of Departments typically are also
university professors.
Within IGB, the research group dealing with Sustainable
Recreational Fisheries Management lead by Dr. Robert Arlinghaus, has
recently been awarded a prestigious grant for the period
2006-2008/2009 entitled "Adaptive Dynamics and Management of Coupled
Social-Ecological Recreational Fisheries (ADAPTFISH)".
Within this program one post doc position and five PhD student
positions are now open.
All positions start as soon as possible and are limited to three
years.
1 Post doc position (Ref. nr. ADAPTFISH-1)- Integrative modelling
of fish-angler interactions at the landscape level.
1 PhD student position (Ref. nr. ADAPTFISH-2) - Institutional
conditions for sustainable governance of a transforming inland
fisheries sector.
1 PhD student position (Ref. nr. ADAPTFISH-3) - The complexity of
angler behaviour constraint by fishing quality and fishing regulations.
1 PhD student position (Ref. nr. ADAPTFISH-4) - Modelling the
ecological and evolutionary impact of size-selective recreational
fishing.
1 PhD student position (Ref. nr. ADAPTFISH-5) - Inducing
phenotypic and genetic changes in an experimentally harvested fish
stock.
1 PhD student position (Ref. nr. ADAPTFISH-6) - Effects of
angling on reproductive output and fitness in fish.
ADAPTFISH aims at analysing recreational fisheries from both a
social scientific and biological perspective including development of
integrative models investigating the interactions between anglers and
the ecological systems. The ultimate goals of ADAPTFISH are to
facilitate understanding of the complexity of fish-angler-
interactions, the angler behaviour per se and the potential
biological impacts of angling and to derive management implications
than can improve fisheries management in the future.
PhD students and the post doc will in principle be based in
Berlin (Germany). However, several national and international
partners are part of the program and students and the post doc will
be working closely with these partners in their home institutes
depending on the specific projects aims. Therefore, international
applications are highly welcome to this truly interdisciplinary and
international opportunity. This will ensure that the idea of
interdisciplinary and internationality will flourish for the benefits
of the students work and the advancement of recreational fisheries
science. It is also possible, depending on the students background
and network, to establish new collaborations and host the people at
least temporarily outside Berlin. It is also conceivable that
students attend a Ph.D. programme at an international university, but
answer research questions from Germany. In this case, significant
travelling will be involved, for which some funds are available as well.
The current partners of ADAPTFISH that serve as supervisor of the
students include leading research groups around the world such as the
International Institute for Applied Systems Analyses (IIASA) in
Laxenburg (Austria, Dr. Ulf Dieckmann), the Faculty of Agriculture
and Horticulture, Humboldt-University of Berlin (Division of Resource
Economics, Prof. Dr. Konrad Hagedorn), the School of Resource and
Environmental Management of the Simon Fraser University in Vancouver
(Dr. Wolfgang Haider), the Department of Biology of Carleton
University in Ottawa, Canada (Dr. Steven Cooke), the Leibniz-
Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin (Dr. Arne Ludwig)
and the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the
Polish Academy of Sciences (Prof. Dr. Andrzej Cierenszko), among
others. We are seeking collaborations beyond those if interesting
research questions emerge!
Further information for the positions can be obtained by
consulting http://www.igb-berlin.de/jobs/frameset/jobs_frameset.html
using the Link Fish Biology and Ecology. Questions on the positions
and the project are answered by Dr. Robert Arlinghaus at
arlinghaus at igb-berlin.de (Tel. +49-30-64181-653, see www.igb-
berlin.de/~arlinghaus for research interests) or by Dr. Christian
Wolter at wolter at igb-berlin.de (Tel. +49-30-64181-633).
Applications, quoting the appropriate Ref. nr., are to be sent
per regular post or email to the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater
Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Dr. Robert Arlinghaus, Head of research
group Recreational Fisheries, Mueggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin,
Germany and should ideally, not necessarily, arrive no later than
February 28, 2006.
Please spread the word among enthusiastic potential applicants
that would like to work or continue to work with recreational
fisheries issues! We look forward to receiving your application!
********************
Post Doctoral Fellow Position at Canterbury University, New Zealand.
Vacancy No: A027-06
Closing Date: 16 February 2006
Applications are invited for a fixed-term Post Doctoral Fellow
position to work on studies related to solar impacts on climate in
the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Canterbury University, New
Zealand.
The study will focus on the modulation of the atmosphere by
changes in solar forcing on short time-scales, particularly in the
upper stratosphere and mesosphere. This study will use a mixture of
chemical composition data provided by satellite instruments, dynamics
information provided by satellite instruments and the Scott Base MF
radar and Chemistry Climate Model (CCM) simulations.
The applicant will require a working knowledge of a high-level
programming language, such as C++, Matlab or IDL. Experience with the
analysis and handling of reanalyses data, satellite and radar
observations would be a significant advantage. This post will require
the applicant to visit Antarctica to help maintain the Scott Base MF
radar system and thus some knowledge of radar systems would be
beneficial. The successful candidate will possess a minimum
qualification of PhD or equivalent in atmospheric physics or a
related discipline. Funding is available for two years.
Enquiries of an academic nature are to be made to Dr Adrian
McDonald adrian.mcdonald at canterbury.ac.nz
For detailed information and to apply online visit http://
vacancies.canterbury.ac.nz or for further assistance regarding
applications please contact the Human Resources Administrator,
College of Science, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800,
Christchurch, New Zealand ph + 64 3 364 2290or email
hr at science.canterbury.ac.nz
********************
Science Writers Wanted - VECO Polar Resources
For further information, please go to: http://www.vecopolar.com/
Files/PDFs/VPRScienceWriters.pdf
VECO Polar Resources, the U.S. National Science Foundation's
arctic logistics contractor, seeks writers to contribute stories
about arctic science to its newsletter.
These short stories (1,000-1,300 words) explain generally the
research objectives, provide some information about the fieldwork
itself, and offer websites where readers can get more information on
the project. They are written with a lay audience in mind. Writers
are paid for their contributions.
Interested writers should send a statement of qualifications or
vita and writing samples to Kip Rithner (kip at polarfield.com).
For further information, please go to: http://www.vecopolar.com/
Files/PDFs/VPRScienceWriters.pdf
To see examples of the VPR Newsletter, go to: http://
www.vecopolar.com
********************
Two Senior Executive Service (SES) positions at NOAA.
NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research is looking for
qualified candidates for two Senior Executive Service (SES)
positions. Members of SES serve in key positions just below the top
Presidential appointees.
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Laboratories and Cooperate
Institutes
Location: Boulder, CO
Announcement Number: NOAA #06-03.NJH
Closing date: March 1, 2006
Link: www.usajobs.opm.gov (Click on "Search Jobs" and enter
announcement number)
Director, National Sea Grant College Program
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Announcement Number: NOAA #06-04.NJH
Closing date: February 27, 2006
Link: www.usajobs.opm.gov (Click on "Search Jobs" and enter
announcement number)
**************************************************
This newsletter has been developed by C. Susan Weiler to distribute
information of potential interest to recent PhDs engaged in
interdisciplinary aquatic science or climate-change research, and to
build an international sense of community among recent grads. It
provides an international forum for the exchange of information and
opinions regarding research, professional and social issues. The
views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the
funding agencies or sponsoring societies. Dr. Weiler reserves the
right to edit or reject material submitted to the list.
Please submit announcements of interest to recent PhDs to
phd at whitman.edu. Send a short message in the body of an e-mail
message, and link to any appropriate websites. Do not send attachments.
Moving? Send address changes to dialog at whitman.edu or
disccrs at whitman.edu
**********
C. Susan Weiler, Ph.D.
Office for Earth System Studies Tel: 509-527-5948
Whitman College Fax: 509-527-5961
Walla Walla, WA 99362
weiler at whitman.edu
Programs for Recent PhDs http://aslo.org/phd.html
DIALOG poster http://www.aslo.org/phd/dialogposter.pdf
DISCCRS poster http://www.aslo.org/phd/disccrsposter.pdf
Workshop Report, Meeting the Needs of
Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Graduates in a
Changing Global Environment
http://marcus.whitman.edu/~weilercs/biocomplexity/
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