News The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources

The Rubenstein School
of Environment and Natural Resources
News
Vol. XXV, No. 6, April 2004, The University of Vermont, www.uvm.edu/envnr
Aiken Center Greening Update
On Friday, March 12, 2004, a Greening Aiken Center Meeting was held.
To summarize, the day was an introduction of the design teams to our school, and a
tour of the building. Dean Donald DeHayes presented an overview of the school,
discussing the goals, future, and vision of The Rubenstein School. Gary Hawley
also presented to the design teams providing them with an overview of the Aiken
Center building. The next step will be the design team presentations to the RSENR
community.
Aiken Center Design Competition
The Rubenstein School
News, published monthly
from October through May,
is one of the school’s primary vehicles for keeping
students, faculty, and staff
informed. We publish news
and highlight coming
events, student activities,
and natural resources employment opportunities.
Copies are available in the
Aiken Center lobby and the
Student Resource Area (336
Aiken) in the Dean’s office.
http://www.uvm.edu/envnr
Editor:
Sara Lovitz, NRP ‘05G
218 Aiken Center
[email protected]
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Greening of Aiken
- Devra Davis
- The Rubenstein School
in Action
- Spring Break Trips
- Graduate Research
- Green Flash
- Undergrad Internship
- and more
WHEN: Monday May 3, 1 - 5p, and Wednesday May 5, 8:30am - 12:30pm
WHERE: Marsh Dining Hall
The entire RSENR community is invited to attend the Aiken Center Design Competition where four selected firms will be presenting their vision for the green expansion and retrofit of the Aiken Center. All attendees will be asked to evaluate the
designs and presentations. Refreshments will be served. One door prize will be
awarded each day. Come and be a part of this exciting time at The Rubenstein
School!
Environmental Author Devra Davis
Speaks to UVM Community
On March 25, 2004, Dr. Devra
Davis, Visiting Professor at Carnegie Mellon
University's Heinz School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, came to speak at the University of
Vermont as part of the Ecosystem Health
Seminar Series. Dr. Davis presented on the
themes in her new book entitled, "When
Smoke Ran Like Water--Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against
Pollution." Dr. Davis engaged the audience
with her multimedia presentation on health
problems caused by environmental contamination and hazardous materials. She began
with clips from an Emmy-winning documentary on the 1948 Donora Smog Emergency in
her hometown of Donora, Pennsylvania,
caused by the zinc factory operating in the
town. She also told stories of the 1952 London Smog, which caused thousands of deaths;
the Seveso, Italy, cloud of dioxin which
forced pregnant women to abort their pregnancies; the threats to polar bears in Norway;
the “disappeared towns” due to environmental contamination; and much more. Dr.
Davis discussed how daily exposure to low
levels of pollution contributes to a broad
spectrum of diseases, such as cancer, and
reported how industry and government have
continually hidden this information from the
public. What is needed to combat this pollution are “girlcotts” – the development of markets for healthier, more environmentally
friendly products. Dr. Davis closed with a
list of websites where further information on
these topics can be found.
Mike Dombeck to Speak at The
Rubenstein School
The April 8th Ecosystem Health Seminar
Series speaker is Mike Dombeck, GEM Pioneer Professor & UW System Fellow of
Global Conservation, Madison, Wisconsin.
His presentation entitled, "Conservation
Challenges for a New Century," will be held
in the Aiken Center, Room 104 from 12:301:45 p.m. Dombeck was the 14th chief of the
Forest Service under President Clinton and
spearheaded programs on water quality, sustainable forestry and road reduction.
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The Rubenstein School News
The Rubenstein School in Action
PUBLICATIONS
Ali, Saleem H. and Andrew Grewal (2004). "New Approaches to Mining in Kanaky / New Caledonia." Cultural Survival
Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 1.
Beekey, M. A., D.J. McCabe, and J.E. Marsden. 2004. Soft sediment colonization by zebra mussels facilitates invertebrate communities. Freshwater Biology 49:1-11.
Coons, K., D. McCabe, and J. E. Marsden. 2004. Effect of strobe lights on zebra mussel settlement and
movement. J. Freshwater Ecol. 19:1-8
Evelyn Wright and Jon D. Erickson, "Climate Variability, Economic Adaptation, and Investment Timing,"
International Journal of Global Environmental Issues 3(4): 357-368, 2003.
Evelyn Wright and Jon D. Erickson, "Climate Variability, Economic Adaptation, and Investment Timing,"
International Journal of Global Environmental Issues 3(4): 357-368, 2003.
Marsden, J. E., B. D. Chipman, L. J. Nashett, J. K. Anderson, W. Bouffard, L. E. D., J. E. Gersmehl, W.
F. Schoch, N. R. Staats, A. Zerrenner. 2003. Evaluation of the eight-year sea lamprey control program on
Lake Champlain. J. Great Lakes Res. 29 suppl. 1: 655-676.
McEvoy, Thom J. 2004. Positive Impact Forestry: A Sustainable Approach to Managing Woodlands. Covela, CA: Island
Press. Winner of the National Woodland Owners Award, Best Forestry Book 2004.
McLaughlin, R. L., J. E. Marsden, D. B. Hayes. 2003. Balancing the benefits of sea lamprey control with non-target effects: conceptual synthesis and policy development. J. Great Lakes Res. 29 suppl. 1:755-765.
Minteer, B., E. Corley, and R. Manning. Environmental Ethics Beyond Principle? The Case for a Pragmatic Contextualism. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 17: 131-156.
PRESENTATIONS
Assistant Professor Saleem Ali presented a paper at the Association of Social Anthropology in Oceania annual meeting in
Salem, Massachusetts on February 27, 2004, entitled, "The Ecology and Economy of Indigenous Resistance: Comparative
Perspectives of Mining in New Caledonia / Kanaky."
On Friday, March 26th, Lecturer Willard Morgan presented a workshop entitled "Glacial Geology in the Northern Forest
Region" at the Promise of Place Conference in Bethel, Maine. The conference was presented by The Northern Forest Center and The Center for Place-based Learning and Innovation, which is a project of Shelburne Farms, The Marsh-BillingsRockefeller National Historic Park, and the Conservation Study Institute.
Assistant Professor Jon D. Erickson, "I have seen the enemy, and he is an economist: economic lessons for the ecologically literate," Conservation Biology Seminar Series, University of Missouri, Columbus, MO, April 15, 2004.
Robert Costanza and Jon D. Erickson, "Measuring Quality of Life in Vermont," Research-in-Progress Seminar Series,
Center for Research on Vermont, UVM, Burlington, VT, March 8, 2004.
Cappelletti C.K., Bowden W.B. Poster presentation on Graduate Research Day April 2, 2004. Justification for Long
Term Whole Stream Metabolism in the Kuparuk River, Alaska.
Park Studies Lab Presents at Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium
The 16th Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium was held at Lake George, NY on March 28-30, 2004. Nearly 150
scientists, students and managers gathered at this year's symposium to report and discuss recreation and tourism related
research conducted in the northeastern region of the U.S. and beyond. Faculty, staff and students of the Park Studies Lab
presented several papers, including the following:
Lawson, S. and R. Manning. Describing, Monitoring and Managing Visitor Flows in Parks and Protected Areas Using
Computer-Based Simulation Modeling.
Laven, D. Emerging Trends in Park and Protected Area Management: An Exploration of the James Bay Region of Quebec.
The Rubenstein School News
Hallo, J., W. Valliere, M. Budruk, and R. Manning. A Comparison of Visitor Self-Reported Travel Routes
Positioning System-Reported Routes.
Budruk, M. and R. Manning. Crowding Norms on the Blue Ridge Parkway: A Test of Mediating
Variables.
Valliere, W., D. Laven, and R. Manning. The Structural Properties of Social Norm Curves: A Comparison
of Alternative Evaluative Dimensions.
Kyle, G., A. Graefe, and R. Manning. Variations in Place Attachment Along the Appalachian Trail.
3
and Global
Sarah Silverberg and
the UVM Gymnastics
Club became national
champions the weekend
of March 27th. UVM
beat out 40 other teams
MEDIA
from around the counThe Christian Science Monitor profiled Assistant Professor Saleem Ali's work in a special article on envitry. They also have the
ronmental peacemaking: http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0304/p14s03-stss.html
top club vaulter in the
The February 6th issues of California's Fresno Bee and Modesto Bee ran a feature article, “A Walk in the country.
Sarah is in
Park,” on the popularity of Yosemite National Park quoting Robert Manning, professor of natural resources and recreation management, regarding his studies on how visitorship at national parks impacts the the Rubenparks' natural areas.
stein
School’s
On March 24, 2004, the Center for Research on Vermont's public-access television partner, the Regional
Honors
Educational Technology Network (RETN), premiered Research-in-Progress Seminar #177, "Measuring
Program.
Quality of Life in Vermont," by Gund Professor Robert Costanza, Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, and Associate Professor Jon D. Erickson, Rubenstein School .
UPCOMING EVENTS:
MONDAY (4/19):
SPEAKER: DAVID ZUCKERMAN
-where: Aiken 104 -when: 12:30 – 2pm
THURSDAY (4/22): EARTH DAY!
-morning: MEDITATION
-afternoon: BEN & JERRYS’s ICE CREAM IN FRONT
OF LIBRARY
-E-Cars
CAMPUSWIDE POTLUCK and showing of BLUE
VINYL
-where: Redstone quad, by Slade -when: 7-10 pm
FILM SERIES: Women & PopulationTM
-where: CC Theater -when: 7:30-10pm
TUESDAY (4/20):
SPEAKERS: (to be determined)
-when and where: 427A Waterman from 12:30 – 2pm, also
Rowell 103 from 2-4 pm
FRIDAY (4/23):
ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR!
-where: Bailey Howe green (rain site: Billings)
-when: afternoon- when ENVS 2 presents their projects
FILM: BARAKA
-where: CC Theater
RECYCLED FASHION SHOW & DJ
-where: Billings North Lounge -when: 7-10 pm
EARTH WEEK 2004
-when: 7-10 pm
WEDNESDAY (4/21):
SPEAKER: JOHN TODD
-where: Aiken 104 -when: 12:30-2:00 pm
FILM SERIES: Women & PopulationTM
-where: CC Theater
-when: 7:30-10pm
ALL WEEK LONG (during the day): 9am-3pm
TABLE set up outside Bailey Howe library promoting
EARTH DAY:
-info. about all Environmental groups on campus
-VSTEP mugs
-Ben & Jerry's ice cream (on Thursday)
-A Mother’s Promise Campaign Petition sign up & info
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The Rubenstein School News
GREEN FLASH: Eco-Reps Promote Environmental Awareness in Residence Halls
By Tammy Coe
If you live in a UVM residence hall you may have noticed a fellow dorm-mate who has been
paying a lot of attention to your recycling bins and asking questions about your energy use. She’s not being nosey; she’s just doing her job as a UVM Eco-Rep.
The UVM Recycling Office and UVM Environmental Council are running a pilot program to
bring direct environmental education, action, and advocacy to students living in residence halls. Twentysix “Eco-Reps” were hired to work on projects in their residence halls during the spring semester. Erica
Spiegel, UVM Solid Waste/Recycling Supervisor, developed and now leads the Eco-Rep program, modeled after similar organizations at Harvard University and Tufts University. Tony Risitano, UVM Solid
Waste/Recycling and Gioia Thompson, UVM Environmental Council are co-coordinators with Spiegel.
The program was designed to promote ecological living through a consistent and continuous presence in the
residence halls. UVM undergraduate students are hired to inform their peers about environmental issues. Rather than
relying on Resident Assistants or volunteers, the program pays each Eco-Rep out of the Solid Waste budget of the
Department of Residential Life. This same budget covers the costs of trash removal and recycling collection. In theory, Eco-Reps promote environmental awareness to help reduce the costs of waste disposal and energy consumption,
thus financially benefiting the University and offsetting their wages.
Eco-Reps work 4 hours per week learning about environmental issues at UVM and working on specific projects in their dorm to promote ecological living. The group meets every other week to discuss the next topic, plan specific activities for the residence halls, and provide feedback on completed activities. The program is also designed to
be a learning experience for the Eco-Reps themselves. Each Eco-Rep is equipped with a 20-page manual to use as a
guide to the workings of UVM – from recycling and composting to water and energy use. They’ve also toured the
University’s central heating plant to learn how steam is used to heat our campus buildings. “The idea is that the EcoReps will have an understanding of where our resources come from and how we use them on campus,” said Spiegel.
Then they can get the same information across to their peers in simple messages. For example, the Eco-Reps are currently working on water quantity and quality issues. “Just getting across the understanding that we (Burlington) use
Lake Champlain for both our water supply and wastewater disposal is very important,” said Spiegel.
Some of the activities this past spring have included setting up an Eco-bulletin board with conservation and
recycling information, auditing the hall recycling bins, and advertising “UVM Unplugged Week,” which encouraged
students to unplug everything in their room before leaving for Spring Break. Eco-Reps also conducted a “Goldilocks”
survey in February where they went door-to-door asking residents if they were too hot, too cold, or just right. Unfortunately, many rooms were too hot, indicating inefficient use of energy resources. UVM residence halls are large old
buildings that were designed without local heat control. One of the challenges for the Eco-Reps has been to avoid
dwelling on problems beyond their control (ie. design and engineering problems) and instead focus on behavioral solutions – actions that individuals can take to live a more ecological lifestyle.
This semester the Eco-Rep program was run as a pilot program, but Spiegel plans to continue it next year and
is looking forward to hiring more undergraduate Eco-Reps and a graduate student to help coordinate the weekly tasks
and meetings.
MEET YOUR SPRING 2004 ECO-REPS:
Harris Hall:
Millis Hall:
Living & Learning:
Marsh Hall:
Austin Hall:
Tupper Hall:
Chittenden Hall:
Wills Hall:
Converse Hall:
Jeanne Mance Hall:
Mason Hall:
Simpson Hall:
Slade Hall:
Wing Hall:
Rob Booz, Keri Johnson, Aline Peterson
Amanda Daly, Virginia Foster, Ethan Joseph*
Jenna Agin, Stefan Hermannsson, Melissa Martin, Dan Merberg*, Micaela Zahner
Michael Pearson
Laura Krusheski
Gregory Hencir*, Kristen Simard*
Hillary Lowenberg, Nicole Youngwirth
Debora Lee Bedin
Sarah VonLehman*
Will McHale, Erin McKeon
Adrienne Moretti*, Flora Kohane
Amber Bennett
Josh Kowalski*
Trina Sams
*RSENR Students
The Rubenstein School News
I’ve got Georgia on my mind—A spring break trip
By Gautam Muralidharan
Spring Break 2004 for a few of us was going to
Georgia on Suzanne Levine’s wetlands field trip. Ryan Crehan (class Teaching Assistant)
had organized a trip that would
show us a little of everything
Georgia has to offer, and even
some of South Carolina too.
Spending time with
people like Chris Marsh, a naturalist with the Low Country
Institute and a former professor,
who gave us an interesting lecGeorgia group photo
ture on Pine cones (Piiiine cones,
in Southern-speak) and much of the natural history of the
Georgia at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, was very informative. Chris introduced the concept of reading the landscape, comparing the present composition to the historic
changes that lead to it and pointing out a few key concepts
and species that we should look for throughout our trip.
We also toured constructed wetlands with Dr. Eidson
at Phinizy Swamp. Dr. Eidson is head of the Natural Science
Academy and designer of the 360 acre constructed wetland in
Augusta, Georgia. This wetland treats 64 million gallons a
day of secondary treated wastewater from the municipal
wastewater treatment plant. The site has a strong education
component as well and draws birdwatchers and local residents. In addition, we met some of Ryan’s friends, such as
Casey Storey a fish biologist with the University of Georgia,
who did some fish sampling with the class. Through these
experiences and others, we learned about the natural history
of the wetlands that make up much of Georgia, the management of uses of wetlands and fire (which is an integral part of
the ecological processes of the region), and much more about
the species composition of these wetlands.
The days we spent on Sapelo Island were also very
5
educational thanks to Jon Garbisch, who runs the University of
Georgia research station there, as
well as being good for our collective tans. Added to this we also
learned about former rice plantations, many interesting anthropological facts, freshwater tidal
marshes, and also old growth cypress stands.
The Okefenokee Swamp
was a magnificent part of the trip
as well. We began at the boat
Cypress Tupelo Swamp
launch, and planned to go right
into the heart of this huge wetland. Several alligators, an out
of the ordinary floating lunch, a juvenile pygmy rattlesnake
and seven miles canoeing upstream later, we arrived at our
final destination - a 20 x 30 platform on the stream bank in a
small (pseudo) clearing. We spent a night under the shed as it
rained. Some of us were a little uncomfortable with the mice
in our sleeping bags, but the only alternative would be to
sleep in the water, which certain unnamed elements did!
Honorable mention must go to canoe # 9, Holden
and Mark, for being such sports. A special thanks to Sir Mixalot for providing much entertainment during our drives. I
don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to my next
field trip.
All in all this was
an amazing experience, exposing us to the real beauty
of wetlands and their flora
and fauna. If this article has
perked your interest in the
field trips, look out for possible follow up articles, or
better yet, take the dive and
go on one yourself!
Canoeing in the Okefenokee
Five Wildlife Fisheries and Biology (WFB) faculty members and 11 graduate students spent spring break in the classroom
learning about estimation procedures for animal populations. This was a Faculty Development Workshop arranged by Professor Terri Donovan and funded by the Dean's Office. Look for more about this and other spring break study trips to Belize,
Texas, and Maine in the May newsletter!
Alternative Spring Break—Florida
By Blake Rainville
I led an ASB trip over Spring Break. We did a week
long community service project with the Nature Conservancy
and Florida State Parks. We worked on different environmental projects that included things from trail maintenance to
beach clean up to planting wiregrass.
On Tuesday of Spring Break, we planted wiregrass
plants for the Nature Conservancy. We seeded the plugs
which would then go to the nursery. Once they grew some
more, they would be transplanted into the ground so the plug
could get used to the sandy soil climate of the region. The
wiregrass plant is a good plant to put in median strips on the
highway because it is such a strong plant and will spread
quickly with the use of fire.
On Wednesday, we pulled a culvert out of a ravine
because it was blocking the flow of water. On Thursday, we
cleaned up a beach on Dog Island. While there, we saw two
osprey nests with both a male and female in the nest. We also
saw a mature and immature bald eagle on the island. While
going to rope off some of the Snowy Plover nests that were on
the island, we had dolphins guiding us along. On Friday, we
helped finish a bridge project over a creek.
It was a busy but productive week with ASB!
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The Rubenstein School News
Focus On Internships:
Jennifer Fullerton, Senior, Environmental
Science & Wildlife Biology
Massive mountain ranges, wetlands, waterfalls,
grizzly bears, salmon runs, and bald eagles were only the
beginning to a wonderful learning experience
in northwest British
Columbia. This previous summer I worked
as a student research
assistant with Round
River Conservation
Studies. Round River
is an organization
based out of Salt Lake
City, Utah that works
with native peoples,
Kuthai Lake Scenic View
environmental organizations, and government agencies to gather ecological data
applied in conservation planning.
Our work was located in the Taku River watershed
within the Tlingit First Nation’s traditional territory. The
watershed encompasses 4.5 million acres in northwest B.C.
and southeastern Alaska. Though it is the largest roadless
wilderness watershed on the North American western shore,
it currently has no official protected status. However, the
area is ecologically significant, as it contains the highest
diversity of salmon species in North America.
Thus, the Taku River Tlingit First Nations
(TRTFN) worked with Round River to complete a Conservation Area Design (CAD). The CAD helped to form a
framework for a territory land plan as well as guidelines for
proper community-based management decisions. These
conservation efforts have also been in response to a proposed cyanide leach gold mine on the lower Taku River
which includes a 99-mile access road into the watershed.
The CAD provides a science-based outline for identifying and prioritizing areas for sustainable conservation
based on biological values and threats. The focal species of
the CAD include: grizzly bear, all five salmon species
(keystone species), lynx, amphibians, trumpeter swan,
moose, woodland caribou, mountain boat, and stone sheep.
Our job was to field validate the CAD through vegetation
surveys. Government data sets as well as traditional ecological knowledge were also used
in generating the CAD.
In addition to vegetation surveys, I helped with
an on-going study of the grizzly bear population. We used
non-intrusive sampling
through hair collection. The
hair samples were used to get
a DNA “fingerprint” for each Research crew at the field camp.
bear, further enabling estimates of population size to be
made. Hair samples of black bear were also collected. During my stay, we spotted 29 grizzlies and 8 black bears. Our
field camp was right along the Nakina River next to a bear
trial. Needless to say, we saw quite a few at a close distance!
Our crew was privileged to have a 73 year old
Tlingit elder, Jackie Williams, at our field camp. The fact
that our camp was very primitive (since it was a 3-4 day hike
from the nearest town of Atlin) did not hinder Jackie in the
least. He had lived out in the area his whole life, up until
recently. The final aspect of our work was to record his traditional ecological knowledge and native stories so a permanent record would be available.
This past summer was one of the most memorable
and valuable
throughout my
career at UVM.
Not only was I
able to apply
knowledge that
I have gained
here at UVM,
but I learned a
immense deal
too. The greatest aspect of the
program was
that the learning Jennifer working in the wetland.
extended from the academic to the cultural and social. Overall it was a life changing experience!
Save the Date: May 5, 2004
The plans for this years community celebration are set and tickets will be going on sale soon. This year the event
will be held at the ECHO center, where we will have access to the entire facility. The Rubenstein School Community Celebration is a great event where the entire community can come together and have a good time. There
will be plenty of fabulous door prizes and Undergraduate and Graduate student awards will also be presented. The event will go from 6-9pm and those who are interested can stay as late as 11pm. We have arranged a
great dinner menu and a fairly priced cash bar, which will be open until 11. Watch the the tables in front of the
student lounge for ticket sales and for the sale of the new RSENR logo Nalgene Bottles.
The Rubenstein School News
Focus on Graduate Research:
Caroline Hermans
Multicriteria Decision Analysis in watershed-scale
land-use planning
Caroline Hermans, with her advisor, Jon Erickson,
is working on two projects in New York and Vermont involving the use of multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA)
in watershed-scale land-use planning. These projects involve
planning problems on a multi-gradient watershed scale involving multiple decision-makers with diverse values and
conflicting objectives. They employ a combination of
MCDA and conjoint analysis tools to help shape the decision process. The tools are used as they best mirror the reality of the decision problem, yet provide more quantitative
support than negotiation/conflict resolution techniques
alone.
In the Dutchess County, New York project, the
struggle decision makers are facing is how to achieve watershed level economic and environmental policy where no
watershed level governing authority exists. This project is
funded by the Hudson River Foundation.
In Vermont, Caroline is investigating forestownership and management issues in the White River watershed of east-central Vermont. As in the New York project,
the stakeholders have diverse and conflicting views over
forest-ownership rights and responsibilities, and municipalities are struggling with designing watershed-inclusive man-
7
agement and policy options. This project is funded by a
Northeast States Research Cooperative (NSRC) grant.
Caroline’s research looks at how effective decisions are made at the watershed scale in environmental planning conflicts that involve multiple stakeholders and decision-makers. “Effective decisions” are defined as decisions
that are made collaboratively, that are made using a transparent process, that have buy-in from all stakeholders, that
are operational on the given scale, that consider all necessary criteria, and that are reached with the understanding of
the stakeholders in the process. “Ineffective decisions” are
those made in a ‘black box,’ with little participation from
stakeholders, that do not consider all aspects of the decision
problem (i.e. focus is only on economic or biological issues), and that are unoperational on the necessary scale (due
to lack of stakeholder participation from the outset). An
operational decision is less likely if the stakeholders who
will need to operationalize the decision are not involved in
making the decision. Stakeholders are less likely to be involved in the process if they do not understand the process.
An effective decision is less likely if all the necessary criteria are not considered.
Another focus of these two projects is stakeholder
preferences and 1) how to elicit preferences, 2) how they
change and are formed as disparate information is synthesized during a decision process, and 3) how individual preferences are shaped by a group process.
dues, and trash. The organic residues are then collected and
transported to the plant. Once there, the residues move
through a conveyor belt where they get inspected for traces
In a country where people's desire to improve their of plastics and other impurities. Then they fall into a chopper, which reduces the waste into 2mm pellets. While in the
life is stronger than corruption and war, I was inspired to
chopper, microorganisms are added in order to aid decomlearn about a groundbreaking
position. These microorganisms are kept in 1000L containproject: the first organic waste
ers, and are fed with a mixture of a lactose derivative and
processing plant in the region. I
soy flour.
had the opportunity to visit this
The waste is then transported by wheelbarrows to
composting plant when it was
the production piles. Underneath the piles runs a system of
constructed in 2001 in Puente
Nacional, which is a province of pipelines with ducts that circulate charcoal- heated air
throughout the organic matter. After two weeks, the prodSantander in Colombia. The
uct is taken to the drying area, where it is heated to achieve
town is located in the northern
Andes Mountains. Its population a relatively low humidity. The dry organic mulch is then
Conveyor belt the organic waste is
made ready for transportation
is 18,000 hardworking, liferun thru for a last inspection before it
and packaging.
loving individuals. It is rich in
gets chopped up.
There are currently
hydrological resources, and is an
projects to convert the surecotourism destination.
The composting plant processes the organic waste roundings of the plant into an
of five towns. It employs 100 people every month. It trans- ecological park. It is necessary
forms 45 tons of waste into 8 tons of organic mulch weekly. to have support from both politicians and the community in
Part of this mulch is given to low income, female headed
order to keep this composting
households and organic farmers.
project running.
To begin the process, the citizens of Puente are
Composting piles, where waste deobligated to sort their waste into recyclables, organic resicomposes for two weeks.
Environmental Leadership in the Third World
By Natalia Fajardo, 2006, Environmental Science
8
The Rubenstein School News
Help Wanted
The following is a sampling of positions listed at The Rubenstein School. Job postings are updated daily on the Job Board outside the
Dean’s office in the Aiken Center and weekly on the web at http://www.uvm.edu/envnr/?Page=employment/help_wanted.html. For
further information contact: Jan Spencer, Career Services Coordinator, 336 Aiken Center, 656-3003, email: [email protected]
INTERNSHIPS
INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE AT THE TOXICS
ACTION CENTER IN BOSTON, MA. Positions
are available in Boston, Portland, ME, West
Hartford, CT, and Montpelier, VT. If interested,
send a resume and cover letter to: Melissa Brandt,
Toxics Action Center, 29 Temple Place, Boston,
MA 02111, or email to [email protected]
SEASONAL BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIANS
ARE NEEED FOR A PROJECT IN COLORADO. Duties include surveying birds, assessing
vegetation, inspecting project improvements, and
assessment of project sites. If interested, send a
resume, cover letter, and three letters of reference
with phone numbers to: Heather Tipton, Project
Biologist, 1510 S. College Ave. Ft. Collins, CO
80524 or email to [email protected]
A SPECIES CONSERVATION INTERNSHIP
IS AVAILABLE WITH THE DEFENDERS OF
WILDLIFE IN WASHINGTON, DC. Duties
include conducting research, drafting fact sheets,
and much more. If interested, send a cover letter,
and resume to: Sharon Wilcox at [email protected] (I235)
SUMMER RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
NEEDED FOR A MARINE ECOLOGY PROJECT. Duties include assisting professors, fellows, technicians, and graduate students in research on ecosystem dynamics along the West
Coast. If interested, send a cover letter, resume,
dates of availability, other pertinent information,
copy of transcripts, and the names an contact
information for three references to: Jennifer Britt,
PISCO Program Manager, department of Zoology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University,
Corvallis OR 97331-2914, or email [email protected] (I248)
FIELD RESEARCH ASSISTANTS ARE
NEEDED IN VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC.
Duties include surveying for butterflies and
plants, capturing and sampling adult butterflies in
flight, and rearing of caterpillars. If interested,
send an email containing a resume, the names and
contact information for two references, and one
or two paragraphs explaining interests, goals, an
reason for wanting to participate to [email protected] . For more information visit
www.nd.edu/~hellmann (I250)
MISSISSIQUOI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE CONSERVATION INTERN, SWANTON,
VT. Conduct Important Bird Area monitoring
activities including endangered species monitoring and management (osprey, black tern, and
spiny soft-shelled turtle), marshland bird work;
neotropical migrant research, breeding bird atlas
work; independent research project and outreach.
Minimum 20 hours per week with stipend de-
pendent upon funding. Contact: Mark LaBarr at interest to: Phaedra Budy, Department of AWER,
(802) 434-3068 or [email protected]. (I265) Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-5210
or email [email protected] (B214)
PARK RANGER I-IV, VERMONT STATE
PARKS, VERMONT. Serve as summer ranger
RESEARCH ASSISTANT IS NEEDED AT THE
responsible for management and supervision of
ECOSYSTEM CENTER AT WOODS HOLE,
park operations and maintenance. Pay grades
MASSACHUSETTS. Duties include field measdepend upon park size, complexity of operations, urements, initiation and maintenance of laboraand use. Weekend and evening work required.
tory experiments on CH4 uptake kinetics, and
$449.76 - $620.64 per week. Contact: (802) 241- preparation of samples for molecular studies. If
3655 or get application at www.vtstateparks.com interested, send a cover letter, CV, transcripts,
and the names and contact information for three
reference to: Marine Biological Laboratory,
PARK NATURALIST I OR II. VERMONT
STATE PARKS, VERMONT. Serve as summer ATTN: Human Resources, reference code [RAI
PM], 7 MBL Street, Woos Hole, MA 02543-1015
naturalist at one or two state parks. Develop,
or email [email protected] (B219)
schedule an carry out nature programs, hikes,
recreation programs, etc. Prior related education
and experience required. Requires working split
PHD RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP IS
shift schedules, weekend and evening work.
AVAILABLE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
$9.37 - $9.76 per hour. Contact: (802) 241-3655 MAINE, ORONO. They are seeking students
or get application at www.vtstateparks.com.
with strong interests in carnivore ecology, modeling species-habitat relationships, and GIS. If
interested, contact Daniel J. Harrison, Professor,
BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIRED
Department of Wildlife ecology, 5755 Nutting
A BOTANIST/ECOLOGIST POSITION IS
Hall, Room 230, University of Maine, Orono,
AVAILABLE FOR THE SPRING AND SUMME 04469-5755, or email HarriMER OF 2004 WITH THE CALIFORNIA [email protected] (B220)
TIVE PLANT SOCIETY. Duties include conducting field surveys in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, collecting vegetation, identifying vascular
MASTER’S DEGREE REQUIRED
plants to the species level, and more. If interested, STAFF SCIENTIST/FOREST HYDROLOGY,
ADIRONDACK LAKES SURVEY COMMISsend a cover letter, resume, and the names an
SION, RAY BROOK, NY. Responsible for
contact information to: Anne Klein, Vegetation
hydrologic monitoring and data analysis for the
Ecologist, California Native Plant Society, 2707
Adirondack Long Term Monitoring Program.
K Street, Suite 1, Sacramento, CA 95816, Attn.
Design a hydrologic monitoring strategy and be
Application for Sierra Foothills Positions. Or
responsible for its implementation. For further
email [email protected] (B187)
information see: www.adirondacklakesurvey.org
THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE ORGANIZASend resume, list of publications, statement of
TION HAS PROVIDED INFORMATION
professional goals and names of three references
ABOUT THREE EXCELLENT OPPORTUNIto Monica Schmidt at: Adirondack Lakes Survey
TIES IN VARIOUS FIELDS AND LOCACorporation, c/o NYS Dept. of Environmental
TIONS. The positions available include the folConservation, Rt. 86, PO Box 296, Ray Brook,
NY 12977 or email
lowing: program coordinator of the Alaska
[email protected] (M64)
Conservation Alliance. Duties include creating
and organizing outreach programs to promote
ACA in the community, and much, much, more!
If interested, email, fax or mail a resume and
PhD REQUIRED
cover letter to: Alaska Conservation Alliance 810 THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN HAS A
N Street, Suite 203, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, or POSITION AVAILABLE FOR AN ASSISfax to (907) 258-6177 or email to
TANT OR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF [email protected] ; A second or third opportu- ESTRY. If interested, send an application letter,
nity is available with Grist Magazine to fill the
resume, university transcripts, three letters of
reference, a statement of teaching philosophy and
positions of assistant editor or development
a statement of scholarly interest to: Dr. Richard
director. If interested, visit
http://www.gristmagazine.com/about/jobs.asp
L. Geesey, Chair, Forestry Search and Screen
Committee, College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Steven Point, Stevens Point,
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS
WI. (PhD56)
ARE AVAILABLE IN LOGAN, UTAH WITH
THE DEPT. OF AQUATIC, WATERSHED,
AND EARTH RESOURCES AT UTAH STATE
UNIVERSITY. If interested, send a CV/resume,
reference list, informal transcripts, and a letter of