Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Help with the AU Community Garden!


Garden Workdays
Wednesdays from 10 AM to Noon
Fridays from 2:30 to 4
Sundays from 10 AM to Noon
AU Community Garden, near the tennis courts behind Leonard and Bender

Join us for some outdoors fun, while connecting with our food, meeting other gardeners and good veggies. No prior gardening experience needed, just come!

Sign a petition to help stop seismic air gun testing!


Long Live the Whales: Help Stop Seismic Air Gun Testing
Wednesday, Oct 24 and Thursday, Oct 25 from 2 to 4 pm
Tables outside of MGC

Seismic airgun testing is used by oil companies to find deep pockets of oil in the sea floor. The blasts from the airguns occur every 10 seconds, 24 hours a day, for weeks at a time. Seismic airgun testing is planned to occur in the Atlantic next year and must be stopped! It has the potential to hurt our fishing industry and injure over 100,000 marine animals, including the critically endangered right whale.  
      Oceana and Eco-Sense will be tabling outside of MGC this Wednesday and Thursday from 2-4 collecting photo petitions to stop seismic airgun testing.  Come out, take a picture, stop seismic airgun testing!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Fall 2012 Film Series


The 8th Annual Fall 2012 Film Series
Hosted by Chris Palmer and Justine Schmidt

Free and Open to the Public
No Reservations Required
___________________________________________________________

Wechsler Theater, 3rd Floor, Mary Graydon Center
American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-8017
Metro: Tenleytown/AU, shuttle bus service bus service to AU

For more information, please contact:
___________________________________________________________


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23 at 7 PM
Alexandra Cousteau’s Expedition Blue Planet
A National Geographic “Emerging Explorer,” filmmaker, and globally recognized advocate on water issues, Alexandra Cousteau continues the work of her renowned grandfather Jacques-Yves Cousteau and her father Phillipe Cousteau, Sr. Tonight, Alexandra talks about her stories and films from expeditions across North America and throughout the world.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30 at 7 PM
Stories from the Wilderness
SOC grad film students Sarah Gulick and Sylvia Johnson were on a mission last year: to go into National Park Service Wilderness areas and bring back stories from the wild. Working with the National Park Service's Wilderness Stewardship division and the Harpers Ferry Design Center through a special arrangement with SOC's Center for Environmental Filmmaking, Sylvia and Sarah braved the elements and brought back six stories from the wilderness. Join Sarah and Sylvia along with the National Park Service's Chief of Wilderness Stewardship, Garry Oye, and Producer Chuck Dunkerly for a screening of these short films and discussion about the role of film in protecting wild lands.


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 at 7 PM
Classroom in the Wild: Film Screening Followed by Q&A
Come and hear first-hand about the extraordinary experiences of Classroom in the Wild in the Chesapeake Bay and Alaska. This past year, students ventured into the outdoors to produce original short films. In a presentation of photos, videos, and student accounts, you will learn more about these unique courses as well as future opportunities to practice environmental filmmaking with Classroom in the Wild in 2013.


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 at 7 PM
National Geographic’s Television Film War Elephants
One of National Geographic’s top writer/producers, David Hamlin, shows clips from War Elephants and discusses the stories behind the film. In Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, elephants are in crisis. Years of civil war and ivory poaching have left them frightened and hostile toward humans. The world’s foremost elephant researcher Dr. Joyce Poole works to build trust and retrain the animals away from their violent behavior.


TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 at 7 PM
Sneak preview of two documentaries produced by AU students for MPT and PBS
The documentaries - conceived, written, produced, shot, directed and edited - by students in Environmental & Wildlife Production (COMM 568), will air during MPT's Chesapeake Bay Week next April.  The films focus on net-zero housing and the health of the Potomac River. Professor Sandy Cannon-Brown and her students will introduce the films and answer questions.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Serving up Justice, Oct 24



Serving Up Justice
“Integrating the concepts of Equity and Justice into the Sustainable Food Conversations”

A Panel Discussion Featuring:

l


Wednesday, October 24, 11:00am -12:30pm
McDowell Formal Lounge




Sunday, October 14, 2012

Electoral Campaign Opportunities

If you are interested in working to protect the environment, gaining campaign experience, and helping to re-elect President Obama and to elect Tim Kaine to the U.S. Senate, we have a great opportunity to work as a member of our campaign staff. The Falls Church office of Work for Progress is working with Environment Virginia and Environment America Action Fund to educate and turnout voters in the key battleground state of Virginia. 

As a member of our campaign staff, you'll be a part of the fight to educate voters on critical environmental issues, re-elect President Obama, elect Tim Kaine to the U.S Senate, and ensure that our core environmental values and our families’ health are protected in Washington.

Work for Progress:
Work for Progress was started by a group of committed activists in the early part of 2008, to help activist-minded jobseekers connect with progressive campaigns and organizations. In the excitement of the presidential primaries, it became clear to us that individuals who wanted to engage in the political process needed one place to find jobs with progressive campaigns and organizations.

Environment Virginia:
Environment Virginia is a statewide, citizen-based grassroots field and advocacy organization. We’re all about clean air, clean water and protecting special places. From protecting and expanding Shenendoah National Park to getting wind turbines spinning off our coast we’re working for a cleaner, greener and healthier future. Through door-to-door canvassing and grassroots lobbying we press local and national government to do its job and protect the environment.

Paid Campaign Opportunities:

Canvasser
Canvassers with Work for Progress join a long history of people who have used the powerful tool of canvassing to make a difference in our world. You are the next generation of unsung heroes of past movements for women's suffrage, promoting civil rights, and halting the nuclear arms race. Canvassers on this campaign will work to expand the mission of Environment Virgina to promote clean air, clean water and protect special places. A canvasser’s basic mission is straightforward: knock on doors in key communities to identify, persuade, and mobilize as many citizens and volunteers as possible to support the campaign.


Field Manger
Field managers work closely with the canvass director to meet the goals of the office and have an even bigger impact on our campaigns. You will gain experience organizing the daily logistics of canvassing to ensure that we are reaching out to as many citizens as possible to win our campaigns. You will also gain valuable skills that you can put on your résumé, such as overseeing the canvass in particular towns or districts, managing 3-5 people every day, helping us to maintain financial integrity through good record-keeping and helping to implement the non-canvassing components of office visibility strategy (media, coalition- building and petitioning).

Opportunities are available here in Falls Church from today thru November 6th.  To apply call: 703-798-8548.  Or go to our website at:  www.EnvironmentVirginia.Org/Jobs.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Run a Summer of Solutions or Local Initiative with Grand Aspiration, Apply by Oct 19!

Summer of Solutions is a leadership development experience for young people ages 14-30 to build justice, community, sustainability, and prosperity.

  • Summer of Solutions programs take on a variety of projects, including but not limited to founding businesses, launching farms, running summer camps, conducting listening projects, and partnering with local residents, nonprofits, and governments. 
  • Realms of work for programs in the past have included energy efficiency, clean energy, local food, sustainable transit, green manufacturing, community empowerment, alternative education, and economic justice. 
  • All Summer of Solutions programs share a focus on empowering young people to be leaders in a just, green economy. 
  • Summer of Solutions programs take place between June and August and are usually between 7-10 weeks long. The planning process begins in late October.  
Local Initiatives of Grand Aspirations are new this year.
  • The structure of Local Initiatives is designed to provide the same support and network to year-round green economy work that Summer of Solutions get for summer-focused work. 
  • Local Initiatives may include an element of leadership development, but do not have to.  
  • There is a ton of room for creativity and innovation in what Local Initiatives look like! We are testing Local Initiatives as a pilot this year and we want you to join us.
More information can be found on their blog here.
To run a Summer of Solutions program or Local Initiative in the coming year, please apply by October 19.You can apply here to run a new Summer of Solutions, join an existing Summer of Solutions, or start a new Local Initiative. There is limited funding available to pay stipends to program leaders of both Local Initiatives and Summer of Solutions programs. Contact Ruby Levine (ruby.levine@gmail.com) with any questions.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Call for Submissions: Journal of Science Policy and Governance


Call For Submissions

We publish articles regarding:


Scientific research
Engineering
Innovation
Commercialization
Bio-medicine
Drug development
Energy
Environment
Climate change
Technology transfer
STEM education 
Space exploration






Other topics with application to science policy and governance are also accepted.

The Journal of Science Policy and Governance will be accepting submissions relating to emerging topics and issues in science policy in early January, 2013. The Journal invites young scholars interested in publishing new ideas and research for policy-makers, planners, and managers in a variety of fields. For more information please email jofspg@gmail.com or go to our website: http://www.sciencepolicyjournal.org.

The Journal of Science Policy and Governance is an interdisciplinary journal that seeks high-quality submissions on emerging or continuing policy debates. Current students (undergraduate or graduate) and recent graduates within three years of earning a degree (bachelors, masters, or doctoral) are eligible to submit. The Journal strives to publish articles in a timely manner to ensure that publications can be considered in the context of current policy debates. The Journal seeks to publish on a wide range of topics in a variety of ways. Below are the types of articles that can be submitted and their guidelines.

Policy Memos

Maximum of four pages or 2000 words

One paragraph executive summary

Must be directed to an individual or organization
Policy Analyses
 Maximum of 30 pages

Must include a one page executive summary
Must include policy recommendations
Technology Assessments
Maximum of 35 pages
Must include a one page executive summary
Must examine the policy and governance implications of technology in question
May include policy recommendations
Op-Ed
 Maximum of 1000 words

Must include policy or governance implications

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Internship with USAID

Job Title:Pathways Internship - Summer 2013
Agency:U.S. Agency for International Development
Job Announcement Number:SUM 2013 USAID

JOB SUMMARY:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State and fosters transformational development around the world. Our headquarters is centrally located in downtown Washington, DC, at the prestigious Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. We are located next to the Federal Triangle Metro. Our office is in within walking distance of many major attractions.
USAID's Summer Intern Program is designed to provide Interns with substantive work assignments, which expose them to the benefits of a Federal career. The work assigned in most bureaus or offices varies. Typical assignments include a variety of research projects, writing program memoranda, drafting documents, facilitating meetings and/or special events, performing analytical work, attending program discussions in the Agency and/or at the Department of State, communicating on USAID program issues, and performing other duties as assigned.

Environmental Internships Panel

All students interested in work in the environmental field are invited to a panel discussion about summer activities--internships, employment, volunteering, and research opportunities. We'll hear from a group of students in the second-year cohort about how they lined up a summer opportunity, what they did, and what they wish they had known when they started their search. 

WHEN: Thursday, October 11 from 3:30-5:00PM
WHERE: SIS 300
 

PAID Summer Internship with USAID

USAID is offering a paid summer internship! Apply by November 15 to be considered.

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/327895400

Follow the link to USAjobs.gov to find more information about the internship and to apply!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Green Peace Semester accepting applications

Green Peace Semester is accepting applications now!


A semester with a global environmental organization: What will it look like?
-       Twelve weeks with a small group of peers immersed in creative projects, eye-opening discussions, engaging workshops, skills training, and real work to solve critical global environmental issues
-       Travel for three weeks to witness environmental destruction first hand and put your new knowledge to use
-       Learn the skills of environmental activism, effective communication, leadership, and strategic campaigning in a supportive environment
-       Live in Washington D.C. - access to monuments, museums, and close proximity to New York City, Philadelphia, and beautiful Shenandoah Valley
-       Form friendships that will last the rest of your life

For more information about Green Peace Semester, click here

Apply online by October 22 to receive $100 off tuition.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Oct 11: The Anthropocene: Planet Earth in the Age of Humans



Please join the Grand Challenges Consortia on 10/11/12 at our symposium The Anthropocene: Planet Earth in the Age of Humans. 

A schedule for the event is below. A full event program including schedule, bio sketches for speakers and panelists, and abstracts for each talk can be downloaded from our website: http://www.si.edu/consortia

The event is free and open to the public. Please feel free to distribute this announcement to interested parties. All are welcome, but space is limited. 
Please RSVP to Consortia@si.edu to receive a ticket. 

The symposium on October 11, 2012 will address the tremendous scope of transformations now occurring on the Earth with profound effects on plants, animals, and natural habitats. Geologists have proposed the term Anthropocene, or "Age of Man," for this new period in the history of the planet. The symposium will focus on the arrival and impact of this new era through the lenses of science, history, art, culture, philosophy, and economics, and will promote discussion, debate, and deliberation on these issues of change. 

The Anthropocene: Planet Earth in the Age of Humans

Baird Auditorium
National Museum of Natural History
10th Street & Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
9:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.


9:15 a.m.                              Opening remarks by Eva J. Pell, Under Secretary for Science, Smithsonian Institution

First Session                      Moderator: Michelle Delaney

9:30 a.m.                              Charles C. Mann                               1493: Homogenizing the Planet

                                                Panel Discussion                               Justin Kasper (SAO), Rick Potts (NMNH), Andrew C. Revkin (Pace University; 
                                                                                                                                The New York Times), Daniel Wildcat (Haskell Indian Nations University)

11:00 a.m.                           Break

Second Session                Moderator: Christine Jones

11:30 a.m.                           Richard Alley                                      Energizing the Anthropocene: Science for Smart Decisions

                                                Panel Discussion                               Subhankar Banerjee (artist educator, activist), Karen Milbourne (NMAfA)
                                                                                                                                Mary Evelyn Tucker (Yale University), Scott Wing (NMNH)

1:00 p.m.                             Break

Third Session                     Moderator: Robert Leopold

2:30 p.m.                             Chris Jordan                                       Encountering Midway

                                                Panel Discussion                               Liz Cottrell (NMNH), James R. Fleming (Colby College)
                                                                                                                                Odile Madden (MCI), Woody Turner (NASA)

4:00 p.m.                             Break

Fourth Session                  Moderator: W. John Kress

4:30 p.m.                             Sabine O'Hara                                    Sustaining Economics for a Sustaining Planet

                                                Panel Discussion                               Rob Nixon (Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison), Torben Rick (NMNH)
                                                                                                                                Gavin A. Schmidt (NASA), S. Joeseph Wright (STRI)

Fifth Session     

6:00 p.m.                             The Honorable Timothy E. Wirth                                               Summation

6:30 p.m.                             Closing Remarks by W. John Kress

                                                Reception in the Rotunda

For further information on this message, contact Smithsonian Consortia, x31507 (VoIP), 202-633-1507 (non-VoIP),Consortia@si.edu.

Oct 9: Ethics Matter: Bill McKibben


AU faculty and students are invited to attend a webcast of Bill McKibben's address to the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs on October 9th at 6:15pm. Bill McKibben will explore the difficult choices that humanity faces in the face of dramatic climate change. The outspoken author, scholar, and founder of 350.org will talk about his untiring commitment to promote widespread political action. The lecture will be broadcast in Battelle T10 (the REC Room) and there we will reserve time afterward for discussion and reflection. 

Additional details are available online: http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/calendar/data/0373.html
Please direct questions to Evan Berry at berry@american.edu