Thursday, December 22, 2011

Conservation Tips for a Sustainable Holiday Season

As we look forward to time away from campus, please remember that our building systems continue to operate during the break. With your efforts, we can keep UNC sustainable over the holidays.

Before leaving for any extended period, please:
  • Shut down desktop and laptop computers unless instructed otherwise by IT or administrative staff. If your computer, speakers, phone charger, etc., are all on one power strip, turn off the power strip after shutting down your computer.
  • Unplug nonessential equipment such as copiers, fax machines, printers, scanners, and chargers. Most equipment draws electricity even when turned off.
  • Unplug all appliances, including coffee makers, microwaves, televisions, and radios. Like office equipment, many appliances use electricity even when turned off.
  • Turn off office lights and as much public lighting as possible in hallways, bathrooms, break rooms, and conference rooms.
  • Check windows to make sure they are tightly closed and locked.
  • Check faucets in bathrooms and break rooms to make sure they are completely turned off and not dripping.
  • If you work in a lab with variable air volume fume hoods, shut the sash completely (just as you should any time the hood is not in use).
  • Call in any leaks or maintenance issues to your Facilities Services team (962-3456 or www.fac.unc.edu)
These tips will help keep your building safe and energy-efficient over the holidays. They also apply at home.

Wishing you a very happy holiday season!

Job- NC

The Triangle J Council of Governments seeks an experienced contract specialist to assist in administering the Carolina Blue Skies and Green Jobs Initiative Recovery Act Grant. Read more »

Job- NC

The University of North Carolina - Wilmington seeks an assistant professor in environmental sustainability. Read more »

Internship- NC

The City of Durham seeks a graduate student to support the Rain Catchers project. Read more »

Summer Undergraduate Research- MA

The Harvard Forest is accepting applications for summer internships in ecological research. Read more »

Internship- WY

The Yellowstone Raptor Initiative seeks interns to assist raptor biologists in Yellowstone National Park.

Summer Undergraduate Research- IL

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accepting applications from undergraduates to conduct research in plant biology and conservation. Read more »

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District Earns Green Plus Certification

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School district is the first school system in the country to earn Green Plus Certification. Awarded by the Institute for Sustainable Development, Green Plus helps small businesses and non-profits assess and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. The CHCCS district has retrofitted buildings to reduce energy consumption; manages pests without chemicals; and replaced Styrofoam trays in school cafeterias with biodegradable trays. Students, staff, and parents work together to develop triple bottom line solutions. Read more »

Monday, December 19, 2011

2011 Strategic Energy and Water Plan Now Available

As the University continues to focus on energy and water conservation, 2011 marked a year of significant accomplishments. Kenan Residence Hall reduced energy use by 4% from the previous year, finishing first in the Residence Hall category for the EPA’s 2011 Energy Star National “Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings.” A maintenance program to tune-up HVAC systems was adopted campus-wide and has resulted in a cost savings of over $5 million dollars. Since 2002, conservation measures have resulted in over $63 million of energy cost savings and $7.5 million in water savings. The 2011 Strategic Energy and Water Plan report is available online through the Energy Management website.

Construction for Innovate@Carolina 505 Incubator to Begin Next Month

The Innovate@Carolina Campaign motivates and funds innovative initiatives across campus, including the 505 Incubator which will break ground in January 2012 at 505 West Franklin Street. The 505 Incubator will offer space and support to recent graduates and local entrepreneurs with early-stage company ideas. The 505 Incubator will foster collaboration between companies, and provide internships, to help keep entrepreneurial growth local. The new Campus Y Social Innovation Incubator will support student-led projects.

Gov. Perdue Encourages Applications for Mobility Fund Projects

The N.C. Department of Transportation is soliciting proposals for projects across all modes of transportation to relieve congestion and enhance mobility across the state. Priority will be given to projects that provide the greatest benefits in travel time savings and increase the overall efficiency of the transportation system. Candidate projects will be accepted through Feb. 29, 2012. The amount of money available is estimated at $45 million in the 2012-2013 fiscal year and $58 million in succeeding years. Visit the N.C. Department of Transportation for more information.

Rain Bird Providing More Than $50,000 in Grants to Water-Efficient Projects

Rain Bird’s “Intelligent Use of Water Awards” program will provide more than $50,000 in grants to water-efficient projects in need of funding. Applicants submit a water conservation project to an interactive website and add descriptions, photos and videos about the project. The projects with the most votes in their funding category ($1,500, $5,000, or $10,000) will receive funding. Winners will be announced on World Water Day, March 22, 2012. Read more »

$5,000 Scholarship for Sophomores & Juniors Interested in the Environment or Native American Issues

The Morris K. Udall scholarships provide up to $5,000, or the cost of tuition, fees, books, room and board, whichever is less, to sophomores and juniors who have demonstrated a strong academic record and outstanding potential for leadership. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit to two groups of students; those who study the environment or related fields, and those with Native American or Native Alaskan backgrounds who study health care or tribal public policy.
The UNC application deadline for the Udall Scholarship is January 24. Please see the website for more information.

Indiana University at Oxford Program Offers Opportunity for Summer Study in Comparative Environmental Policy

The Indiana University at Oxford program, sponsored by the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, allows undergraduate and graduate students from Indiana University and other universities to spend six weeks during the summer studying comparative environmental policy and global governance of climate change at Oxford University and other world-ranked European colleges in Brussels, London, and Cambridge. Applications are due by February 14, 2012. Read more »

The Chapel Hill Farmers' Market is Now Accepting Applications for the 2012 Market Season

The Chapel Hill Farmer’s Market is entering its fourth year at University Mall and is now accepting applications for the 2012 market season. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2012. Read more»

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mention of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:

Does global warming alter tourist behavior?
The News and Observer, Raleigh
A new study from UNC-Chapel Hill seems to indicate that some human weather-related behavior also is being influenced by global warming. Researchers found peak attendance in U.S. national parks that have experienced climate change is happening earlier, compared to 30 years ago. According to the study, of the nine parks that experienced significant increases in mean spring temperatures since 1979, seven also saw shifts in the timing of peak attendance. Read more »

Homemade for the holidays
The News and Observer, Raleigh
Each holiday season, food lovers look forward to homemade treats from friends and relatives: a plate of sugar cookies, a rum-soaked fruit cake, a batch of granola. ...It's the effort that makes the recipients of gifts from the kitchen feel loved. "It's just really special to have a food gift," says Marcie Cohen Ferris, an assistant professor of American studies at UNC-Chapel Hill and a recipient of one of our cooks' gifts. Read more »

Thanks to UNC News Services for finding this great story AND compiling the summary! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu/.

Job- UNC

The Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks a tenured full professor, also holding a sustainability chair, or a tenured associate professor, also holding an appointment as a sustainability fellow. Read more »

Job- NC

Elizabeth City State University seeks an energy/sustainability coordinator to implement its sustainability mission.

Job- NC

Central Piedmont Community College's Engineering Technology Division seeks an instructor to teach topics related to energy including conservation and efficiency.

Job- NC

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is hiring a Farm Manager for planning, designing, and managing healthy, thriving field crop and livestock operations.

Job- VA

The School of Sciences at Lynchburg College (VA) invites applicants for a tenure-track assistant/associate professor in environmental science to begin in fall 2012. Read more »

Job- PA

Chatham University's School of Sustainability and the Environment seeks a faculty member in food studies with an emphasis on food systems.

Job- NJ

Princeton University seeks to appoint one or more distinguished humanists whose work is related to the environment for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Job- FL

Leon County is seeking a Sustainability Coordinator to manage the implementation of all aspects of the Sustainability program.

Job- MA

Harvard University seeks a commuter choice program coordinator to develop, implement and administer a system to monitor and increase campus enrollment in various programs including carpools, Zimride and Zipcar.

Job- MA

Bunker Hill Community College seeks full-time faculty responsible for teaching and developing sustainability-related curriculum and coordinating new degree and certificate sustainability programs.

Job- AZ

The School of Sustainability at Arizona State University invites applications for up to three faculty positions either at the tenure-track assistant professor level or tenured associate professor level.

Job- CO

The University of Colorado Boulder seeks a scholar or practitioner with demonstrated excellence in interdisciplinary research, teaching and/or professional activity to serve as the first Colorado chair in environmental studies.

Job- ON

Fanshawe College is seeking a full-time sustainability coordinator to advocate for and lead sustainability practices on campus.

Internship- USA

The Conservation and Land Management Internship Program is now accepting applications for 2012.

Internship- NY

Clarkson University is offering a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program during the summer of 2012, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Read more »

Research Fellowship- USA

The Ariel Appleton Research Fellowship is now accepting applications from undergraduate and graduate students to help support non-destructive research in the natural sciences, with emphasis on conservation ecology. Read more »

Summer Undergraduate Research- GA

The Aquatic Chemical Ecology (ACE) Program at Georgia Tech is now accepting applications from undergraduates interested in a summer research experience. Read more »

Summer Undergraduate Research- ME

The University of Maine and University of Concepion, Chile, are now accepting applications from undergraduates interested in sustainable forest bioproducts.
Read more »

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Job- Various Locations

The Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate will be filling several Renewable Energy Specialist positions nationwide.

Job- UNC

The Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for a tenured Full Professor, also holding a Sustainability Chair, or a tenured Associate Professor, also holding an appointment as a Sustainability Fellow, to start July 1, 2012. Read more »

Campus Y to open Social Innovation Incubator in January

Budding social entrepreneurs soon will have space to nurture their initiatives in the heart of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus. The Social Innovation Incubator will open in January in the third floor of the historic YMCA building, home of the Campus Y. The incubator will provide physical space and equipment to its resident teams, as well as important resources such as legal, tax, communications and other expert advice.
The incubator is for UNC students. Applications for residency in the incubator, which can be found on the Campus Y’s website, are being accepted now through Jan. 6 at 5 p.m.
To be eligible, teams must:
  • Pitch an idea that is an innovative solution to persistent social problems that creates social value through sustainable, systemic change and
  • Be UNC students who have thought through short- and long-term challenges, including required resources and sustainability measures.

Methane Flaring To Begin Soon on Landfill Gas Project

Methane gas from the Orange County landfill will no longer be released into the atmosphere, thanks to the first phase of a joint project launched in November 2010 by the county and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to turn this greenhouse gas into electricity. Read more »

UNC Student Sustainability Outreach Campaign Recognized as Best Practice by National Sustainability Program

Earlier this year, UNC was awarded a silver rating through the AASHE STARS program. The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) was developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) to track progress in achieving sustainability. Now STARS is recognizing UNC for best practices in student sustainability outreach campaigns. STARS will highlight the “Slow the Flow: Every Drop Counts” campaign, held during the drought of 2007-2008. UNC competed against rivals at NC State to conserve water over a period starting with the schools' football game in November and lasting until the basketball matchup in February. Students at UNC trimmed their daily water use by 24% during the challenge. To view all best practices highlights compiled from STARS reports, visit the STARS blog.

New Research and Outreach Manager Joins the Sustainability Office

The Sustainability Office welcomes Kristin Blank-White as the new Research and Outreach Manager. Kristin is a graduate of the Sustainability and Environmental Management Masters Program at Harvard University where she focused her studies on environmental standards and wrote her thesis on green building evaluation frameworks. Prior to joining UNC, Kristin worked for the Duke Environmental Leadership Program in the Nicholas School of the Environment, where she developed and coordinated courses for environmental professionals. She also worked at the non-profit Sustainable Furnishings Council. Her strong interest in university sustainability programs began when she volunteered to work on MIT's recycling program while she was an administrative staff member there. Kristin fills the position vacated by Brian Cain, who was the first Research and Outreach Manager in the Sustainability Office. Brian built a great foundation for Kristin to stand on, and we wish him the best in his adventures in Florida.

New Electronic Energy Dashboards for 157 Campus Buildings

New energy dashboards display real-time energy consumption in buildings across campus. The new dashboard system, tracking 157 buildings, enables building occupants and technicians to monitor current and historical energy use. Instant feedback conveys the results of energy conservation efforts. Energy Services and campus IT staff developed the system to report this data virtually via an online portal. To view building data from your computer, please visit online.

2011 Campus Sustainability Report Now Available

The 2011 Campus Sustainability Report was presented to Chancellor Thorp and the UNC community on November 15th, at the Campus Sustainability and America Recycles Day event. This comprehensive assessment of sustainable policies, practices and programs on UNC’s campus reveals the university’s adoption of sustainability as a core value and strategic planning tool. UNC aspires to be a living laboratory of sustainability both in and out of the classroom. Key findings demonstrating how the campus is moving towards this goal include:
  • Energy saving measures avoided $64 million in costs since 2003, while potable water use fell 40 percent.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions are down 20 percent since 2008.
  • A new student-managed “green energy” revolving fund and a new University-financed fund are providing more stable funding streams for energy conservation and efficiency.
  • The new Education Center at UNC’s North Carolina Botanical Garden is the first public LEED Platinum building in the state. Three LEED laboratory buildings are under construction.
  • More than 200 courses offer sustainability-related content, and more than 300 faculty conduct sustainability research.
  • Expanded recycling programs and a growing number of “green certified” events are reducing the campus waste stream.
  • Ever more food is obtained from local sources and labeled with the name of the farmer. New digital signage conveys the nutritional content of food offerings and potential allergens.
  • UNC students contribute more than one million service hours annually in communities throughout the state.
The full 2011 Campus Sustainability Report is available online through the Sustainability website. To receive a hard copy, request one online. To show your commitment to sustainability, start by taking the Carolina Green Pledge.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Internship- GA

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now accepting applications from students majoring in environmental health for summer internship positions. Read more »

Internship- NC

SJF Institute is now accepting applications from graduate students for an internship opportunity beginning in January 2012.

Internship- UNC

The UNC Institute for the Environment is seeking undergraduate students interested in conducting research in the fields of Marine Sciences, Geology, Geography, Natural Resources and Land Use Planning, and Environmental Sciences and Engineering. Read more »

Internship- CA

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is now accepting applications for summer internship positions to work for nine weeks on a specific project under MBARI staff supervision. Read more »

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Job- NC

Raleigh City Farm, an urban farm start-up located in downtown Raleigh, seeks a farm manager to guide the development and production of first plot of land. Read more »

Tip of the Week

Households use about 20 percent of their electricity on lighting. LED Holiday Lights offer up to 90% energy savings over traditional lighting.

Job- UNC

The Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina seeks an Environmental Finance Analyst to assist with research related to projects on water utility finance and sustainability. Read more »

Job- VT

The University of Vermont seeks an assistant professor in the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics with expertise in community development and food systems. 

Job- BC Columbia

The University of Northern British Columbia seeks an academic coordinator for its Renewable Energy Initiative. Read more »

Job- IL

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks an assistant professor to help establish an applied research program focused on the local and space-intensive production of food crops for Midwestern regional metropolitan areas. 

Job- AZ

Prescott College (AZ) seeks a full-time faculty member to help develop and co-lead a Master of Arts program in sustainable systems design and leadership.

Job- CA

Antioch University Los Angeles (CA) is accepting applications for a full-time core faculty position in the graduate urban sustainability program.

Job- AZ

Prescott College (AZ) seeks a full-time faculty member with an educator’s focus on social justice and human rights. 

Job- MA

Northeastern University's (MA) smart and sustainable cities program seeks applications for open rank positions in all relevant areas of urban sustainability. 

Job- CA

Pomona College (CA) is seeking an assistant director of sustainability and energy management. 

Job- NC

The NC Department of Commerce has an opportunity at the Biofuels Center of North Carolina.

Job- NC

The NC Department of Commerce is seeking a Sustainability Program Analyst.

Internship- US

The Conservation and Land Management Internship Program is now accepting applications for five-month paid internships in botany, wildlife, or a combination of the two.

Job- NC

The Communications and Public Affairs Department is looking for individuals to serve as members on the advisory board, difference committees, and town commission members.

Job- US

Food services provider ARAMARK is seeking a manager of environmental sustainability to enhance its ability to meet clients' environmental interests, including those on higher education campuses. 

Job- NH

Franklin Pierce University (NH) seeks a sustainability coordinator for its Rindge Campus. 

Job- MA

Harvard University's (MA) Hospitality and Dining Services seeks a food literacy project coordinator to cultivate an understanding of food among Harvard students, staff, faculty and the larger community. 

Job- OH

The University of Cincinnati is seeking an assistant professor of environmental policy.
Read more »

Clinton Global Initiative University Opportunity

Each year, the Clinton Global Initiative University hosts a meeting where students from across the world, national youth organizations, topic experts, and celebrities discuss solutions to pressing global issues. This year, CGI U will be held at the George Washington University (GWU).

In order attend the CGI U meeting, you must make a commitment to action. Commitments range from installing energy-efficient light bulbs on campus, to distributing life-saving water filtration kits to nomadic doctors in Africa. Since the inaugural meeting in 2008, nearly 3,000 commitments have been made. When you apply to attend the meeting,hosted by President Clinton, you pledge to attain your commitment’s goal.

Under one commitment, a group of up to four students can be named as representatives to attend the meeting. Attending CGI U offers association with an organization of international prominence and the meeting itself serves as a premier networking event for University students selected to attend.

You can apply as a group or individually to attend the CGI U annual meeting at GWU from March 30th to April 1st, 2012.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, January 17th. Applications are processed on a rolling basis and space is limited.  If you wish to be considered to receive Trip Assistance funding to attend the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), you must APPLY before December 5th, 2011.

If you have any questions, email cgiu@clintonglobalinitiative.org.

Green Corps 2011-2012 Field School for Environmental Organizing

Green Corps is looking for college graduates who are ready to take on the biggest environmental challenges of our day.

In Green Corps’ year-long paid program, you’ll get intensive training in the skills you’ll need to make a difference in the world. You’ll get hands-on experience fighting to solve urgent environmental problems — global warming, deforestation, water pollution and many others — with groups such as Sierra Club and Greenpeace. And, when you graduate from Green Corps, they'll help you find a career with one of the nation’s leading environmental and social change groups.

For more information, visit the web site: www.greencorps.org.

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mention of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:

Get your nutrients from real food (Column)
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
The supplement scam continues to unfold. For anyone who has missed the news over the past few weeks, continuing scrutiny of the science adds more evidence that, with few exceptions, nutritional supplements provide no health benefits to healthy adults, and they may even cause harm. For most people, this probably ranks up there as the biggest nutrition surprise of the decade. (Suzanne Havala Hobbs is a registered dietitian and a clinical associate professor in the department of health policy and administration in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill.)

Speakers heap scorn on Duke Energy
The Charlotte Observer
..."Duke Energy has shown itself unworthy of belief," said Gene Nichol, director of the Center on Poverty, Work & Opportunity at UNC Chapel Hill's law school. "Any rate increase it now offers should be rejected out of hand." Nichol recited the state's economic turmoil: 1.6 million residents in poverty, including one out of four children; 20 percent underemployed; median income dropping 12 percent in 2010; and 900,000 additions to the state food stamp program since 2008.

Angry customers protest Duke Energy price hike
WRAL-TV (CBS/Raleigh)
...Gene Nichol, a professor at the University of North Carolina law school's Center on Poverty , Work and Opportunity, said Duke's changing numbers hurt the company's case. "They have an obligation to prove that these rate increases are absolutely necessary in the public interest," he said. "I don't think they're able to prove anything if they keep gyrating all across the stage."

Kenan-Biddle Partnership announces 2012 Duke-UNC grants
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
A highly successful partnership between UNC and Duke University has entered its second year with another round of grants for collaborative student projects. The Kenan-Biddle Partnership has awarded $5000 each to ten different projects, on topics ranging from LGBT issues to nutrition education to classical music.
Read more »

Couple donates garden spot to city
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
A home known for its collection of camellias, exotic plants and native woodlands will become a public garden and environmental center - fulfilling the vision of a family that has lived there since 1951. For decades, William and Mary Coker Joslin have opened their garden for public tours a few times each year. A new arrangement lets the home become "a permanent place of serenity and beauty," 87-year-old Mary Coker Joslin told guests Monday. ...The Joslins led the restoration of the Coker Arboretum at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Read more »

Thanks to UNC News Services for finding this great story AND compiling the summary! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu/.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Job- UNC

The Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina seeks a highly organized and self-motivated, part-time Office Manager to provide administrative and project support for 30 hours/week. Read more »

Job - UNC

The Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina seeks a Marketing and Outreach Coordinator to increase the visibility and impact of its work. Read more »

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Job- ON

Algonquin College (ON) is seeking part-time course developers for a new bachelor's degree in business sustainability from January to May 2012.

Job- UT

Westminster College (UT) seeks an environmental studies assistant professor to begin in fall 2012.

Job- NY

Columbia University’s (NY) Earth Institute and School of International and Public Affairs seek two assistant professors in the economics or political economy of sustainable development.

Job- PA

Chatham University (PA) seeks an assistant or associate professor of sustainable resource management.

Job- WY

The Department of Management and Marketing at the University of Wyoming seeks an open rank position in marketing and sustainable business practices.

Job- TX

The School of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington seeks an assistant professor of environmental planning.

Job- WA

The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington seeks applicants for two new faculty positions: assistant professor of marine and environmental policy and an associate professor of human dimensions of the environment.

Job- MA

The environmental studies program at Williams College (MA) invites applications for a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in sustainable agriculture beginning July 2012.

Job- MA

Harvard University's (MA) Office for Sustainability is seeking a digital communications senior coordinator.

Job- CO

Colorado State University is hiring a campus energy coordinator to help implement and administer energy and water conservation programs in campus buildings.

Job- CA

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for an assistant professor in environmental ethics and policy with possible additional teaching duties in feminism and race studies.

Job- NC

Elon University (NC) seeks an assistant professor in environmental studies.

Job- Duke

The Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University (NC) seeks an assistant or associate level professor in environmental politics and policy.

2012 Carolina Recycling Association Conference

2012 Carolina Recycling Association Conference
March 19-23, 2012 at the Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC
Collegiate Recycling Coalition Sessions
Call for Presentations: Student presentations are encouraged!

CRC is calling on you for presentations to be delivered during the CRC track at the March 2012 CRA conference in Asheville, NC.  We are looking for your best practices, favorite programs and practical solutions.

Chapel Hill Farmers' Market Craft Fair

In addition to our regular vendors, we are currently accepting applications from local artisans and crafters to participate in this special one-day event.  In the past we have had a variety handmade items including:

• Local Food Products
• Pottery
• Jewelry
• Children's Clothing and Baby Gifts
• Holiday Decor
• Fibers and Knitted Accessories                                                
• Natural Soaps and Lotions
• Glassware
• Birdhouses
• Stoneware
• Baskets
• And more unique items!

If you are interested in applying, an application can be found here.   The application fee is $25 and the deadline for vendor applications is Monday, November 14, 2011.  If you have any questions you may contact Lindsay Smith, market manager.

OWASA Receives Platinum Award for Utility Excellence

OWASA, the public non-profit agency providing water, sewer and reclaimed water services to the Carrboro-Chapel Hill community, recently received the Platinum Award for Utility Excellence from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA).


AMWA is an organization of more than 180 public water supply agencies which serve more than 133 million people. OWASA is one of nine utilities in the U.S. that received AMWA’s platinum awards on October 17th at the association’s annual meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. Ed Kerwin, OWASA’s Executive Director, represented OWASA.

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mention of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:

Urban Agriculture: Green on a Human Scale
The Huffington Post
How do you turn a garden on its side and grow it up a wall? And why would you want to? Going sideways with your greenery might be a way to provide healthy food in densely-populated urban areas. According to a recent study conducted by the University of North Carolina, there are five fast food restaurants for every supermarket in the United States. You're five times a likely to encounter a chicken mc-something than you would a vegetable.

‘Eating Animals’ to open communication studies’ season      
An adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s book “Eating Animals” will be performed Nov. 10-12 and Nov. 17-19 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The play will kick off the 2011-2012 performance season in the communication studies department, part of UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Animals moving to keep with rising temps
United Press International
..."Not a lot of marine critters have been able to keep up with that," study co-author John Bruno, a marine ecologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said in a statement. "Being stuck in a warming environment can cause reductions in the growth, reproduction and survival of ecologically and economically important ocean life such as fish, corals and sea birds."

UNC to celebrate Campus Sustainability, recycling Nov. 15     
Trying to recycle tough items like batteries and cell phones? Curious to see how much energy a certain campus building is using? Then your day will arrive Nov. 15, as Campus Sustainability Day and America Recycles Day are celebrated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Thanks to UNC News Services for finding this great story AND compiling the summary! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu/.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Game Day Challenge

The Game Day Challenge is a friendly competition between universities nation-wide to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible at one home football game. The Environmental Affairs Committee and Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling have teamed up to enter UNC for the Homecoming Game on Saturday! We need volunteers at all of the Kenan Stadium Gates as people enter and exit the game, and on the concourse throughout. Volunteers will be wearing UNC Recycles shirts, monitoring recycle bins, potentially holding signs and just encouraging everyone to recycle (and making sure they recycle the right things!).

The game is split up into 2 shifts, the first and second half, and we hope that everyone can be at the gates and around the stadium during half time. They really need some people that want to see a portion of the TONS of waste be diverted on Saturday. If you sign up, you'll receive an e-mail Friday night with more specifics and will meet just before the game or during half time depending on your shift to make sure everyone knows what to do!

If you want to be a part of the Challenge, e-mail:
Chelsea Woodfin at woodfin@live.unc.edu or
Logan Mauney at lcmauney@live.unc.edu

AND sign up on this document!

Job- WI

The College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is seeking a faculty member who will serve as the director for the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education.

Job- CT

The Department of Environmental Earth Science at Eastern Connecticut State University invites applications for a tenure-track position as the endowed chair in sustainable energy studies.

Job- WA

The University of Puget Sound invites applications for an environmental policy faculty appointment in its conservation biology program.

Job- IL

DePaul University (IL) seeks a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Studies.

Job- CT

The University of Connecticut seeks a program coordinator to coordinate day-to-day administrative activities and provide support for the EcoHouse Learning Community.

Job- PA

The Green Cities Corps, a 10-month sustainability fellowship program based in Pittsburgh, Pa. that includes hands-on training in local sustainability issues and solutions, is recruiting for several fellowships starting February 2012.

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mention of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:

Conservation Calibration
Business Officer Magazine
In its inaugural National Building Competition in 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Morrison Residence Hall for achieving the greatest overall percentage of energy reduction of any building entered in the competition. The 10-story, 218,000-square-foot building, located on the University of Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) campus, was constructed in 1965 and renovated in 2007. (Carolyn Elfland is associate vice chancellor for campus services and Chris Martin is director of energy management at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.)

Celebrating Nutrition on America's "Food Day"
The Huffington Post
...But promoting safe, healthy and affordable food is only one aim of Food Day, which is sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit watchdog group that fights for food labeling, better nutrition, and safer food. ...Events are being planned at the University of Vermont, University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina, New York University, Stanford, Yale, and Harvard School of Public Health, among others.

5 goals define Food Day 
The News and Observer 
Who couldn't get behind a national celebration of food, even if the idea behind the event is to change the way we eat? As I explained last week, Food Day, scheduled for Monday, will be celebrated in Raleigh at the Legislative Building. The plan is for this to become an annual event aimed at getting Americans to improve their diets and support healthy, affordable food grown in a sustainable way. (Suzanne Havala Hobbs is a registered dietitian and a clinical associate professor in the department of health policy and administration in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill.)

Thanks to UNC News Services for finding this great story AND compiling the summary! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu/.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Making Energy Work 2011: Celebrating North Carolina's Success in the Clean Energy Economy

Register now for NC Sustainable Energy Association’s annual “Making Energy Work” conference on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the Raleigh Convention Center. North Carolina’s leading clean energy conference delivers unparalleled educational content, stimulating discussions, and great networking opportunities for a wide variety of attendees involving everyone in our state’s rapidly-developing clean energy economy. There is value for everyone, from the novice to industry experts to policymakers. Hear lessons of success and discuss where sustainable energy goes from here. Plus, attend the networking reception at the end to help solidify connections made during the day. Register today!

Job- CO

Colorado State is hiring a Campus Energy Coordinator. This position works with Facilities staff to help implement and administer energy & water conservation programs in campus buildings.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Tip of the Week

Shower power! A full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, but taking a five-minute shower saves water by using 10 to 25 gallons. Put a little timer or clock near your shower so you can see how fast you are.  Tip provided by http://www.epa.gov/earthday/tips.htm#water.

Job- USA

The Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive (CoFed) invites applications for regional organizers and lead trainers. Applications are due October 16, 2011.

Job- VA

The University of Virginia is seeking an energy engineer to provide consistent, cost-effective, efficient, reliable and environmentally-sound reviews of existing and planned campus facilities.

Job- OH

Oberlin College invites applications for a research fellowship in assessment of environmental attitudes and behavior transformation. Applications due November 1, 2011.

Job- NY

Jamestown Community College seeks a sustainability coordinator.

Chapel Hill Farmers' Market Craft Fair Accepting Applications

Chapel Hill Farmers' Market is now accepting applications for our Craft Fair on December 3, 2011.

Application are being accepted in all craft categories (no baked goods) for local crafters who produce their craft within the 60 mile radius of Hillsborough, NC (reselling is NOT allowed). The craft fair will be on December 3rd, 2011.

We are accepting applications until (received by) November 14th, 2011. Please check out our website for more information! (I previously misspelled it!) www.thechapelhillfarmersmarket.com.  Click on "Vendors and Artisans", the "vendors" and follow the tab for "craft fair". Any questions may be directed to the Market Manger, Lindsay Smith at farmersoforange@gmail.com.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Job- MN

Concordia College is seeking a full-time sustainability coordinator to provide broad institutional leadership for the college's efforts in achieving greater environmental sustainability.  The initial screening of applications will begin Oct. 31, 2011.

Job- CA

The University of California, Berkeley's Department of Architecture and the Environmental Energy Technologies Division are seeking a faculty member to shape the department's sustainability, energy and environment program.  Applications should be submitted by Nov. 15, 2011.

Job- CT

The School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University seeks an open-rank, tenure-track position for a natural resource, environmental or ecological economist.  The review of applications will begin December 2, 2011.

Job- TX

The University of North Texas seeks a senior diversity specialist to provide guidance, expertise and training regarding applicable laws, policies, procedures and best practices that pertain to equity and diversity.

Job- IL

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks an associate director for the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.  Applications will be accepted through Oct. 7, 2011.

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mention of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:

Botanical Garden presents sculpture awards
The Chapel Hill News
Awards were presented to North Carolina artists whose work appears in the 23rd annual fall sculpture exhibition at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. ...Honorary chairpersons for this year's exhibition were Lex and Ann Alexander of Chapel Hill. The 53 sculptures remain on display through Nov. 19.

We're making progress in our diet and health 
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
It's good to reflect from time to time on the progress we've made in matters of diet and health. The big world of food and nutrition is a challenging mix of pleasure and puzzle. Like me, you probably love to eat but have to work at understanding how your choices affect your health, as well as the environment and animal welfare. (Suzanne Havala Hobbs is a registered dietitian and a clinical associate professor in the department of health policy and administration in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill.)
Coral reef preservation has a long history
The Los Angeles Times
...Humans may have been damaging coral reefs for centuries, said John Bruno, a marine ecologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who was not involved in the study. But, he added, "these reefs are still resilient and able to recover from significant disturbances … certainly, a kernel of good news for reef managers."


Three Triad universities named America's "Coolest Schools"
The Business Journal
Three Triad universities have been rewarded for "going green" by Sierra magazine, a publication of the Sierra Club. ... Four other colleges in North Carolina made the cut including Warren Wilson College (4), Appalachian State University (12), UNC Chapel Hill (39) and Duke University (60).

For 33 years, marine scholar has kept his eyes on storms 
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
Hurricane Irene left behind more than soaked furniture and buzzing mosquitoes. For Hans Paerl, such large storms also bring new information about the coastal waterways he has studied for decades: how they work, how they can change over time and maybe how to keep them healthy. "It's an amazing event, and it leads to interesting science," says Paerl, who runs a lab at the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute for Marine Sciences in Morehead City. "We don't like hurricanes, but when they happen, we go into overdrive."

Students walk to, or near, school
The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.)
It's too dangerous for all of Mount Holly Elementary's students to walk along busy rural roads to school. But that didn't stop them from taking part in International Walk to School Day, an annual event to bring attention to the health and environmental benefits of walking and to promote safe paths to schools. ...Orchard Park Elementary in Fort Mill also took part in Walk to School Day, which is promoted by the National Center for Safe Routes to School at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center.

Thanks to UNC News Services for finding this great story AND compiling the summary! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu/.

Climate Scientist to give talks Oct. 27, 29

A scientist who specializes in “climate fingerprint” studies — seeking to understand the nature and causes of climate change — will give two free talks Oct. 27 and 28 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mention of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:

Lessons from China’s cities
The Houston Chronicle
... "The speed and scale of China’s urban revolution challenges nearly all our expectations about architecture, urbanism and city planning. China’s ambition to be a major player on the global stage is written on the skylines of every major city,” says Dr. Campanella in his book.

Truth and Nonsense About Mortgage Lending, the Housing Collapse and Homeownership
The Huffington Post
... Written by a trio of researchers from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Regaining the Dream focuses on a study of a North Carolina-based project known as the Community Advantage Program (CAP), aimed at promoting sustainable lending to low and moderate-income communities.

Why the Triangle needs a plan (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
Compared with other metro areas, the Research Triangle is relatively young. This provides us the opportunity to avoid many development-related problems experienced elsewhere. The big question is: Will we grab this opportunity while it is still available, or will we allow the Triangle to develop the way of Atlanta (or pick any other highly car-dependent, sprawling, polluted, congested metro area)?
William M. Rohe is the Cary C. Boshamer professor of city and regional planning and director of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is the author of a new book called "The Research Triangle: From Tobacco Road to Global Prominence."

Forum focuses on the economy and environment
The Chapel Hill News
... How the town might sustain businesses and bring new ones in was another focus. Tapping into new student innovation at UNC is a key to spurring new business and nonprofit growth, said Lee Storrow, a council candidate.

UNC BOT Selects Possible Designers For Carolina North Research Building
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
UNC’s Board of Trustees is one step closer to selecting a designer firm for the first building at Carolina North. “This is an exciting facility,” says Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning and Construction Bruce Runbe. “It’s the research facility at Carolina North, and it will span 225,000 square feet. It’s a building to bring various research related units together.”

Partnership offering grants
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
An initiative that promotes collaborative academic projects developed by students from Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill is accepting applications for $5,000 grants. The Kenan-Biddle Partnership, launched in 2010, is funded by the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust and the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation.

Reforming the Carnivores
Inside Higher Ed
...In trying to get grass-fed beef into the dining halls at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the student group Fair Local Organic (FLO) realized just how difficult it is to find such a product. North Carolina contracts with the food service provider Aramark, which has a number of safety, equipment and process regulations that producers must meet in order to supply for the company. But those regulations often aren’t feasible for the smaller producers that raise their animals humanely, students said.

Thanks to UNC News Services for finding this great story AND compiling the summary! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu/.

Volunteer- UNC

The Environmental Capstone Program, in conjunction with the Orange County Department of Solid Waste Management, is recruiting student volunteers to serve as UNC Recycling Ambassadors. 

Job- MI

Western Michigan University's Office of Sustainability seeks a sustainability coordinator.

Job- FL

Florida Gulf Coast University invites applications for an assistant professor of interdisciplinary environmental studies.

Job- FL

Florida Gulf Coast University invites applications for an interdisciplinary environmental studies instructor.

Job- NY

Colgate University seeks a tenure-stream assistant professor of peace and conflict studies to begin fall 2012.

Job- NH

The Environmental Studies Program at Dartmouth College seeks an assistant professor in policy, politics and governance.

Job- SC

Clemson University's (SC) Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences seeks a tenure-track professor of environmental engineering and science.

Job- NH

Dartmouth College is seeking a sustainability program manager to connect operational sustainability with student initiatives and develop strategies for campus campaigns and sustainability communication.

Job- IA

Ambrose University (IA) seeks a director of diversity to lead its diversity and inclusion efforts. The director will work closely with faculty, staff, students and alumni to facilitate, promote and integrate diversity and inclusivity based on recognized good practice in higher education.

Job- IA

Ambrose University (IA) seeks a director of diversity to lead its diversity and inclusion efforts. The director will work closely with faculty, staff, students and alumni to facilitate, promote and integrate diversity and inclusivity based on recognized good practice in higher education.

Job- PA

Bucknell University's (PA) Environmental Center seeks an executive director to lead and manage its staff and programs.

Kenan-Flagler ranks 9th worldwide in Beyond Grey Pinstripes new report

The “Beyond Grey Pinstripes” ranking has recognized UNC Kenan-Flagler as No. 9 globally for integrating social, ethical and environmental stewardship into their MBA Program. This ranking is public recognition of the important work of the Center for Sustainable Enterprise (CSE), which is integral to the work of the School, and recognizes our leadership in the practice and teaching of sustainability.

“Beyond Grey Pinstripes” is a biennial business school survey that is managed by the Aspen Institute’s Center for Business Education. Results are published every other year, and UNC Kenan-Flagler was ranked No. 14 in 2009. Competition was significantly greater than in 2008-09, according to the Aspen Institute, which evaluated data submitted by 149 schools in 22 countries; 142 MBA programs were eligible for inclusion.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Warm-water Aquatic Ecology
Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
Summer 2012: May 20 to July 29

We are excited to invite applications from undergraduate students to participate in a National Science Foundation supported summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program focused on the
ecology of southeastern ponds, rivers, reservoirs, and estuaries. Ten undergraduate students will work closely with Auburn University faculty (Fisheries, Biology, and Forestry) to explore aquatic ecosystems, complete a student-driven research project, and share their research findings in a symposium at the conclusion of the
program. Participants will work closely with our mentors to develop projects on a variety of disciplines, including community ecology, limnology, evolution, fisheries management, population modeling, conservation, molecular biology, and microbiology. The program will run from May 20 to July 29, 2012 (10 weeks). To stay up-to-date
with the 2012 selection process and to learn about last summer's program, check us out on Facebook.

International water experts gather at UNC

Everyone needs clean, fresh water to survive, but across the globe, hundreds of millions of people do not have this basic necessity. For others, access is threatened by aging infrastructure, politics and climate change. To tackle these problems, hundreds of the world’s leading water, sanitation and hygiene experts will come together Oct. 3-7 as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill hosts its annual conference, “Water and Health: Where Science Meets Policy.”

Policy Advisor coming to UNC on October 3rd

Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Policy Advisor of Long Term Planning and Sustainability and an interfaith leader for Environmental Justice, is coming to UNC on October 3rd to speak about his recent book, "Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet". It will be followed by a Q/A session. The event will take place at 6:00 pm on Monday, October 3rd in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium of FedEx Global Education Center (door opens at 5:30 pm) followed by a book signing.

The event is co-sponsored by UNC Muslim Students Association, UNC Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies and UNC Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee (RESPC).

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Job- MA

The Sustainable Endowments Institute (Cambridge, Massachusetts) invites applications for a part-time joint research and communication fellowship this fall.  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Job- IL

The University of Illinois, Springfield's Department of Environmental Studies seeks a full-time online program coordinator with expertise in GIS.  The review of applications will being Oct. 3, 2011.

Job- FL

Florida Gulf Coast University is seeking an assistant/associate professor in environmental education to teach at both graduate and undergraduate levels and develop curriculum.  Applications will be considered through Dec. 5, 2011.

Job- ME

The Department of Economics at Colby College (ME) invites applications for a tenure-track position in environmental economics at the assistant or advanced assistant level beginning in September 2012.

Job- NC

Davidson College seeks a director of sustainability to provide leadership in the management, administration and strategic planning of campus sustainability. 

Monday, September 19, 2011

Green Events Training- Fall 2011

There are many Green Events Certification Trainings planned for this semester! 

This training session is about learning how to host a Green Event and the process of getting your event Carolina Green Certified. These training sessions are the first step to becoming Carolina Green certified to host green events on campus. These trainings are also important for people who wish to volunteer at events since they will be helping to manage the event and are critical for monitoring proper waste disposal. The Carolina Green Event Certification training also counts as a training for Public Service Scholars.

Sept. 27, 7pm Dey 210
Oct. 5, 3pm Union 3206 B
Oct. 25, 8pm Dey 210
Nov. 14, 2pm Union 3102
Nov. 30, 6pm Dey 210

If you have a group of at least 10 that wish to get certified but cannot make it to these trainings, please email Megan Gyoerkoe to set up a different training date at gyoerkoe@live.unc.edu.

EcoReps Student Organization

Are you interested in becoming involved in a student organization with sustainability minded efforts? Then EcoReps is for you!

EcoReps is a student led organization that is committed to providing campus-wide peer-to-peer outreach in support of UNC Chapel Hill's many sustainable practices, programs, and options. They strive to make environmental, economic, and social sustainability a core value for all Carolina students.

EcoReps will help you

  • expand your knowledge about Carolina's sustainable efforts
  • earn Public Service Scholar hours
  • give presentations to other student groups about what UNC is doing to promote sustainability
  • develop personal leadership skills
  • develop presentation techniques and public speaking skills
  • have social education experiences with other EcoReps

There will be a training event on September 24th, from 10pm-3pm, where you will be taught everything you need to know to give these presentations. Breakfast will be provided, and there will be an hour long lunch break. If you are interested in attending and becoming a certified EcoRep, please RSVP to ecoreps.uncch@gmail.com by Wednesday, September 20th, at noon.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

AASHE Bulletin

If you are interested in learning about news in sustainability, job opportunities, and national events, subscribe to receive emails from AASHE.  UNC Chapel Hill has a university membership, so if you register with your email account ending in "unc.edu", you can subscribe for free!  Go to www.aashe.org for more information.

UNC's Hans Paerl wins Odum Lifetime Achievement Award

Hans Paerl, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City, is the 2011 winner of the Odum Award for Lifetime Achievement. Paerl, William R. Kenan Distinguished Professor of Marine and Environmental Sciences, received the award for his four decades of work to clarify the causes, consequences and mitigation of blooms in estuarine and coastal environments.

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mention of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:

Book raises issues about eating meat 
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
How often do you think deeply about what you are eating? ...Students at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University are wrestling with some of those challenging questions. As participants in the two schools' joint summer reading program this year, incoming freshmen and transfer students are reading "Eating Animals," by Jonathan Safran Foer. (Suzanne Havala Hobbs is a registered dietitian and a clinical associate professor in the department of health policy and administration in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill.)

The Rugged Altruists (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The New York Times
...Rye Barcott was a student at the University of North Carolina who spent a summer sharing a 10-by-10 shack in Kibera, the largest slum in Nairobi, Kenya. ...Over the next several years, Barcott served as an officer in the Marines in places like Iraq and created an inspiring organization called Carolina for Kibera, which offers health services and serves as a sort of boys and girls club for children in the slum.

Inside the List (Book Review)
The New York Times
Required Reading: Can a peaceable literary vegetarian from Brooklyn bring together what a bloody Southern basketball rivalry has torn asunder? That was surely the hope of administrators at Duke and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, when they chose Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Eating Animals” as the joint summer reading for this fall’s incoming freshmen.

Reforming the Carnivores
Inside Higher Ed
...In trying to get grass-fed beef into the dining halls at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the student group Fair Local Organic (FLO) realized just how difficult it is to find such a product. North Carolina contracts with the food service provider Aramark, which has a number of safety, equipment and process regulations that producers must meet in order to supply for the company. But those regulations often aren’t feasible for the smaller producers that raise their animals humanely, students said.

Triangle Universities Studying Soft Matter
WUNC-FM (Chapel Hill)
The Triangle's four major universities are collaborating on a multi-year study of "soft matter." The National Science Foundation awarded a 6-year grant worth nearly 14-million dollars to researchers at Duke, UNC, NC State, and NC Central Universities.
UNC Using GPS To "Take A Bike Out Of Crime"
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
Every new school year brings a spike in on-campus crime, and few crimes are more common on campus than bicycle theft. But this year, UNC’s Department of Public Safety is employing GPS technology—to “take a bike out of crime.” "We became aware of a program to (create) a bait bicycle," says Public Safety spokesperson Randy Young.

Universities to study soft matter
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
A six-year, $13.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation will establish a multiuniversity research center dedicated to the study of soft matter. ...The Triangle Materials Research Science and Engineering Center will involve researchers from Duke University, N.C. Central University, N.C. State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.
In Ancient Pines, a Startling Shift in Tree Rings (Blog)
The New York Times
Nearly 50 years have passed since a glaciologist by the name of Donald R. Currey got his tree-borer stuck in a remote Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) about 10,750 feet up in the little-visited Humboldt National Forest of eastern Nevada. ...Dr. Currey carried a slab of the tree back to his lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and counted 4,844 rings. In a report published in Ecology a year later, in 1965, he conservatively estimated the tree’s age at death to have been 4,900 years old.
Local researchers collaborate
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Researchers from Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, N.C. Central University and N.C. State University will focus their collective expertise on facets of soft matter research, a branch of materials science with almost limitless practical applications, from organic solar cells to tissue implants to new classes of drugs. The National Science Foundation has provided a six-year, $13.6 million grant to establish a multi-university center to investigate aspects of this promising area of scientific endeavor.
Thanks to UNC News Services for finding this great story AND compiling the summary! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu/.

Job- WI

The University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks a director for its Gaylor Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.  The director will provide general leadership for environmental initiatives across campus. Applications will be considered through Oct. 15, 2011. Read more »

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Job- NC

Toxic Free NC, a local Raleigh nonprofit dedicated to pesticide awareness, is looking for volunteers this fall to fill its Sustainable Pest Management Intern/Volunteer position.

Job- Lake Malawi, Africa

Manda Wilderness Agricultural Project is seeking someone with a solid knowledge of organic farming to come work on the shores of Lake Malawi. Read more »

Job- USA

Green Corps is looking for college graduates looking to work on environmental issues across the country with many different organizations.

Job- DC

American University seeks a zero waste coordinator to plan, implement, organize, track and monitor all aspects of waste diversion and waste reduction operations.

Job- MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change is seeking a communications officer.  The review of applications will begin October 1, 2011.

Job- UT

The University of Utah seeks an assistant professor in sustainability studies. A Ph.D. is required by start date.

Job- IN

The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame seeks applications for an open rank Gender and Peace Studies faculty member. The review of applications will begin October 15, 2011.
Read more »

Job- MD

The University of Maryland seeks an urban agriculture and food systems educator.  Applications will be accepted through September 30, 2011.

American Public Power Student Research Grants

Students studying energy-related disciplines in the U.S. or Canada are invited to apply for one of 10 American Public Power Association student research grants/internships in conjunction with its Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments (DEED) Program. Provide assistance to DEED member utility sponsors, the $4,000 grants support students and increase awareness of career opportunities in public power. Applications are due by October 15 and February 15 each year.

Greenest Colleges in the US

The Sierra Club ranks the 10 greenest colleges in the United States.  Be sure to check out what they say about UNC Chapel Hill and how we are a leader in sustainable development! To see this article and see more interesting links, read more »

Food in the South: Health, Happiness and the Economy

On September 8, 2011 at 4:30 pm in the Kresge Foundation Common Room (039) at the Johnson Center for Undergraduate Excellence in Graham Memorial Hall, Professor Ammerman will present Food in the South:  Health, Happiness and the Economy.  She will explore the multiple roles of food in the lives of southerners, ranging from family and social connections and celebrations to the foundations of a transitioning agricultural economy. Participants will share their views about the role of local sustainable food systems and whether all NC citizens can benefit from this rapidly developing this rapidly evolving development.

Dr. Ammerman is a professor of nutrition in the Gillings School, as well as the director for the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. She has created strong collaborations across the state to address childhood obesity and was appointed by the Lieutenant Governor to serve on the Childhood Obesity Study Committee. More recent research interests focus on school nutrition policy associated with obesity, sustainable agriculture as it relates to improved nutrition, and social entrepreneurship as a sustainable approach to addressing public health concerns.