Weekly Update (10/09/2023)

ESPP News & Announcements

• ESPP invites applicants for 2024 Spring Semester

  The Environmental Science and Policy Program (ESPP) is now accepting applications for the 2024 Spring Semester. ESPP offers three distinct programs for graduate students at MSU–a dual major doctoral program in environmental science and policy, a graduate specialization in environmental policy, and a graduate certificate in environmental and social systems modeling. The deadline for the 2024 Spring Semester is October 15, 2023. Please visit our website for more information about our educational programs.

• ESPP Fall Student Research Symposium

  The Fall Student Research Symposium is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 27, 2023 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center Lincoln Room. Please save the date, and join us to see what ESPP students are working on!

• ESPP Distinguished Lecture Series: Dr. Jay Lund

  As part of the Research Symposium and ESPP Distinguished Lecture Series as well as the Civil & Environmental Seminar Series, we have invited Dr. Jay Lund, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geography, Hydrology, and Environmental Policy and Management at the University of California – Davis as the keynote speaker. His talk is titled Challenges and Directions for Water Policy and Engineering for the Coming Decades.

Scholarships, Awards & Fellowships

• miSWCS Scholarship opportunity

  The Michigan Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (miSWCS) is offering a $750 Scholarship to eligible applicants through the Michigan Scholarships in Conservation Program for the Fall 2023 - Spring 2024 Academic Year. Scholarships are awarded to encourage qualified students to enter the field of natural resources conservation, and to prepare them for related careers through an organized program of study at an institution of higher education offering training in appropriate disciplines. Awards will be based on interest in conservation, scholastic ability, and participation in conservation activities. Students can download the Application form from the miSWCS website, or they can request the form directly from the Chapter Secretary. Applications for the scholarship must reach the Scholarship Committee by November 8, 2022. The recipient will be selected by November 22, 2023. Applications should be emailed to: Daniel F. Kesselring, Secretary Michigan Chapter SWCS.

• IBEEM is accepting Postdoctoral Fellowship applications

  IBEEM (the MSU Institute for Biodiversity, Ecology, Evolution, and Macrosystems: ibeem.msu.edu) is now accepting applications for 2024 IBEEM Postdoctoral Fellows. The application includes a short collaborative proposal among multiple postdocs. To facilitate networking and collaboration in preparation for submitting the proposals, IBEEM will host 2 networking sessions (October 19 and November 2), open to MSU postdocs and their faculty mentors in the areas of Biodiversity, Ecology, Evolution, and Macrosystems. Applications are due November 17th, 2023. For more information on IBEEM, the networking sessions, and to apply, see the call for the 2024 IBEEM Postdoctoral Fellowship.

• Call for Nominations: MSU Outreach & Engagement Awards

  University Outreach and Engagement recognizes and shines a light on exemplary high-quality community-engaged scholarship and outreach activities through its awards programs. There are four separate awards that are accepting nominations:

  • Community Engagement Scholarship Award
  • Graduate Student Award for Community Engagement Scholarship
  • Graduate Student Award for Science Communication and Outreach
  • Institutional Champion Award for Community Engagement Scholarship

  The application deadline is November 10, 2023

• Education Opportunity Fellowship from the Graduate School

  The purpose of this fellowship is to provide financial assistance to Michigan State University’s graduate and professional students who meet the eligibility requirements. For a list of these requirements and to apply, visit the link above. The deadline for application is October 6, 2023.

• Mary Louise Gephart Donnell Fellowship

  Enrolled MSU graduate students in good standing studying or research any discipline related to human environment and design, including, but not limited, to interior design, retailing, and apparel and textile design are eligible to apply for the fellowship. A maximum of six fellowships will be awarded to the recipients. Application Deadline: Friday, November 3, 2023.

Seminars, Workshops & Other Events

• Sustainability, Climate Change Mitigation and Digitization Effort at AMUL | October 9, 6:00 PM | Studio 134-D Comm Arts and Sci. Building

  As part of Asian Studies Center’s Global Speaker Series, this talk features Shri Amit Vyas, the Managing Director of Amul Dairy. Mr. Amit Vyas leads the pioneering co-op Dairy of India which laid the foundation of financial independence and self-reliance for the Indian Dairy Farmers. He has overseen consistent double digit growth at AMUL and introduced revolutionary initiatives in areas of cost savings, energy conservation, automation & digitalization. Initiatives driven by him from villages to the dairy plants have resulted in reduction of total carbon emission by 52216 MT/Annum. Recent accolades for AMUL and Mr. Vyas include the Golden Peacock Award for innovative and sustainable energy conservation, the National Energy Conservation Award, Animal Health Leadership Award and CII – National Award for excellence in Energy Management (2023). Dr. Verghese Kurien, the architect of the largest dairy development program in the world and the past leader at AMUL, is a Michigan State University alumnus.

• Ten Best Kept Secrets in Statistics - RCR Credit | October 12, 2023, Noon- 1:00 PM

  This seminar is available for RCR credit. This seminar discusses a set of widely applicable statistical techniques. Arguments are presented for the application of these compared to other commonly used analysis tools, such as

  • Holm adjustment (instead of Bonferroni adjustment)
  • Normal scores test (instead of t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test)
  • Unconditional test (instead of chi-square and Fisher)
  • Robust regression (instead of standard linear regression)
  • Skewness, Kurtosis, and Distributions
  • Anderson-Darling test (instead of Kolmogorov-Smirnov test)
  • Four key power transformations (Raw, square-root, quarter-root, log)
  • Exact testing methods (exact Fisher exact test and the exact Wilcoxon rank sum test)
  • Gatekeeping strategies for multiple testing
  • Exponential distribution for survival

• Climate Change Education Solutions Summit – CCESS2023 “Connecting Minds for a Sustainable Climate Future” | October 17, 2023 | Grand Rapids

  This event is a part of the Global Climate Change Week 2023. Register free of charge today. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 in Hager-Lubbers Hall and Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, 401 West Fulton Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

• Women*s Initiative for Leadership Development Conference | November 12, 2023

  The Women*s Initiative for Leadership Development (or WILD) is a student leadership conference facilitated by a committee of engaged students in collaboration with the Office of Women*s Student Services and Women*s Council at Michigan State University. All Spartans (students, faculty, staff) who are interested in gender equity, empowerment, and leadership development are encouraged to attend!

• Proposals Now Being Accepted for WaterSciCon24

  Session, workshop, and town hall proposals are now open for the Water Science Conference 2024 (WaterSciCon24), taking place 23-28 June 2024 in St. Paul, Minnesota. WaterSciCon24 (previously known as the Frontiers in Hydrology Meeting), is co-sponsored by AGU and CUAHSI (Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc.). The theme of the conference is Catalyzing Collaboration. The deadline to submit a proposal is 11 October.

Job Opportunities

• Research Assistant at the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative (TDI) Center

  The Toolbox Dialogue Initiative (TDI) Center is seeking a graduate level research assistant to support research and outreach projects focused on enhancing communication and collaboration for cross-disciplinary research teams. The research assistants will work up to 10 hours each per week, at $22 per hour. The ideal candidate will be available to start work no later than January 1, 2024.
  Duties include:

  • Assist with project activities, including but not limited to, note taking for virtual Toolbox workshops, designing online surveys, conducting and/or assisting with interviews, cleaning survey and transcript data, cataloguing data, and writing reports.
  • Assist with the coordination and implementation of Toolbox workshops, webinars, and other meetings as needed and schedule allows.
  • Attend bi-weekly project management meetings

  How to Apply:

  • A one-page cover letter indicating your qualifications and interest in the position
  • A 1-2 page resume
  • Names and contact information for two references

  Applications due by October 31, 2023 interviews will shortly follow this deadline. You can also contact Beth Mugavero mugaver1@msu.edu if you have questions.

Upcoming ESPP Events

• October 13, 2023: Faculty Forum Cancelled
• October 27, 2023: Student Research Symposium
• October 27, 2023: Distinguished Lecture Series, Prof. Jay Lund from UC Davis
• November 17, 2023: Faculty Forum (Topic: TBD)