Weekly Update (11/27/2023)
Course Announcements
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GEO 873: Mountain Social-ecological systems in an era of change | Spring 24 | Thursday 9:10 AM - 12 PM
Dr. Geoff Henebry will offer this seminar course during Spring 2024. The course aims to introduce graduate students to the manifold complexities encountered in mountainous landscapes while giving them experience in critical reading, thinking, and discussing about classic and recent scientific literature. Contact Dr. Henebry for questions.
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GLG 898: Communication Science Beyond Academia | Spring 24 | Tu & Th 8:30 AM - 9:50 AM
Are you interested in sharing your research to a broader audience but do not know how? Communicating beyond academia requires being able to convey the importance and rigor of a topic, as well as the excitement and resourcefulness that lead to scientific results. This course will teach you to effectively communicate with a non-expert audience. You will learn tools and techniques for sharing science in formal and informal settings in ways that engage the audience and build trust. You will gain greater skill, ease, and confidence in communicating beyond scientific publications and academic presentations to effectively communicate with a broad audience through writing, speaking, and other media. Communication strategies covered in this course include popular press articles, TED talks, K-12 education, policy briefs, and photo-journalism. Contact Dr. Jacqueline Gerson for questions.
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CSUS/ESP 836: Modeling Natural Resources Systems | Spring 24 | Monday 9:10 AM - Noon
During Spring 2024, Dr. Schmitt Olabisi will offer ESP 836 ( Modeling Natural Resources Systems) which is also cross listed as CSUS 836 and FW 836. Enroll in this course to learn systems thinking and system dynamics modeling with a focus on environmental policy applications. We will explore why the atmosphere is like a bathtub, how to keep fisheries from crashing, and will practice participatory modeling techniques with community partners. The course won’t be offered in Spring 2025, so if you have been planning to take it as part of the modeling certificate, now is the time!
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GEO/ESP 869: Agent-Based Modeling | Spring 24 | M&W 3-4:20 PM
This interdisciplinary course introduces complex systems as a foundation for agent-based models (ABMs) applied to social and environmental systems. The course provides hands-on experience designing, building, and applying ABM to various problems, including but not limited to land-use change, wildfire spread, disease transmission, and social segregation. The focus is on emphasizing human decision-making and its environmental impact. A systematic model development cycle is practiced with several cutting-edge tools that allow for model uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. A portion of the course is allocated to Python Programming Language, which is then used to build the ABMs. No previous coding experience is necessary. The course is open to social and natural scientists, environmental engineers, and anyone interested in developing novel modeling skills.
This course is cross-listed with ESPP and is one of three electives for the Modeling Certificate. Contact Dr. Arika Ligmann-Zielinska for more information.
Scholarships, Fellowships, and Funding Opportunities
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Application is open for 2024 NASA-MSU Professional Enhancement Award
With support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Michigan State University (MSU), NASA-MSU Professional Enhancement Awards are given to students, postdocs, and junior researchers (e.g., assistant professors) to cover expenses associated with attending the IALE-North America Annual Meeting (North America Regional Association of the International Association for Landscape Ecology), which will be held from April 1-5, 2024, in Oklahoma City, OK. An award will cover the relevant expenses up to $800. Click here for details about this award. Applicants from all countries around the world (except former award recipients) are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Dec. 18, 2023. Fill out the application here. Questions can be directed to [Dr. Jianguo (Jack) Liu] (mailto:liuji@msu.edu)
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FY 2025 DOD Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Solicitation
The Department of Defense’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) is seeking environmental research and development proposals for funding beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. Projects will be selected through a competitive process. Details are available on the SERDP website.
The Core Solicitation provides funding opportunities for basic and applied research and advanced technology development. All Core pre-proposals are due January 9, 2024 by 2:00 p.m. ET. The SERDP Exploratory Development (SEED) Solicitation provides funding opportunities for work that will investigate innovative environmental approaches that entail high technical risk or require supporting data to provide proof of concept. SEED proposals are due March 14, 2024 by 2:00 p.m. ET.
Seminars, Workshops & Other Events
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SLU Global, SLU’s Future Platforms, and the Global Challenges University Alliance (GCUA 2030) invite everyone interested to a seminar with emphasis on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus. This joint SLU Climate Conversations / GCUA 2030 webinar aims to explore these issues, and in particular to:
- Examine HDP and food security linkages from a diverse and inter-sectoral perspective
- Highlight promising approaches and tools for coordinated action
- Outline future priorities for inter-sectional research, dialogue, and partnerships
Speakers include:
- Damien Joud, Global Food Security Cluster (co-led by the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations): Coordinating emergency food security responses with a focus on anticipatory action and localization
- Caroline Delgado, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI): Food security in conflict and peacebuilding settings: Beyond a humanitarian concern
- Ruth Mendum, GCUA 2030: The value of reflection in research on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus
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PLB Seminar: Embracing the complexity: Statistical phylogenetic approaches to studying plant evaluation | December 1, 2023, 2:30 PM | Virtual
The PLB Seminar Series will feature a talk with Dr. Carrie Tribble of University of Hawaii-Manoa. “Embracing the complexity: Statistical phylogenetic approaches to studying plant evolution”. Please join us Friday, December 1st in PLB 247 at 2:30 pm or by zoom with the link below. Virtual: https://msu.zoom.us/j/93122298084 Passcode: 800352
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During the academic year, the Dean of the Graduate School, Pero Dagbovie, invites graduate students to join him and his graduate school colleagues for lunch and conversation in Chittenden Hall along the beautiful and historic Laboratory Row. Connect about career and school journeys, gain understanding of The Graduate School programs that empower graduate student success and engage in candid discussions about university and student life.
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SSSA-SSC Joint Webinar - Soil Health | December 5, 2023, 8:00-10:00 AM | Virtual
The Joint Working Group of the Soil Science Society of America and the Soil Science Society of China is pleased to announce the second scientific webinar jointly sponsored by the two societies! Cross-cultural and international scientific cooperation is essential as we face global issues of climate change, food security, water security, and environmental restoration. We have much to learn from scientists around the world, and our efforts will be strengthened and more effective when soil scientists are working together.
- Webinar Zoom link: https://msu.zoom.us/j/98853166717
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/Z_9SCK2ZnRU
- Koushare: https://www.koushare.com/lives/room/162258
Job and Training Opportunities
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EPA Region 5 (Chicago) Air and Radiation Division job
This is an office-centered position –you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis. Work-from-home flexibilities may be authorized as described in the Benefits section.