Consortium Circular
Winter 2016
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Our Mission

The mission of the Environmental Consortium of Colleges & Universities is to harness higher education's intellectual and physical resources to advance regional, ecosystem-based environmental research, teaching, and learning with a special emphasis on the greater Hudson-Mohawk River Watershed.

We are pleased to send you this quarterly edition of the Consortium Circular. Please circulate the Circular!

If you did not receive this Circular directly from the Environmental Consortium of Colleges & Universities,
consider joining as an individual member  to receive this newsletter and other timely announcements. There is no fee to join.
Consortium News
 
  
Member News & Regional Opportunities
 
  
Scholarship & Research
 
Regional Events
 
 
 
Visit the Consortium's online regional event calendar for latest listings.
  
CONSORTIUM NEWS news1
 
New Members Welcomed to Steering Committee
The Consortium is governed by a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary Steering Committee which is responsible for providing strategic guidance for the Consortium's policies and programs. It is comprised of the Consortium director, chair, vice-chair and 18 members, including one non-profit seat and two student seats.

The following members were re-elected to serve an additional 3-year term:
  • Kytt MacManus, Geographic Information Specialist, CIESIN, Earth Institute (Columbia University)
  • Walter Nadolny, Assistant Professor, Marine Transportation Department (SUNY Maritime College)
  • Carol Rietsma, Emerita Associate Professor, Biology (SUNY New Paltz)
Joining the committee this year, we welcome the following members who were elected for a 3-year term:
  • Caroline Craig, Candidate, M.S. Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management (The New School)
  •  Andrew Gascho Landis, Asst. Prof., Fisheries, Wildlife; Environmental Science (SUNY Cobleskill)
  • Rik Scarce, Professor, Sociology (Skidmore College)
  • Steven Schimmrich, Prof. of Geology & Earth Sciences, STEM (SUNY Ulster County Community College)

news2

April 15, 2016 Student Summit: Our Collective Campus: Acting on our Social and Environmental Responsibility
Students, save the date! April 15, 2016 the Environmental Consortium's Student Summit will be held at Pace University in Pleasantville, NY.  The summit will focus on our collective campus - our region and students - and will feature a keynote speaker, workshops, and think tank where participants will strategize how to work across institutional boundaries to plan for the future and make a difference. Details of the event will be announced. The Student Summit is FREE and open to all higher education students in the region. Join us and learn more about acting on our social and environmental responsibility.
 
If you are a student and not currently on our email list, subscribe to receive the latest developments, as well as other regional opportunities.
 


news3
Consortium Scholarships: Applications Now Being Accepted
The two scholarships below are available exclusively to students of member institutions of the Environmental Consortium of Colleges & Universities.  
  • Environmental Scholarship for Undergraduate and Graduate Students Funded by Theodore Gordon Flyfishers
    Majors/fields of study may include, but are not limited to: Biology, Ecology, Law and Policy, Environmental Studies or Science, Conservation, Natural Resource Management, Hydrology, Zoology

    Award:
    $3,500
    Application deadline:
    April 1, 2016

    The Theodore Gordon Flyfishers Founders Fund Scholarship is offered annually, in the name of the TGF founders, to a single recipient who has demonstrated excellence and outstanding dedication in an area of study that falls within an environmental field of a school or department.   Eligible students must be enrolled in a full-time program during the award year (2016-2017) at a member institution of the Environmental Consortium of Colleges & Universities. Open to undergraduate students who will have Senior standing as of Fall 2016 and graduate students entering 1st or 2nd year as of Fall 2016. Based on a 4.0 scale, the applicant shall demonstrate merit with a current 3.5 GPA in the environmental concentration courses and an overall minimum 3.0 GPA.
    For more details, visit: www.environmentalconsortium.org/resources/scholarships/tgf.html
  • Pace Law Environmental Consortium Merit Scholarship
    Award: $3,000-$10,000 towards tuition
    Application:
    Accepted on a rolling basis through April 2016.
    In support of the Environmental Consortium of Colleges & Universities' mission, Pace Law School is offering a "Merit Scholarship" award to a Fall 2016 entering student who is either currently enrolled in or has earned his or her bachelors or masters degree from one of the Consortium's member institutions and has demonstrated an interest in environmental issues affecting the Hudson-Mohawk River watershed. Scholarship benefits consist of a merit scholarship ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 towards law school tuition, depending upon the student's qualifications and Pace's financial resources. The award is renewable each year based on continued academic excellence. Interested students should attach a half to one page statement to the Law School application of how he or she has been involved in Hudson-Mohawk River watershed environmental issues during their undergraduate work or why they have a particular interest in the environmental issues affecting the region. The scholarship recipient will be expected to complete at least one project related to a regional environmental issue(s) while at Pace Law School.
    For more details, visit: www.environmentalconsortium.org/resources/scholarships/pacelaw.html
  
MEMBER NEWS & REGIONAL OPPORTUNITES region1
 

ISEE Call-for-papers: 13th Annual Meeting on Environmental Philosophy (Deadline 3/1)
The International Society for Environmental Ethics (ISEE) will hold its Thirteenth Annual Meeting on Environmental Philosophy, June 29-July 2, 2016, at Pace University, New York City. The theme of the conference will be "Environmental Ethics and Economics: Values & Choices" and will ask the question: if it is the case, as some influential critics have argued, that the social and economic order in which we live is the single systemic cause for planetary ecological crisis, can we with good conscience remain relatively silent? We invite paper submissions examining the impact economics has had on standard areas of environmental ethics like animal welfare, biodiversity, climate change, future generations, natural value(s), population, pollution, sustainability, etc.


 region2
Summer Internship Opportunities at Mohonk Preserve (Deadline 3/15)
The Mohonk Preserve is offering two paid summer internships for students. The internships will run for 10 weeks, from June to mid-August. The application deadline is March 15th.
  • 2016 Thom Scheuer Land Management Internship is open to college juniors and seniors. The intern will help with the design of trailhead structures; assist in maintaining the Preserve's boundaries; and support visitor safety and enjoyment.
  • The Schaefer Research Internship is open to college freshman and sophomores. Research interns work at the Preserve's Daniel Smiley Research Center to conduct field studies, collect natural science data and develop and carry out a research projects of their own in conjunction with Preserve staff. 

region3
Summer Practicum in the Catskills: June 5-25, 2016 (Deadline 4/15)

Eco Practicum Catskills focuses on the most pertinent bio-regional issues. Explore natural resource management and the urban-rural connection in one of the most beautiful places on earth.  



region4 
SUNY ESF: Adirondack Maymester 2016: Introduction to the Adirondack Park
The Adirondack Park is an historical experiment in sustainability, rooted in the establishment of the "Forever Wild" Forest Preserve in 1894. This course, team-taught by 4 ESF faculty and staff, provides ESF and other students with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the Adirondacks by immersing them in the rich history, natural environment and contemporary socio-economic, cultural and policy issues of this unique place. This is a residential class in Newcomb, NY from May 16 to May 27, 2016.


 region5

Adirondack Leadership Challenge: April 22-24, 2016 (Registration currently open)
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the SUNY Leadership Institute offer a unique, intensive and interactive program for leaders on college campuses. The Adirondack Leadership Challenge combines a stunningly beautiful wilderness environment with leadership development to create a trip that is transformational. The event will take place April 22-24, 2016 at SUNY ESF's Newcomb Campus.
 

region6
Visiting Lecturer Positions, Bard MBA in Sustainability
Bard College's low-residency MBA in Sustainability program, based in New York City, has openings for visiting lecturers to teach the following courses in the fall semester of 2016:
    - Marketing
    - Accounting and the Integrated Bottom Line
    - Economics for Business Decisions
Bard's MBA program is one of a small number of programs globally that fully integrates sustainability issues into a business curriculum. All courses address core MBA material through a sustainability lens. Bard students master the business case for sustainability and learn how to align profit with social and environmental goals. Faculty members teach in person during intensive weekend residencies held once a month in Manhattan. In addition, they teach an evening online session each week between the monthly residencies. The low-residency format allows flexibility in residential location for students and faculty.
 
MBA faculty members are expected to have earned a Ph.D., J.D., M.B.A., M.P.A. or equivalent degree. Successful candidates will have an established record of excellence in teaching. Interested candidates should send a cover letter, CV, and names and contact information for three references to Interfolio.com at http://apply.interfolio.com/33863. Applications will be reviewed as received.


region7 
Pace-NRDC Food Law Initiative
The Pace-NRDC Food Law Initiative, a collaboration between Pace Law School and the Natural Resources Defense Council's New York Program, held a special launch event on January 27th at the NRDC's offices. Assistant Professor Margot Pollans, NRDC Attorney Margaret Brown, and Professor Jason Czarnezki explored the role of lawyers in the food law movement. With more than 50 attendees and lots of lively discussion, the Food Law Initiative's first event was a rousing success.
SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH scholar1
 
Sarah Lawrence College Center for the Urban River at Beczak: Research Collaborations and Visiting Scientists Welcome
Set on the banks of the Hudson River in downtown Yonkers, the Center for the Urban River at Beczak (CURB)  is an education and research center focused on Hudson River and urban watershed issues. The 4,000 sq ft facility includes a wet lab featuring an IDEXX system for testing water samples for bacteria, as well as various aquaria and field equipment.  CURB's nearby HRECOS station provides Hudson River water quality and weather data in real time . The property includes a 10,000 sq ft constructed tidal marsh and a beach that can used to launch small craft.   Proposals for joint research and collaborations of all types are welcome. To discuss potential opportunities or schedule a visit, contact CURB Director, Ryan Palmer, at rpalmer@sarahlawrence.edu .
 

 scholar2
AMNH Student Conference on Conservation Science - New York: October 20-22
The
American Museum of Natural History  is accepting abstract submissions March 1 - April 7 for current graduate students, recent post-doctoral fellows, or early career professionals in any conservation related course of study or research - in the natural or social sciences, or their intersection. Undergraduate students conducting thesis-level research may also apply.
 

 scholar3
Environmental, Energy and Land Use Fellowships in Pace Environmental Law Program
Pace Law School will be hiring several environmental law graduate fellows for the 2016-17 academic year. Fellows earn an 
LLM in Environmental Law  while working part time within Pace's Environmental Law Program. They receive a full tuition waiver as well as a modest stipend to help cover living costs.   Information on how to apply for these fellowships can be found at http://law.pace.edu/environmental-graduate-research-fellows . Please note that applicants must first be admitted to Pace's LLM program before being considered for a fellowship.
 

 scholar4
Recent Environmental Law Faculty Publications
REGIONAL EVENTSevents
 
6:00 pm-7:30 pm
Friends Hall, Ramapo College of N.J.
Every spring, the Masters in Sustainability Studies (MASS) produces a lecture series to showcase a diverse array of sustainability practitioners who demonstrate that sustainability can be achieved and show how to do it. Programs are open to the general public.


MAR 2 - How I Created the Greenest Campus in SUNY

Note: Located in the Alumni Lounges, Ramapo College of N.J.
Tracy Hall, Director of Facilities, SUNY Sullivan

MAR 9
- Murray Bookchin's Social Ecology as a Pathway to Sustainable Change
Janet Biehl, Author of Ecology or Catastrophe, the Life of Murray Bookchin
 
MAR 23 - Why Kick-Ass Companies Embrace the New Sustainability Imperative 
Bob Willard, Author and Speaker, Sustainability Advantage   
 
APR 6 - The Future of Food is the Future of Community: The Future of Community is the Future of Food Leigh Merinoff, Activist, Entrepreneur, Food Grower 
 
APR 20 - Women as the Forefront of Climate Protection 
Tracy Mann, Project Director, Climate Wise Women
 
APR 23 - The Post-Paris Climate Agenda
Osprey Orielle Lake, Co-Founder of WECAN and other leading climate activists and organizations
 
 
7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Hunter College, Room 714, West Building
Join the CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities and NYC H2O as we celebrate Alligators in the Sewer Day with a special presentation. Urban explorer Steve Duncan will show us underground video and pictures from his adventures in Tibbetts Brook. Marit Larson, Director of Wetlands and Riparian Restoration for the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, will explain plans to daylight the Van Cortlandt Park stream to connect it to the Harlem River once again. Borough Historian Michael Miscione will also recount the origins of Alligators in the Sewers Day. This presentation is free and open to the public, but you are encouraged to RSVP.
 
7:00 pm
Cary Institute auditorium, 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44), Millbrook, NY
Dr. Joshua Ginsberg, President of the Cary Institute, will present an optimistic update on the world's large carnivores. Lions, tigers, bears, wild dogs, and other iconic animals are often depicted as being on the brink of extinction. Discover conservation success stories and lessons learned. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
 
9:00 am-1:00 pm
Adriance Memorial Library, 93 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Join Cary Institute educators and learn how to use local ecological datasets to study the Hudson River watershed.
 
11:00 am
Cary Institute auditorium, 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44), Millbrook, NY
Join Cary Institute educators and learn how to use local ecological datasets to study the Hudson River watershed.
 
12:00 pm-1:00 pm
Iona College, Romita Auditorium, Ryan Library, New Rochelle, NY
The Careers in Science at Iona (CSI) lecture series will host guest speaker Dr. John C. Warner, President and Chief Technology Officer of Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry and founder of Beyond Benign, a non-profit dedicated to sustainability and green chemistry education. Recipient of the 2014 Perkin Medal, Fellow of the American Chemical Society, and one of Utne Reader's "25 Visionaries Changing the World," Dr. Warner will discuss the application of Green Chemistry principles to everything from semiconductors and solar energy to personal care products. For more information, contact Dr. Sunghee Lee, Chair of Chemistry department at Iona (SLee@iona.edu).
 
7:00 pm
Cary Institute auditorium, 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44), Millbrook, NY
Community forests are vital to our health, economy, and environment. Yet they face serious threats. Learn about Cincinnati's plight to combat the Emerald Ash Borer and how community efforts can save trees.
 
Pace Law School, Ottinger Hall, 78 North Broadway, White Plains, NY
The Pace Environmental Law Program will welcome back our Environmental Author-in-Residence, Paul Greenberg, to speak about his bestselling book on U.S. fisheries, 'American Catch'. The event is free and open to the public.
 
Power Dialog will support 10,000 students to engage in face-to-face dialog with state-level regulators in all fifty states. The topic? Implementing the Clean Power Plan. How will it work? Hundreds of faculty will take their classes on coordinated field trips to their state capitols. The Dialog gives students a voice in critical decisions that will determine their future, and the future of the earth.
 
5:00 pm
Pace Law School, Gerber Glass Moot Court Room, 78 North Broadway, White Plains, NY
The Pace Environmental Law Program will host its annual Lloyd K. Garrison Lecture on Environmental Law. The guest lecturer is Michael B. Gerrard, Director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia Law School.
 
11:00 am
Cary Institute auditorium, 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44), Millbrook, NY
Scientific seminar: Rick Relyea, Darrin Fresh Water Institute (RPI)
 
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Today it is impossible to think seriously about the challenges of sustainable development and the environment without understanding the local and global environmental footprint of rapid economic growth in Asia-and the Asian response. At the same time, Asian Studies students increasingly require familiarity with the scientific, cultural, and political dimensions of environmental crises and sustainable development.  With the support of the Henry Luce Foundation, Bard College is sponsoring this second annual student research conference, providing a venue for students to present undergraduate, masters and PhD level research at the intersection of these critical issues.
 
Pace University, Willcox Hall, 861 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, NY
Students in the Hudson-Mohawk region are invited to attend the 11th student summit of the Environmental Consortium, Our Collective Campus: Acting on our Social and Environmental Responsibility. Event is FREE and open to all higher education students in the region. All majors are welcome.
 
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
With the support of the Henry Luce Foundation, this conference explores the intersection between culture, arts, and politics in relation to nature and environmental resources in Asia. We aim to address how scholars, artists, and activists have approached the environment in the present and past.
 
MAY 7 - Riverkeeper: 5th Annual Riverkeeper Sweep
Locations throughout NYC and the Hudson River Valley
At the 2015 Riverkeeper Sweep, more than 2,000 volunteers, and dozens of community partners worked along hundreds of miles of shoreline from Brooklyn to Troy to remove over 40 tons of debris, and plant 1,150 trees and native grasses. This year, as we reflect on the impact of the last four Sweeps (a combined 116 tons of shoreline debris removed), we are also looking to the future. We plan to expand the Sweep in 2016 by partnering with more communities, schools, businesses, and organizations than ever.
 
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, 524 W. 59th St (Between 10th and 11th), NY, NY
A unique phenomenon in the U.S. and the world, Left Forum convenes the largest annual conference of a broad spectrum of left and progressive intellectuals, activists, academics, organizations and the interested public.
 
Belleayre Ski Center, Highmount, NY
The Catskill Environmental Research and Monitoring (CERM) conference is an oppor­tu­nity for researchers, agency staff, and oth­ers work­ing on nat­ural resource and envi­ron­men­tal man­age­ment issues in the Catskills to net­work and collaborate. A call for poster and oral presentation abstracts will be released soon.
  
www.environmentalconsortium.org
Pace University is the host institution of the Environmental Consortium of Colleges & Universities, with headquarters located at Pace Academy for Applied Environmental Studies at Dyson College.