Director's Message: You're Invited
As we start a new semester and a new year, I want to share with you an invitation.
You are invited to the Center for the Environment Kickoff Week! From Monday, Feb. 12 to Friday, Feb. 16 the Center for the Environment and our partners will be hosting a series of engaging, interdisciplinary events.
This week will be an exciting chance to showcase the environmental work happening at the university and highlight the dedicated people who are making that work happen.
These events are an opportunity to build stronger connections across disciplines and to foster new partnerships.
I can’t wait to see you there!
Dan Giammar
Director, Center for the Environment
Walter E. Browne Professor of Environmental Engineering
Assistant Vice Provost
| |  |
|
In this edition:
- Kickoff Week
- Summer Undergraduate Research program applications
- Midwest Climate Summit 2024 registration
- Environmental Research Collaboration Series
- UN climate negotiation update
- MCC is hiring students
- Here & Next seed funding deadline extensions
| | |
|
Center for the Environment Kickoff Week
February 12 - 16
| |
Assembly Series - The Fate of the Earth: A Talk by Elizabeth Kolbert
Monday, Feb 12 | 4 - 5p.m.| Graham Chapel
The history of life on Earth has been described as long periods of boredom interrupted occasionally by panic.
In her talk, “The Fate of the Earth,” Elizabeth Kolbert will discuss the current biodiversity crisis in the context of the great mass extinctions of the past. Why do humans pose such a threat to the other species on the planet and what can be done to contain this threat?
Open to the entire community, register here.
| |
| | |
|
|
Dr. Viniece Jennings Nature and Determinants of Urban Health: Pressing Topics and Priorities for the Future
Tuesday, Feb. 13 | Noon - 1 p.m. | virtual with livestream viewing in Brown Louge
Hosted by the Public Health Speaker Series
Dr. Viniece Jennings is nationally recognized for her innovative research on urban green spaces and public health. She often explores urban green space and health in the context of ecosystem services, environmental justice, and social determinants of health.
Open to the entire community, sign up here.
| |
|
Training in Science Communication and Science Storytelling
Tuesday, Feb. 13 | 5 - 7 p.m. | Brauer Hall 3015
Sharing your research effectively is important when connecting with communities, gaining funding for your work, and ultimately making an impact on the environment and sustainability. To build these skills, researchers can learn about and apply concepts in storytelling, neuroscience, and performance arts.
This interactive workshop is designed for graduate students and postdocs, sign up here.
| |
| |
|
|
Passionate about Plastics? The State of Plastics in Consumer Goods and the Environment – Impacts and Actions
Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 4 - 5:30 p.m. | Knight Center 210
Co-hosted with the Office of Sustainability
Take a deep dive into the world of consumer plastics with a panel of experts. Panelists each represent a different dimension of the complex challenge of plastic pollution. We will examine sources, dispersal, and impacts, as well as responses on the global and local scale.
This panel discussion is designed for students but all are welcome, register now.
| |
|
Research Adventures from Madagascar
Thursday, Feb. 15 | 4 - 5:30 p.m. | Women's Building Formal Lounge
Co-hosted with the Living Earth Collaborative
Madagascar, one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots, has experienced significant losses in plant and animal life.
This roundtable event will: 1) showcase the breadth and depth of the environmental work coalescing around themes of biodiversity and sustainable development; and 2) generate ideas for integrating various projects for future research collaborations.
Designed for the campus community, sign up here.
| |
| |
|
|
Bioinspired-Strategies to Address the PFAS Problem by Carla Ng
Friday, Feb. 16 | 11 a.m. - Noon | Whitaker Hall 100
Co-hosted with the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become some of the most widely discussed classes of environmental contaminants. This lecture explores key questions surrounding these "forever chemicals," including ways of using biology to help tackle widespread contamination.
No registration needed.
| |
Applications Open: Summer Undergraduate Research Program | |
|
Applications are open for the Center's Summer Undergraduate Research Program and are due February 18.
This program is available to WashU students continuing their studies next fall. This 10-week experience gives students the opportunity to work closely with a faculty mentor on environmental research. No prior research experience is necessary.
Selections will be announced by March 22 and the program will be in session from May 27 through August 5.
| |
Midwest Climate Summit 2024
Finding Regional Alignment
Join climate leaders, researchers, students, and professionals from across the Midwest for a three-day summit in Indianapolis.
The 2024 summit will focus on expanding knowledge, accelerating climate action, and catalyzing new partnerships for an equitable Midwestern response to the climate crisis.
The Midwest Climate Collaborative is hosted by the Center for the Environment, and WashU students and employees receive a member discount when registering. Sign up before Feb. 16 for early-bird pricing.
There will be an informational meeting with free food Friday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the Center for the Environment, Suite 1160 in Green Hall. RSVP here.
| |
| | |
Environmental Research Collaboration Series | |
The Center's monthly research lunch series returns for the Spring semester. Each month brings a new presentation by WashU researchers. These lunches are a chance to connect with fellow researchers, and learn from colleagues while also: highlighting specific projects, sharing tools and generating ideas for future collaboration. | |
Center supports WashU UN climate negotiation engagement | |
|
The Center supported WashU's ongoing efforts to engage international partners at the UN climate negotiations in Dubai in November and December 2023.
Together with the WashU delegation led by Professor Beth Martin, the center cosponsored a pavilion at the negotiations with other private U.S. research universities. This pavilion served as a focal point for these teams' combined efforts and a platform for programming during the conference.
In addition to supporting this multi-school effort; Center program manager, Alex Morales-Heil, attended the negotiations and offers this reflection for individuals interested in engaging in this international effort..
| |
|
Midwest Climate Collaborative is hiring student workers | | |
|
|
The Midwest Climate Collaborative (MCC) is hiring several paid student workers over the coming months to support energy efficiency efforts in low-income, multifamily properties in St. Louis. These positions are open for returning WashU undergraduate and graduate students.
These students will work together collecting and aggregating building data, engaging with building owners and residents, as well as developing tools to support property owners in making their buildings more energy efficient.
The positions include:
- Two part-time students in Spring 2024
- One full-time student in Summer 2024
- Two part-time students in Fall 2024
Students of all disciplines are encouraged to apply.
| |
Here & Next seed funding deadline extended to Jan. 31 | |
|
The deadlines for two Here & Next seed grant applications have been extended from Monday, Jan. 15 to Wednesday, Jan. 31.
This deadline extension applies to:
Tier 1: Spark Funding, Pop-Up Initiative, full applications are due Wednesday, Jan. 31
Tier 2: Interdisciplinary Project Support, the required letter of intent is due Wednesday, Jan. 31. The full applications will still be due Friday, Feb 16.
The remaining Here & Next seed grants Tier 1: Proposal Development and Tier 3: University-Wide Research Initiative, have rolling applications until Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
Visit the Here & Next InfoReady site for more information.
| |
|
If you have an environmentally-focused event you would like included in a future newsletter, submit the event here.
Follow us on Instagram for a weekly event updates.
| |
Center for the Environment Scholars 2023-24 | | | | |
