Warnell Graduate Student Bulletin
Week of April 25th
Contents
2: Highlights
3: On the Horizon
4: We need YOU!
5: Other Opportunities, News, and Updates
1: This week
Ecology Seminar: "Why plant-microbial symbioses matter in our changing world"
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2016, 04:00 PM
Ecology Auditorium
ICON Brown Bag Series: Water Conservation Issues in Georgia with Gil Rogers
From 12:20-1:10
Grab your lunch and please join us for a talk on Water Conservation Issues in Georgia with Gil Rogers, Senior Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center and “Water Conservationist of the Year”.
Wednesday, Apr 27, 2016, 12:15 PM
Warnell Building 1, Room 307
Warnell Seminar: “Managing Forests for Change Given an Uncertain Future”
By Robert Scheller, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Environmental Sciences and Management, Portland State University
Refreshments will be provided before the talk at 4:00.
Thursday, Apr 28, 2016, 03:45 PM
Warnell Bldg. 1 Room 304
Ecology Seminar: "Worm-microbe co-infection: insights from a natural system"
By Vanessa Ezenwa, Associate Professor, UGA Odum School of Ecology
Reception precedes seminar at 3:30 p.m. in lobby.
Thursday, Apr 28, 2016, 04:00 PM
Ecology Auditorium
Procaffeination Hour: Sweet and Savory Bake Sale!
This week we are holding a Bake Sale in the Lobby of Building 2! Please come by to support WGSA. Bring a couple bucks and grab a tasty snack. This time, we are mixing it up a bit and asking for donations of either sweet or savory baked treats...so no matter what you're in the mood for we will have it!
To sign up to bring a baked good or sit at the table, please follow this link!
Friday, Apr 29, 2016, 08:00 AM
Lobby of Building 2
2: Highlights
WGSA End-of-the-Year Cookout! NEXT THURSDAY, MAY 5!!!!! Come celebrate the end of the semester with WGSA at Tara's beautiful house by the river! We plan to have happy hour(s) from 4:30-6:30 down by/in the river, followed by a cookout up at the house starting around 6:30pm. WGSA will provide beer and hot dogs/ burgers and we will have potluck style sides! We will send out an email in the coming week, but mark your calendars now!
Take advantage of the Warnell facebook page! As the end of the semester approaches and people start to think about subleasing or finding roommates for next semester, please make sure to post to our Graduate Buy/Sell/Trade page. This can also help reduce email clutter on the listserv and will allow you to post pictures of your awesome house/room so you can get the most awesome Warnell roommate!
UGA Grad Student Association Facebook page: GSA has created a social facebook page for encouraging interaction between all grad students in all schools and programs university wide. Join it by searching Facebook for: allgradSOCIAL @ UGA!
3: On the Horizon
Georgia Environmental Conference Student Scholarship Poster Competition: Six student finalists will have the opportunity to attend the Annual Georgia Environmental Conference (August 24-26, 2016 | Jekyll Island) and participate in the final round of the poster competition. The finalists will be granted full conference registration, three nights lodging, and the opportunity to showcase their research ideas to conference attendees. Student finalists are expected to provide their own travel to and from the conference, and are responsible for the printing of their posters for display at the conference. Three $1,000 scholarships (one for a graduate student and one for an undergraduate student from Georgia colleges, as well as a "Southeast Superlative" for a student from a college in the Southeastern Region) will be awarded after the final round of judging at the conference. In addition to the monetary award, each scholarship recipient will be recognized on the conference web site and will be offered a complimentary registration for the Georgia Environmental Conference for the following year.There are lots of details about the Student Scholarship Poster Competition at the GEC website. Application submission deadline – 5 p.m. on THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2016
The Natural History Lecture Series is sponsored by the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Natural History, a non-profit organization that supports and advances the mission and programs of the Museum by increasing public awareness, supporting service and outreach programs, fundraising and mobilizing other resources. All talks will take place from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Richard B. Russell Special Collections Library auditorium, and will be preceded by a reception.
The lecture series will include presentations on:
- 12 May 2016: Richard Hall will present a lecture on "Birding through the seasons in Athens-Clarke County"
- 30 June 2016: Robert Wyatt will present a lecture on "Sex in the Garden."
To learn more about the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Natural History, see http://www.gmnhfriends.org/.
4: We need YOU!
5th Annual "Give Child Abuse A Spring Break Raffle" to support A Child's Voice Child Advocacy Center. This 501c3 organization works to coordinate care and investigation for children and their families who may be victims of sexual abuse and/or severe physical abuse in Newton & Walton counties (in between Athens and Atlanta). Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100. Prizes (Over $4,000 total value) include:
-UGA Football Tickets
-Disney World Tickets
-Guided Quail Hunt at Burge Plantation
-PSE Archery Bow
-Yeti Cooler
-Among many others!
If you are interested in buying raffle tickets, please contact alexwrt@uga.edu. He will coordinate a time to bring the raffle tickets to your office and receive payment. Thanks vary much for your willingness to help protect our community's most vulnerable!
Seeking Volunteers to Assist at Annual Outdoors Event at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center! Charlie Elliott is in need of volunteers for various positions at our annual J.A.K.E.S. Day Event on Sat. May 7, 2016. This event brings an estimated 1000+ people to our area and is a large outdoor festival. This event takes place from 10 am-2 pm. A hot dog lunch is included for all volunteers as well as a light breakfast for those who come early.
Want to volunteer AND take part in JAKES day? No worries! The day is structured so you can have fun too.
TO VOLUNTEER: Call or Email Michael Sellers (706-557-3101 or michael.sellers@dnr.ga.gov) to let him know what you would like to do at the event. Complete Volunteer Waiver Form (adult or minor). Note: you can print/complete ahead of time or on the day of the event.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
- Event Set-up and Breakdown (volunteer for one or the other - or both!)
- Set-up: 7:30 to 9:30 am
- Breakdown: 2 pm-3:30 pm
- Kids Fishing Event: 10 am-2 pm
- Need to work at least 1 hour at this area
- Main Duties: Helping kids bait hooks, getting fish off the hooks for kids, and fixing fishing poles.
- Will be assisted by Fisheries, but prior fishing experience is a plus
- 3-4 people minimum needed
- Mini Boat Rides: 10 am-2 pm
- Need to work at least 1 hour at this area
- Main Duties: Getting kids in and out of the boats, sitting with some of the kids and letting them ride through the lake.
- Georgia DNR Law Enforcement will coordinate volunteer duties at this event.
- 3-4 people minimum needed
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation/FCA outdoors shooting tent: 10 am-2 pm
- Need to work at least 1 hour at this area
- Main Duties: Ensure safety, help kids shoot bb guns, keeping guns loaded with bbs
- Need prior shooting sports experience
- NASP Archery Alley: 10 am-2 pm
- Need to work at least 1 hour at this area
- Main Duties: Assisting kids to shoot a bow and arrow, helping gather arrows, ensure safety
- Need prior shooting sports experience
- Face Painting: 10 am-2 pm
- Need to work at least 1 hour at this area
- Main Duties: Painting kids’ faces with wildlife art. Making sure they all have fun.
- Love art and working with kids.
- Need at 3-4 stations at JAKES day to make sure it all is smooth and lines aren’t long
- Brooke Ager Discovery Room Tours: 10 am-2 pm
- Need to work at least 1 hour at this area
- Main duties: Handing out scavenger hunt info, making sure no one taps tanks, talk about some of the exhibit animals and displays
- Must Love working with kids and the public. Also needs to love animals.
Take advantage of Procaffeination Hour for more than just the free coffee and donuts! Use this time to get feedback from your peers on a forthcoming manuscript or grant proposal you are writing, or get suggestions for how to improve your presentation for an upcoming conference or thesis defense. Or, you could take this opportunity to share some of your knowledge or technical expertise with us by leading a workshop. Or, try leading a discussion about a thought-provoking paper. Sign up to lead one of our designated activities one week (and earn two Participation Points)!! If you're interested in capitalizing on this opportunity, send an email to Tiffany Vidal (tvidal@uga.edu).
5: Other Opportunities, News, and Updates
Term Biological Science Technician (Invasive Species), GS-0404-04, position, located at the Bosque del Apache NWR, San Antonio, New Mexico, is now open. See the following link USAJobs for more information: R2-16-1680076-CL-DEUApplication deadline: April 26
GA DNR Law Enforcement Conservation Ranger- Looking for a challenging and exciting career, where you can enjoy the outdoors, serve the public and work on a team where you are valued and appreciated? Ever considered becoming a Conservation Ranger? Great! We are looking for self motivated men and women with a good work ethic and a desire to protect Georgia’s beautiful natural resources and to provide a positive public safety presence for all of our citizens. For more details visit http://www.gadnrle.org/node/11 or contact the DNR LE Training Center by email at DNR.Training.Academy@dnr.ga.gov or by phone at 478-993-4545.
Accepting applications from May 1–June 15
Writing Intensive Program (WIP) Teaching Assistant in the 2016-17 academic year: The WIP program (http://wip.uga.edu/), administered through the Franklin College, trains graduate students to serve as teaching assistants to support writing intensive courses. Warnell graduate students participate in the program while serving as a TA in the Warnell writing program under the supervision of the writing program coordinator. The selected students will be assigned to work with one or more courses, editing student drafts and providing one-on-one writing instruction to undergraduate students. We encourage students that have extensive writing experience and a strong interest in writing instruction to apply. The selected students will be required to attend the following mandatory WIP training (also notice training for faculty):
Pre-fall orientation for WIP TAs – August 2-4
Pre-fall orientation for WIP Faculty – August 4 (there is some overlap in planned activities)
TAs must enroll in WIPP 7001 (Pedagogy of Writing in the Disciplines) during Fall Semester which meets Fridays from 3:35 – 4:25 pm.
Selected students will receive a Warnell teaching assistantship and will have a work obligation of 16 hours per week. Students must be available to participate both semesters of the academic year. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume/CV (including at least one professional reference), and a writing sample to me by May 2, 2016.
Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Natural Resource Social Science (NRSS) Lab in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. The NRSS Lab is a highly productive and vibrant group that primarily focuses on the intersections between water quality, climate change and agriculture in the Midwestern United States.For more information about the lab and Dr. Prokopy, please visit: https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/prokopy/. To apply for any of this position, please email Dr. Prokopy at lprokopy@purdue.edu and attach a letter of interest, a current CV or resume, and contact information for three professional references. This position is available immediately but must be filled by August 15, 2016.
USGS Post-Doctoral Research – Quantitative Ecologist focused on continental-scale sample design for monarch butterflies and the resources that sustain them.This announcement is a pre-notification. We anticipate that the official job announcement will be posted to www.usajobs.gov in early summer – you can register at that site to receive a notification of when this position is posted. As an expression of interest and to be notified when this job is listed on USAjobs.gov, please send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references via email, subject line “Monarch Sample Design Post-doc”, to Wayne Thogmartin at wthogmartin@usgs.gov.
NAI 2016 Scholarship Announcement: The National Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarship Award is seeking application.The National Association for Interpretation scholarship program is for college students who are studying natural, historical, and cultural interpretation or a closely related field with career aspirations in the field of interpretation. Click here for the announcement and application process. The deadline is April 25.
Maymester Course: Coastal Plain Ecosystems: Ecology and Conservation Management: The objective of this Maymester course (May 16-21, 2 credit hours) is to gain intensive field exposure to unique Coastal Plain ecosystems. The course will focus on natural history, challenges of conservation management, and restoration of longleaf pine savanna ecosystem, associated isolated wetlands, and riparian forests. Cost is $190, which includes housing, dinner, and materials. For information contact kkirkman@jonesctr.org.
NRC Postdoctoral Researcher - The 2001 National Marine Fisheries Service Stock Assessment Improvement Plan identified spatial processes and analyses as a high priority research need for “next generation assessments.” This project will involve collaboration with a group of stock assessment scientists from each NMFS regional Science Center. The candidate will likely oversee the project in coordination with the principal investigators. One of the primary duties will involve developing simulation models that emulate several existing nationally important stock assessments to explore scenarios for how fish movement, varying fishery effort and selectivity, and spatially varying biological processes affect the ability to assess and manage populations. For more information and to apply online go to: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap/. Applications close May 1.
Spatial Capture-Recapture Workshop at Warnell! - Richard Chandler and Andy Royle will be offering a spatial-mark recapture workshop at Warnell from July 12-15, 2016. The course will introduce key models used in the analysis of spatially-explicit capture-recapture data, following closely material from the book “Spatial Capture-Recapture” (Elsevier, 2014). Participants will learn how to estimate population parameters and model spatial and temporal variation in density and vital rates using a variety of data types, including data from camera traps, hair snares, live traps, and mist-nets. Models to be covered include closed and open population models, models of landscape resistance, mark-resight models, and integrated population models. Software coverage will include the R packages “secr” and “oSCR” as well as JAGS and WinBUGS. Cost of attendance is $350 (students) and $550 (normal rate), which includes lunch, refreshment breaks, and instructional materials (including a copy of the book "Spatial Capture-Recapture"). More details can be found here. Registration closes May 1.
DataStart: The Southern Startup Internship Program in Data Science - DataStart provides graduate students from the South region the opportunity to work with host data-related startup companies on data-intensive business challenges important to the company and relevant to the student's course of study. Eligible graduate students will be paid for their work through a grant to the startup company, and it is up to the students to identify their proposed host company. To apply, visit: http://www.southbdhub.org/. Applications are due May 1.
Graduate Student Workshop on Socio-Environmental Synthesis: Interdisciplinary Proposal Writing and Collaboration - The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center in Annapolis, Maryland, is accepting applications for the third Graduate Student Workshop on Socio-Environmental Synthesis in June. Graduate students from the natural, social, and computational sciences with strong interests in bridging disciplines through integrated research are encouraged to apply for this all expenses paid opportunity. For more information, visit their site. Applications are due May 8.
Summer courses through CIRTL: This summer CIRTL is offering a range of courses, a workshop, and several in-person teaching institutes at our member institutions. Registration opens next Monday, April 11 and closes Monday, May 9, and is required for all our summer activities. Keep reading for more details!
Cross-Network Courses:
Advancing Learning through Evidence-Based STEM Teaching: This 8-week MOOC begins Wednesday, June 1. Learn about evidence-based instruction through our Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), taught by faculty from across the CIRTL Network. Unlike the rest of our online classes, the MOOC is entirely asynchronous, meaning students can work independently throughout the 8-week course.
Disabling Difference in the STEM Classroom: The Disability & Universal Course Design You Need to Know for Inclusion: On Wednesdays starting June 15. Weekly online meetings at 2:15-3:30PM ET/1:15-2:30PM CT/12:15-1:30PM MT/11:15AM-12:30PM PT
Develop teaching practices to support all learners - including those with disabilities - in this class taught by instructors from the University of Rochester. Students will study effective pedagogies and disability regulations to learn the basics of accessible course design. The class will meet weekly for 6 weeks; all participants are required to attend these live, online sessions.
Integrating Creativity, Innovation, and Design Thinking in STEM Courses: On Wednesdays starting July 6. Weekly online meetings at 1-2:30PM ET/12-1:30PM CT/11AM-12:30PM MT/10-11:30AM PT. Learn how you can incorporate hands-on creativity into your STEM classroom in this course, taught by instructors from the University of Pittsburgh. This class will meet weekly for 4 weeks, and all participants are required to attend these live, online sessions.
Basics of Online Learning and Teaching: Online meeting times and dates are TBD
Learn the basics of online pedagogy and develop your own online teaching materials in this class, taught by instructors from the University of Georgia and the University of Texas at Arlington. This class will blend live, online sessions (which participants are required to attend) with independent work over the course of 11 weeks. Additional details TBD.
Cross-Network Workshops:
Writing an Academic Resume: Wednesday, June 14 at 11AM-1PM ET/10AM-12PM CT/9-11AM MT/8-10AM PT. Learn how to craft an academic CV that emphasizes your strengths while speaking to NIH and NSF priorities in this workshop led by instructors from the University of Texas at Arlington. In addition to attending the live, online workshop on June 14, participants will be required to do some preparatory work beforehand, and some wrap-up work after.
In-Person Teaching Institutes:
Evidence-Based Teaching Institute (Vanderbilt University, May 2016): In Nashville, TN on Thursday, May 19 and Friday, May 20. Learn the basics of evidence-based teaching in this day-and-a-half institute at Vanderbilt University. Participants will cover a range of topics related to teaching-as-research, including how people learn, challenge-based learning, course design, assessment, classroom management, classroom technology, and scholarly resources.
Summer Teaching Institute (Johns Hopkins University). In Baltimore, MD from Tuesday, May 24 through Thursday, May 26. This three-day intensive institute, hosted at Johns Hopkins University, addresses common themes and challenges in teaching and education at the post-secondary level. Through faculty presentations and group work, participants will learn about innovations and research in undergraduate education.
STRIPE Teaching Institute (University of Colorado Boulder). In Boulder, CO from Monday, June 13 through Friday, June 17. Take part in this week-long teaching institute at the University of Colorado Boulder, specially designed for STEM postdocs. Participants will learn to apply engineering principles of design, build, test and iterate to their curriculum development, drawing from relevant literature and techniques.
Evidence-Based Teaching Institute (Vanderbilt University, August 2016). In Nashville, TN on Thursday, August 18 and Friday, August 19. Learn the basics of evidence-based teaching in this day-and-a-half institute at Vanderbilt University. Participants will cover a range of topics related to teaching-as-research, including how people learn, challenge-based learning, course design, assessment, classroom management, classroom technology, and scholarly resources.
Assistant Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy, University of Minnesota - Tenure-track, 9-month, full-time appointment with responsibilities for teaching (50%) and research (50%). The position is in the Department of Forest Resources within the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and located on the St. Paul Campus. Apply online via the Employment System at: http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/employment/. Questions can be directed to Dr. Michael Kilgore at mkilgore@umn.edu. Review of applications begins May 15 until the position is filled.
Ocean Exchange competition - Ocean Exchange welcomes registration from innovators with solutions (with working prototypes) in materials, device, processes, and systems with the ability to: Transform Sustainability into Value—innovations that generate economic growth and increased productivity, while reducing the use of nature’s resources and waste. 15 finalists will be selected by the Solutions Review Team to travel to Savannah, Georgia (expenses paid) to present at Ocean Exchange November 9-11, 2016. Winners receive an award of $100,000. For more information, visit: https://www.omnicontests4.com/?comp_id=E3CC8F30-0E33-4242-A65C-B9657E40CA05 Registration deadline is May 17.
Remember...
WGSA Participation Points: Remember to sign in anytime you participate in a WGSA event (e.g., Procaffeination Hour, socials, etc.) or attend the Warnell seminar (Thursdays at 4pm). We’ll usually have a sign-in sheet labeled with “WGSA” near the door at each event. If you can’t find the sign in sheet, look for one of the WGSA officers. If you attend a WGSA or Warnell event, and do not see a sign-in sheet or an officer, please email us at warnellgsa@gmail.com to let us know what event you attended so we can record it. If you are interested in knowing how many points you have, please email Abby at avsterl@uga.edu for an update!
Don’t forget to sign up to join our listservs!
• Social outings email group: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/wgs-social-outings
• Help forum: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/warnell-graduate-student-help-forum
• Warnell Graduate Buy/Sell/Trade Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1484920215160374/
Have an event you'd like included in the bulletin? Feel free to email any details to Abby at avsterl@uga.edu. Thanks!
Thanks so much for your enthusiasm,
Your WGSA officers: Tara, Kristen, Adrian, and Abby
Email: WarnellGSA@gmail.com
Website: http://warnellgsa.blogspot.com/
Phone: -