The University of Denver's Environmental Team

The University of Denver's Environmental Team has been hard at work around campus. Although this student-run organization has a mere twenty active participants, their impact on campus is hard to miss.With meetings every other week, this group has the drive and determination to make a difference, not only on campus, but in the community as well.

During the fall quarter, the DU-ET sponsored the America Recycles Day on November 15, in which they petitioned the University for more recycling bins, with the goal of having a bin on every floor of every classroom building. This event was held in order to educate students, faculty and staff on recycling, including what can be recycled and where the recycling bins are located. Erin Wafer, a freshman and an active member of the Team, exclaimes that "my one goal would be for the students to understand the importance of recycling." The DU-ET also petitioned the University for reusable plates and cups at the Village Commons, hoping this effort will decrease the amount of waste produced on campus. Other previous events sponsored by the Environmental Team have been the Pepsi Campaign and hosting guest speakers such as Adam Warbach, the former President of Sierra Club, and Julia Butterfly-Hill.

The winter and spring quarters are also packed-full of events that promote environmental awareness. This year they are pushing a massive energy campaign to raise awareness about energy conservation. They are also promoting alternative energy sources on campus. They are hoping that once an alternative source can be instituted, previous enegy bills can be compared with the current ones and the saved money can be donated to an environmental cause. This campaign also ties into their concern for global warming and the ways the University can reduce their impact on the environment. They are also planning a campus wide event at the end of the school year to encourage environmental education.. "There are little everyday things," explains Tracy Vlnicka, a sophomore studying Environmental Science and the current Secretary of the DU-ET, "that each one of us can do...little environmental things...then just keep progressing and working towards solving the problem."

With that kind of encouragment, students now have some great opportunities to get involved. The Environmental Team meets twice a month and welcomes anyone who is interested. They also have a list-serve that is free to join and provides all the current information on their projects and events. You can also log onto their website at http://www.du.edu/orgs/environmentalteam/. This is an excellent way for students to begin particpating. Libby Voss, another active member on the Team, concludes that students need to be "aware of their impact (on the environment) and what they can do to change it, and help them believe there is strength in numbers."

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Spotlight: The Environmental Team's Vice President, Nic Heidinger

During the past year the DU Enivronmental Team has organized and sponsored numerous events promoting environmental awareness and preservation. Spearheading these functions has been Nic Heidinger, the 2002-2003 Vice President. Hailing from the great state of Oklahoma, Nic is a senior studying Real Estate and Accounting, and as an avid rock climber and hiker, he has a great awareness of the impact humans can have on the environment. Ranging from local and community level concerns to global issues, Nic's desire to educate and inform the public continues to grow, influencing his active involvement in the Environmental Team. As the Vice President, Nic has helped organize such events as the Platter River Clean Up, America Recycles Day, and the Rockies Organization Conference which created an alliance between the University of Denver, Colorado State University, the University of Northern Colorado, the University of Santa Fe, the University of Colorado, along with many other colleges in the region, to help promote environmental awareness. Known as the the Rocky STEP (Students Toward Environmental Protection), Nic and his fellow environmentalist at each of these universities are petitioning to have a recycling bin placed on every floor in all of the classroom buildings.

With an expected gradutation date of Fall 2003, Nic has began to look towards the future and how he can continue to stay involved in environmental issues. One of his own concerns is the increasing amount of urban sprawl and the effect it is having on the surrounding habitat. Coinciding with his Real Estate degree, Nic has plans of researching and staying informed on this issue. He is also concerned with Global Warming, stating "we do not know what the effects will be and it is time to take action." He is also interested in finding new ways to reduce waste and pollution that are accessible and financially reasonable. On the local level, Nic plans on staying involved with community evnironmental programs and staying up to date with new information that is available on the internet.

Along with being Vice President, Nic also holds a steady job doing online marketing for his family business, he is a member of the Mortar Board Honorary Society and continues to hike, rock climb and camp every chance he gets. His work on campus has been impactful and rewarding, helping students become more aware of environmental concerns. With less than a year left at the Universtiy of Denver, Nic's leadership abilities will be greatly missed on campus.

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Core Course in Aspen~Summer 2003

CORE COURSE in ASPEN, COLORADO!!!
Come join us in Aspen, Colorado, Sunday, June 8 (arrival) to Wednesday, June 18, for
"THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
AND HUMAN VALUES"
[CORE 2411, 4 HOURS CREDIT]

In residence at the Mountain Chalet, located at the base of Ajax in the middle of downtown Aspen, we will spend an intensive 10 days studying, discussing, and experiencing some of the major philosophical, ethical, and political issues involved in current debates about the complex relationships between human beings and the natural environment. In a more traditional classroom setting, we will come to understand, through readings, discussion, and presentations, some of the principal historical trends, concepts, values, and philosophies that have shaped our current understanding of the natural environment and our own place within it. In addition, however, we will also take full advantage of the many natural and human resources that the "Aspen environment" has to offer, since the Aspen valley itself is not only a place of immense natural beauty but also of rich history, intensive economic development, factional conflict - and the home of many organizations and individuals representing a wide diversity of ways in which such issues might be approached and, perhaps, resolved in the future. This course, then, will combine a more intellectual study of the philosophies and values shaping our attitudes toward the natural environment with personal experiences of the environment and the changes that it has undergone, and with face-to-face discussions with some of those currently involved in defining and resolving the many issues involved in its preservation, conservation, and utilization.

Instructors: Jere O'Neill Surber, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Denver, a longtime and award-winning teacher, scholar, outdoor enthusiast, and nationally recognized lecturer on environmental issues from the perspective of the Humanities; and David Hale, Associate Director of the course and on-site Coordinator, a graduate of the University of California and Yale University, a longtime instructor at Colorado Mountain College, currently a doctoral student in the DU-Iliff Joint Doctoral Program, and a widely published journalist, professional mountaineering guide, and Aspen resident.

Cost: $600 (approx., in addition to normal DU summer tuition and fees). This covers room (double-occupancy), some light meals and refreshments, and other instructional materials and activities.

For further information, contact Jere Surber, Dept. of Philosophy, x2063, or at jsurber@du.edu. Enroll early - spaces are strictly limited!

THEMES AND TOPICS:

While we are still in the process of finalizing the syllabus, included among the topics and themes to be discussed are:

I. Aesthetic Values of the Natural Environment

" An historical overview of changing perceptions of the natural environment as represented in the visual arts
" The representation of the landscape in the visual arts and photography
" Various aesthetic values associated with "nature" and the "natural environment" (the picturesque, the sublime, and modernist/postmodernist views)
" Drawing the distinction between the "natural world" and "civilization"
" The Natural Environment and the Impact of Recreation

II. Philosophical Approaches to Ethical and Moral Values regarding the Natural Environment

" The Nature and Limits of Philosophy and Ethical Theory
" Individualistic Approaches: The rights of animals and other natural objects.
" Holistic Approaches: The Land Ethic
" Deep Ecology and its Critics
" Ecofeminism and the Critique of Patriarchal Thought
" Political Ecology: From the Free Market to Ecotage
" Postmodernist Attitudes toward the Natural Environment
" The "Third and Fourth World" Responses to Environmentalism

III. Religious and Spiritual Views on the Nature and Ecology

" The "Spiritual Dimension" of Nature
" Attitudes toward Nature in the Traditions of World Religions
" The Emergence of "Ecotheology"
" Spiritual Inflections of Ecofeminism and Deep Ecology
" The Concept of "Sacred Spaces"
" Ethical, Social, and Political Consequences of "Ecotheology"

Related Activities and Guest Presenters:

Again, we are now in the process of developing a schedule involving activities and guest presenters. Representative of the activities being discussed are:

- Visit to Aspen Center for Environmental Awareness, with hike around Hallam Lake and a tour of the museum, focusing on native species and habitats
- Tour of the Smuggler Mine on the east side of Aspen for a close-up look at hardrock mining and its environmental impact
- A trip up Independence Pass with a demo of traditional and sport climbing techniques, compared as to their effects on the environment
- A hike up Castle Peak to assess the effects of trail erosion on the "Fourteeners"
- Horse rental from the T/Lazy Seven stables for a ride up East Maroon Pass to illustrate the "legacy of horses" in our Western states
- A drive up to Lincoln Reservoir to study the effects of water diversion from the Western slope to the Eastern population centers
- A mountain bike ride from the Snowmass Ski Area lifts to illustrate mountain biking as "mechanized use" and the issue of multi-use Forest Service Permits at ski areas.
- A drive up Independence Pass to tour the old ghost town of Independence, with possible side trip to the grottos and ice caves.
- A river rafting trip to illustrate the effects of recreational activities on the water system.

Possible presenters or panel members under discussion:

- M. E. Warlick, art historian specializing in women and the history of science, on representations of the natural environment in the visual arts
- Neal Beidleman, guide on the much-discussed (and fatal) Everest expedition, on the topic of "Is there Ethics above 8000 meters?" (Other panelists may include "survivors" of those climbs)
- Charlotte Fox, the only American woman to summit three 8000 meter peaks, on the topic of risk and adventure
- Susan Hale and "Bubba," human/canine avalanche rescue team, speaking on avalanche control and backcountry safety and etiquette
- Lou Dawson, author of six books including winner of the Banff Book Award and first person to climb and ski all fifty-four of Colorado's Fourteeners, on adventure, risk, and motorized use issues
- Sloan Shoemaker, Director of Aspen Wilderness Workshop and author of the most restrictive of the White River National Forest Alternative Plans, speaking on the use and abuse of the forests
- Jonathan Waterman, adventurer and author of seven books, on indigenous peoples and the natural environment
- Richard Comstock, author of mountain biking guidebooks and Director of the local Sierra Club, on the environmental impact of mountain biking
- Reese Martin, lobbyist for both industries and environmental causes, addressing the pros and cons of environmental advocacy
- Representatives of the National Forest Service, explaining current governmental policies regarding the natural environment
- Abbot Joseph and other members of the Benedictine monastery community at Snowmass, discussing the spiritual dimensions of nature and the environment

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Bridges of the Future Teams Up to Bring D.U. Studentst: HUMAN NATURE

Human Nature, a theatrical group based out of Petrolia, California is heading this way in February! This talented team of three uses the art of theater to express their concern for environmental decay in their skit entitled "What's Funny About Climate Change?" This production has been viewed by numerous audiences all over California and other parts of the United States and is claimed to be highly effective and informative. A review of this group labeled the show as a "lighthearted hour and a half on global warming and the death of the natural world." So why would you want to miss it?

Human Nature will be on campus for one night only. Bridges to the Future, along with the International Institute of Environment and Enterprise (I2E2) and the DU Environmental Team is sponsoring this event and will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 . For more information or to R.S.V.P for this event, please email the I2E2 office at srymer@du.edu.

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Projects and Promotions

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN NATURAL HAZARDS AND SPATIAL PLANNING: Caceres, Spain

Natural hazards represent a threat for population, infrastructures and resources. Strategies for reducing and mitigating their impact are diverse and complex, however spatial planning is an area for the integration of the perspectives from different disciplines as well as a preventive policy for the implementation of these strategies for less populated areas and for mitigating the potential impact in those already highly populated areas.

Specialists with a comprehensive understanding of the factors and problems involved as well as with the capability of designing and implementing the strategies in land use policies and resource management are needed.

The Postgraduate Certificate Program in Natural Hazards and Spatial Planning is an option to train professionals in the fields of Natural and Social Sciences, as well as engineers, with a focus on the study of natural resources and the territory.

It is a multidisciplinary program where specialists from several universities, professionals working in the administration and organizations contribute with their experience and expertise in the different fields.

Spatial data technologies is also a component for the training in the use of tools dealing with spatial information. The Program emphasizes the applied perspective by exposing students to cases where solutions had to be envisioned and applied.

Prerequisits: Bachelor or Engineering degree from an accredited university.

Schedule: January-March 2003

For more information log onto http://geot.unex.es/cursos/cursoriesgos.htm

_______________________________________________________________________________________

DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY:
Neotropical Working Forests Doctoral Fellowship Program

With support from the National Science Foundation, the University of
Florida is launching an Integrated Graduate Education and Research
Traineeship Program focused on neotropical working forests. The
program offers a tiered interdisciplinary curriculum to train
doctoral students to conduct applied research on (1) tradeoffs and
complementarities among working forest options, (2) the effectiveness
of different kinds of working forests for conservation and
development, and (3) capacity building efforts designed to promote
forest management and conservation in neotropical regions.

Information about this program is available on-line at:
www.tropicalforests.ufl.edu/wft

Fellowships will be awarded for up to three years of doctoral study
in the Working Forests in the Tropics program. Awards include
tuition waivers, NSF stipends (currently $21,500 per annum), and some
travel and supply funds

Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents, and be
admitted to a doctoral degree program at UF before they begin
receiving the fellowship.

Application Deadline: Friday, February 7, 2003 at 4:30 p.m.

Application Guidelines are On-line at:
www.tropicalforests.ufl.edu/wft/fellowships.htm

_______________________________________________________________________________________

MACARTHUR FOUNDATION WRITING COMPETITION ON: Technological Change

The MacArthur Foundation invites proposals relating to Technological
Change and Global Security and Sustainability for 2003 and 2004. These
grants to individuals and two-person teams are intended to support
projects that explore the development of improved understanding of key
topics in global security and sustainability, and to broaden and
strengthen the community of scholars engaged in work on these issues.

For further information about the Research and Writing Grants
competition and a brochure describing how to apply, please contact the Foundation by email
at www.macfdn.org.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science sponsors nine
science and technology policy fellowship programs to provide the
opportunity for accomplished and societally aware postdoctoral to
midcareer scientists and engineers to participate in and contribute to
the public policy making process of the federal government.

The fellowships are highly competitive and use a peer-review screening
process. Screening is followed by individual interviews in Washington,
DC, conducted by ad hoc selection committees comprised of professionals
with expertise in the interface of science, technology and government.

The aim of this list is to announce updates to our website and
forthcoming events hosted by the Science, Technology and Innovation
Program, a joint activity of the Center for International Development at
Harvard University and the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program
at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard
University.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

JOB POSITION:
James W. Rote Distinguished Professorship in Earth Systems Science & Policy
Institute for Earth Systems Science & Policy
(Full Professor - Tenure Track)

Job #: FAC2002-0057

Open until filled. Application Screening Begins: Friday, January 17, 2003

The successful candidate for the James W. Rote Distinguished Professorship
in Earth Systems Science and Policy (ESSP) will play a leadership role
helping students and community members link science to policy to sustain
terrestrial and marine environments. The endowed professorship is named
for Dr. Jim Rote, who has bridged the gap between science and policy as he
spent much of his career working in California State government as an
environmental policy advisor. Dr. Rote is one of the chief architects of
the visionary plan that created the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
and was a founding faculty member of the CSUMB faculty.

ESSP offers a rigorous interdisciplinary science Bachelor of Science
degree with concentrations in Marine and Coastal Ecology, Watershed
Systems, or Science Education. We focus on hands-on, active learning, and
help our students apply science and technology to the sustainable
stewardship of human and non-human communities. Additional information
about the ESSP program may be found at http://essp.csumb.edu.

California State University, Monterey Bay is committed to serving the
diverse people of California, especially the working class, historically
under-served, and low-income populations. The identity of the university
is framed by substantive commitment to a multilingual, multicultural,
intellectual community that enables students, faculty, and staff to cross
disciplinary boundaries for innovative instruction, broadly defined
scholarly and creative activity, and coordinated community service. CSUMB
is an equal opportunity employer and committed to building a pluralistic
university by hiring personnel with competencies related to the regional
and State population.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The successful candidate will play a leadership role working within the
ESSP Institute to help students and community members understand the
science and policy connections between the terrestrial and marine
environments that characterize the Monterey Bay Region. The
responsibilities will include:
Working with members of our interdisciplinary faculty to make linkages
between science and policy in the diverse communities in the Monterey
Bay/Salinas Valley regions;
Developing and teaching courses that help students understand the
dynamic connections between science and environmental policy;
Advising students and senior capstone theses where students learn about
the policy process by engaging in that process;
Securing external funding for research, teaching, and community outreach;
Playing an active leadership role in diverse Monterey Bay communities,
where a number of cutting edge initiatives use rigorous science to steward
environmental resources.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
The successful candidate must have:
Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree;
Minimum of five years working full-time in contexts where sound science
is linked to sustainable environmental policy;
Track record excellence in teaching (formal and/or informal) and
mentoring; and
Ability to help students and community members understand the science
and policy connections between the terrestrial and marine environments
that characterize the Monterey Bay region.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
record of success in including diverse players in the policy process,
and should be able to bring that record of success to working with diverse
communities in the Monterey Bay region and diverse students at CSUMB. We
are particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with
communities that have been traditionally underrepresented in environmental
decision making.
Experience working with sophisticated technological applications (e.g.,
geographic information systems, remote sensing, modeling) that link
science to policy. The ability to help students and community partners
understand how technological applications facilitate real world
policymaking.
A track record of securing external funding from granting and
philanthropic agencies, and a continued commitment to securing external
funding.

Interested candidates are welcome and encouraged to contact Dr. William
Head (william_head@csumb.edu) or Dr. David Takacs (david_takacs@csumb.edu)
for detailed information about CSUMB, ESSP, or the specific demands of
this position.

SALARY: Commensurate with background and experience; position also
includes an attractive employee benefits package.

APPOINTMENT DATE: Fall 2003

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
A complete application includes:
A statement/essay describing your professional experiences linking
science to policy; that addresses your vision for how you see yourself
fitting the criteria listed above; and addresses how you can help meet the
needs and goals of ESSP, CSUMB, and the broader Monterey Bay community.
In particular, explain how your background and experience enable you to
contribute to the fulfillment of the CSUMB mission and the ESSP program
(the CSUMB Vision Statement is available at http://csumb.edu/vision or by
writing to the address below); A statement of Teaching Philosophy that addresses a) what education is
about, in your eyes; b) what teaching experiences you have had; c) how you
work with university students or with others whom you have taught or
trained;
A curriculum vitae;
Faculty Data Sheet (available at http://uhr.csumb.edu/jobs/db/fac/ or by
calling 831-582-3389 or 831-582-3369 for TDD users);
A list of three (3) professional references, including names, addresses,
telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses, if available. Note: References
will not be contacted until a candidate has been notified that they have
been selected for further consideration.

Upon offer of employment candidate must provide original transcript as
evidence of attainment of highest degree. Screening will begin January
17, 2003. Applications received following this date may be considered
until screening is complete. Faxes and e-mails (attachments should be
readable in Microsoft Word) will be accepted (fax to 831-582-3040, e-mail
to faculty_recruitment@csumb.edu). Materials submitted become property of
CSUMB and will not be returned. Should you require accommodation with the
application process, please contact recruitment staff at the number listed
below.

Apply to:
Faculty Recruitment/University Human Resources
California State University, Monterey Bay
100 Campus Center, Building 23
Seaside, CA 93955-8001
(831) 582-3389

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