HomeArchive by Category "national"

JOB: DoE, join the BioEnergy Technologies Office (BETO) Renewable Carbon Resources Team

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join our Renewable Carbon Resources (RCR) subprogram as a Technology Manager (General Engineer/GS-0801-12 or Physical Scientist/GS-1301-12). BETO’s RCR subprogram works with public and private stakeholders to develop innovative technologies and conduct crosscutting analyses that can sustainably expand the availability and use of renewable carbon resources for biofuels and renewable chemicals production in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join our Renewable Carbon Resources (RCR) subprogram as a Technology Manager (General Engineer/GS-0801-12 or Physical Scientist/GS-1301-12). BETO’s RCR subprogram works with public and private stakeholders to develop innovative technologies and conduct crosscutting analyses that can sustainably expand the availability and use of renewable carbon resources for biofuels and renewable chemicals production in the U.S.

The individual will support portfolio management of projects from academia, the DOE national laboratories, and industry, and will help to execute the multi-year R&D vision and funding opportunities to achieve BETO and the RCR subprogram goals.

The RCR Technology Manager’s responsibilities will include:

  • Supporting the RCR Program Manager in developing long-term goals and objectives and establishing specific requirements and schedules for conducting research and analysis
  • Developing topics for potential inclusion in annual calls for proposals, reviewing proposals, and supporting technology review activities
  • Proactively managing projects for success
  • Preparing and presenting briefing materials
  • Preparing technical program documents

This position is located at DOE’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. or the Golden Field Office in Golden, Colorado, and periodic multi-day travel is expected. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.

The deadline to apply for this Technology Manager position is November 22, 2024.Learn more about the role and responsibilities, knowledge and skills required and how to apply.

View BETO’s website for additional job opportunities and bioenergy career resources.

Policy Dashboard – comparing climate work across the States

Haven’t had a chance to truly evaluate this dashboard of policies across the country – but it certainly covers 7 policy areas for compare, contrast and consideration.

so for example in NYS, there are 42 enacted policies

 

You can explore different features

They make a Business As Usual (BAU) graph which happily has a downward trend! But of course is far from our Actual Goals by 2050.

Notably, it appears that transportation sector makes the most progress with the BAU, and buildings have the least change in the current BAU.

I believe these BAU were created by Energy Policy Simulator here: https://rmi.org/energy-policy-simulator/

 

You can search within NYS, using a keyword such as “environmental justice” and see what policies NYS has for EJ.

And from that, you can see how different states are defining EJ

You can also select states and compare policies on a topic area. So for Working Lands, I chose 3 other states plus NY and it shares this composite info.

Remember, this is crowd sourced. So may not be comprehensive etc. But it certainly helps direct you to other states with model legislation to consider.

To see how Electricity is building out

See Model Rules from Legal Pathways to Deep Decarboinzation, a Dashboard contributor: https://lpdd.org/

See Georgetown Climate Center’s Adaptation Clearinghouse here: https://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/?swcfpc=1

A great DB for energy policy is https://www.dsireusa.org/

State Policy Opportunity Tracker, with component-based clean energy policies: https://www.spotforcleanenergy.org/

 

To think about a single policy and what is happening, you can just search a term like Net Metering

you can see no states have policy enacted

then you can look at every state to see status and language

 

Or see who is funding weatherization campaigns

 

details by state

And then it links you to other tools like

Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool

An interactive map of each state’s energy burden, energy costs, an area’s median income, and key population demographics. State comparisons are available in the tool.

https://www.energy.gov/scep/slsc/lead-tool

 

PostDoc: resource economics–climate change impacts for diverse Oklahoma stakeholders.

Integrated project that brings community members to the table, guiding research and creating impactful programs.

More details here:https://okstate.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/8/home/requisition/18525?c=okstate&o7jktnsz=&m=-5&u=-107

Oklahoma State University is seeking a Rural Confluence Postdoctoral Fellow to join a $6M NSF-funded initiative!

  • Conduct cutting-edge research on climate change impacts
  • Engage with diverse stakeholders in rural Oklahoma
  • Collaborate with top institutions across the country
  • Gain valuable outreach and community engagement experience

If you have a Ph.D. in agricultural economics or related field, strong communication skills, and a drive to make a difference, come work with Amy Hagerman at the OSU-Stillwater campus and Andrew Van Leuven with the University of Vermont (remote).

Job: USDA Climate Hub – California (postdoc/fellow)

This would be a great and timely op!

The USDA California Climate Hub has an active announcement for up to two (2) Climate Hub fellows/postdoctoral scholar research associates.  These are being advertised at both the GS 11 and 12 levels in Davis CA (on the UC Davis campus), telework eligible and will be open until December 31, 2025. We welcome applicants eager to work in the climate solutions/applied climate science via applicable disciplines for agriculture, water or forestry applications in support of the states natural and working lands. The position can be found at USA Jobs.

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/813326900

Job: Scientist –Livestock Methane, EDF

Job Op

https://www.edf.org/jobs/scientist-livestock-methane

The food system accounts for around one-third of global climate impacts, and this will only increase as we work to feed a growing global population of 10 billion people. Methane emissions are a major part of these impacts but are mostly an under-realized strategy for climate action. The livestock sector must accelerate methane mitigation if the world is to slow the rate of climate change and avoid disastrous tipping points.

Dairy Methane Action Alliance (DMAA) is a global initiative convened by EDF to spur action and accountability to drive down dairy methane emissions. With 8 major companies already signed on, it requires signatories to measure, report, and make a public action plan to reduce methane emissions, while providing the tools, resources and networks to unlock barriers and speed action.

 

Overall Function

The Scientist, Livestock Methane will be a critical part of the Livestock Methane Science team, joining in its efforts to 1) review and provide input to documents targeting corporate audiences to ensure alignment with best available science while staying practical to corporate needs; 2) engaging with outside scientists to fill critical scientific gaps that can push our work forward; and 3) supporting the overall livestock methane science team on critical projects. The Livestock Methane team works in close coordination with the EDF+Business and Climate Smart Agriculture teams, and the Scientist will have a particular focus on the science and technical needs of DMAA members.

The Scientist will report to the Lead Senior Scientist in the Office of Chief Scientist.

Duration: This is a two-year fixed-term position with the possibility for extension.

Location: This position may either be fully remote or hybrid out of one of EDF’s offices.

Key Responsibilities

  • Conduct rigorous original scientific research with a focus on livestock methane, nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions.
  • As part of the Livestock Science Team, help develop and support a scientifically rigorous livestock methane reduction strategy with a particular focus on the DMAA.
  • Work with key stakeholders to receive feedback and build consensus on the work to meet scientific and technical rigor while being able to provide practical and actionable guidance to companies.
  • Become familiar with existing and evolving GHG climate standards and best practices, such as the GHG Protocol, SBTi, CA LCFS and others, to determine overlap with DMAA guidance and support overall strategic engagement.
  • Define scientific frameworks and standards for models and on-farm tools including Cool Farm Tool, FarmES and RuFaS, COMET Farm, CNCPS, etc. for on-farm quantification of emissions in the Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MMRV) framework for different contexts.
  • Coordinate, support, and manage key partnerships with technical bodies and/or consultants to coordinate research and pilots to increase the understanding of livestock methane reduction products, technologies and management approaches.
  • Collaborate on the development of criteria for determining efficacy of enteric methane inhibiting products for inclusion in calculation of methane reduction in on-farm tools.
  • In collaboration with EDF scientists, lead research and regulatory partnerships by developing and executing webinar and technical workshops.
  • Publish in scientific journals as lead and co-author as part of EDF’s science team and with science partners outside of EDF.
  • Stay up-to-date on relevant research and build and maintain scientific networks.
  • Represent EDF externally by attending and presenting at conferences and external meetings.
  • Participate in advancing EDF DEI goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
  • Build and cultivate internal and external relationships that deliver project goals and support trust building and idea generation.
  • Develop work plans, negotiate project agreements and scopes of work, and manage project work and deliverables.
  • Forge strong internal collaborations with the Climate Smart Agriculture, EDF+Business, and Office of the Chief Scientist teams as a critical member of a cross-cutting team working on agricultural methane emissions.
  • Evaluate projects, identify new opportunities, engage in thought-partnership, disseminate and communicate progress and outcomes, and support strategic refinement of plans as part of the broader Livestock Methane team.
  • Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

Fall Webinar Series: Climate and Communities 2nd wed/month 1pm EST, free

Join us for 4 free webinars scheduled for this fall from across the United States.

WHEN:

  • 2nd Wednesday of the month
  • 1pm EST
  • Please register for each event of interest

Most events will be recorded and shared publicly here, after the event recording has been processed.

Scroll for more details about each event, below.

September 11, 1pm EST: YOUTH & Climate, all youth recordings Here!

This hour long webinar will  discuss multiple ways to engage youth with climate change: teaching the need to replace fossil fuels in our energy systems, programs to support youth climate digital app development, and working creating culturally inclusive curricula with indigenous communities.

TITLE: Where Does Gasoline Go? Why We Must Replace Fire in Our Energy System
PRESENTER: Don Haas (Director of Teacher Programming at The Paleontological Research Institution)

Did you know a gallon of gasoline weighs about six pounds? Burning ten gallons of gas a week means sixty pounds seemingly disappear from the tank. What becomes of it, when placed in the context of 374 million gallons that we burn in the US every day, is an astonishing but undeniably true tale. Where does it go? Why should we care?

Key Resource: Climate & Energy Resources on PRI’s Earth@Home: https://climate.earthathome.org/

NOTE: PRI has online workshop in mid-October, and we can do workshops for groups. You can subscribe for announcements here: http://eepurl.com/goSjST

TITLE: Youth Power to Reduce Carbon Power
PRESENTER: Donna Nuger (4-H Youth Development Educator, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Extension)

Nuger will discuss how youth are using their interest in technology and coding to increase awareness and inspire changes in people’s habits to decrease their carbon output, leading to a reduction in global warming.

TITLE: Creating a Culturally Inclusive Climate Change Curriculum with and for Indigenous People: Lessons Learned
PRESENTER: Ros McCann (Utah State University – Moab)

As part of a national science foundation project inspired by the NECI network, Ros will share her experience in building relationships with tribal members in the Colorado Plateau region. This will include an overview of how she formed a diverse team to co-create a climate change curriculum by and for Indigenous participants, what the curriculum entailed and the products that resulted from this process. Coverage here: https://www.usu.edu/today/story/usu-helps-host-unique-and-indigenous-student-specific-natural-resource-leadership-program

Curriculum can be found here:Utah NATURE Climate Module_ A Co-Created Menu Utah NATURE Climate Module_ A Co-Created Menu

 

SPEAKER BIOS

Don Haas (formerly, Don Duggan-Haas) is the Director of Teacher Programming at The Paleontological Research Institution and its Museum of the Earth & Cayuga Nature Center in Ithaca, NY. He is a nationally regarded expert in climate and energy education, place-based and technology-rich Earth and environmental science education; and is a past president of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers. He is co-author of the books, The Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change and The Science Beneath the Surface: A Very Short Guide to the Marcellus Shale. He strives to help others thrive in their teaching and learning, especially as related to climate and energy and he wants you to talk more about fire.

Donna Nuger joined University of Illinois Extension in 2004. During her tenure, she has focused on STEM and Youth Leadership. Environmental education field trips for youth in grades K-8 have ranged from the half day program, Pumpkin Day for the little ones to full day events like Natural Resources Day and multi-day events that included Environmental Science in Action with hands on research and career exploration. Nuger initiated and implemented 4-H Science Ambassadors that encouraged 4-H Teen Teachers and individual projects/research. Nuger has received and coordinated Ag Innovators Experience grants through National 4-H, funded by Monsanto/Bayer for Illinois. She looks forward to making future contributions in the area of climate change and ensuring that our youth have a healthy planet for their future.

Roslynn Brain McCann is a Professor & Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist in the Department of Environment and Society, College of Natural Resources at Utah State University. She teaches undergraduates Communicating Sustainability, helps lead the National Extension Climate Initiative, is the coordinator USU Extension Sustainability’s Utah Farm-Chef-Fork, the USU Permaculture Initiative, and Sustainable You! kids’ camps, co-leads the Utah High School Clean Air Marketing Contest, and is engaged in tribal climate change resilience.

October 9, 1pm EST: Empowering Communities: 1890 Land-Grant Institutions Tackling Climate Change, Recordings here. 

This hour long webinar will discuss the crucial role of 1890 Land-Grant Institutions in tackling climate change faced by underserved communities.

TITLE: The Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice:  Ensuring Resilience for Underserved Communities
PRESENTER: Alton Thompson (Executive Director, Association of 1890 Research Directors, ARD)

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and addressing it requires a strong commitment to research and development. For too long, environmental policy have failed to adequately address environmental injustice, particularly the unequal and cumulative effects of pollution and climate change on low-income communities and communities of color. Researchers at the 1890 land-grant universities, informed by their lived experiences of these communities, play a critical role in developing student leaders, advocates, while also supporting rigorous scientific analysis on issues like community and agricultural resiliency, climate adaptation and environmental justice.

TITLE: Leveraging AI and Innovation to Empower Future Leaders in Resource-Limited Communities
PRESENTER: Ali Fares (Professor of Water Security, Prairie View A&M University)

Dr. Fares’ academic program uses cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence to address resource challenges in the water-energy-food nexus for communities with limited resources. By training future leaders and professionals from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) through various outreach activities based on his research, Dr. Fares empowers them to tackle climate change challenges effectively and develop and implement sustainable solutions.

PRESENTER: Raymon Shange (1890 Extension Administrator, Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension)

SPEAKER BIOS

Dr. Thompson provides leadership and coordination in representing ARD in developing multistate and national priorities and implementing a regional response for the 1890 system. In addition, Thompson promotes, articulates and advocates the priorities of the 1890 region’s research agenda within the framework of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute for Agriculture (NIFA), other federal agencies and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). Thompson serves in an executive capacity on several committees and working groups focusing on legislative issues, federal, state and private appropriation of funds for 1890 multistate research and the long-term direction of established and developing 1890 universities initiatives. Key Resource: Foundation for Food Agriculture and Research (FAR)

Ali Fares is the Endowed Professor at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), Texas and Chair of Water Security, Water Energy and Food Nexus. He is currently the editor of the Water Security Book Series.  He has edited two books and published 14 book chapters, over 20 conference proceedings, and over 74 articles in peer reviewed journals. His research interests include disaster preparedness and resiliency, flood prediction and mitigation, water security, water-energy-food nexus, watershed hydrology and management, water allocation, irrigation management, and adaptation and mitigation of climate variability. Currently he is doing research on Reducing Energy Barriers for Novel Water. Dr Fares’ research in artificial intelligence in agriculture as well as several inter-disciplinary, multi-institution projects, is supported by millions of dollars. His testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee urged federal support to address “specific climate change needs of the underserved farming communities and train future professionals in climate-smart agriculture discipline.” Key Resource: https://works.bepress.com/fares-ali/

Dr. Shange’s research and teaching interests encompass the areas of: Ecology (Agroecology, Microbial Ecology, Molecular Ecology, and Ecological Engineering), Sustainable Agriculture, Impact of Climate Change on Ecosystems, Rural Energy & Water, Natural Resource Management, Integration of Art, Science and Nature, and Environmental Ethics and Justice. He has been an 1890’s Extension Administrator since 2022.

November 13, 1pm EST: ELECTRIFICATION & Climate, Recording here.

This hour long webinar will  discuss multiple ways to understand how ‘electrification’ can save money, decrease greenhouse gases, and improve health and well-being in our daily lives.

TITLE: Electrification: Climate Action or Personal Benefit?
PRESENTER: Brian Stewart (Co-Founder of Electrify Now)

Whether your motivation is to fight climate change, improve the safety and comfort of your home, reduce your health risks, or lower your energy bills, the sensible actions are the same – electrify your home and personal transportation. We will discuss how the topic of electrification can be approached from multiple entry points that each might resonate with our audience in different ways to help them to take action.

Key Resource: Electrify Now webinars on all things electrification: https://electrifynow.net/electrify-coalition-webinars

TITLE: Electrify your Landscaping Equipment: It’s Clean, It’s Quiet, It’s Healthy 
PRESENTER: Mark Puhlman (Lake Oswego Sustainability Network, Board Member)

Tackling climate change can seem to be an overwhelming proposition. But there is a key strategy that can make a major impact: Electrify Everything. Transitioning gas-powered landscaping equipment to electric helps the community take meaningful action addressing climate change while also improving air quality and reducing harmful noise levels in our community. This short talk will discuss the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network’s efforts to encourage a small community in the state of Oregon transition from Gas-powered equipment to electric landscaping equipment. Included are actions that the individual citizen can take to advance the transition.

Key Resource: https://mailchi.mp/15638b3e0577/losn-sustainability-insider-april-2021

TITLE: Energy Circuit Riders Spur Clean Energy Progress in Rural New Hampshire
PRESENTER: Sarah Brock (Clean Energy New Hampshire, Energy Circuit Rider Program Director)

New Hampshire’s unique Energy Circuit Rider (ECR) program embeds clean energy experts in rural New Hampshire communities, providing capacity and technical support to get projects done. Hosted by nonprofit Clean Energy NH and funded through a mix of philanthropic and federal sources, the program is currently supporting over 180 community-based energy projects in over 80 towns. The ECR program also supports small businesses statewide in applying for USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program, with grants for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Join us to hear reflections from the field: what works to spur community-based clean energy action, and what you can do to move projects forward in your own community.

Key Resource: Direct Pay / Elective Pay Guide

SPEAKER BIOS

Brian Stewart is a co-founder of Electrify Now, a volunteer organization devoted to educating energy consumers and homeowners about the health and economic benefits of electrification and the role that all of us can play to accelerate the world to clean renewable energy and a sustainable future. Brian has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.

Mark Puhlman is a board member of the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network, a volunteer organization of concerned citizens in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He holds a doctorate as a nurse practitioner and has worked in the area of heart failure for 45 years. He became interested in sustainability in high school but became very active in this area about 5 years ago after he retired. He is a Board Member of the Sustainability Advisory Board of Lake Oswego as well as a Board Member of the Forest Highlands Neighborhood Association. He has been involved in electrification and urban forest preservation.

Sarah Brock joined Clean Energy New Hampshire as Director of CENH’s Energy Circuit Rider Program in 2024. Sarah works with our growing team of Energy Circuit Riders to help municipalities and small businesses plan, finance, and implement clean energy and energy efficiency projects. Prior to joining Clean Energy New Hampshire, Sarah spent over a decade implementing community-based climate, energy, and transportation programming at Vital Communities, a nonprofit serving the Upper Valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire.

December 11, 1pm EST: RESILIENCY PLANNING & Climate, Register here.

This hour long webinar will share three different examples for engaging resiliency planning in local communities.

TITLE: Building Climate Resiliency through Disaster Preparedness Education
PRESENTER: Kimberly Davis, Extension Emergency Management Specialist, FAMU Extension Disaster Education Programs, Florida A&M University (FAMU)

TITLE: Preparing Agents of Change for Tomorrow: Building Youth Confidence and Capacity for Climate Resilient Futures in Appalachia 
PRESENTER: Megan Kruger, Evaluation and Research Specialist and Environmental Educator, West Virginia University Extension

TITLE: Filling Gaps in Coastal Communities with Asset Mapping
PRESENTER: Jack Voight, Coastal Community Resilience Immersive Training (C-CRIT) Program, Americorps Assessment Coordinator

This talk will discuss experiences working with the C-CRIT program and the work we completed. It will describe future plans for the program and how it can be improved to best fit the needs of different coastal communities. Also describe what I learned about Jones County, North Carolina and specific barriers that hinder the county’s ability to build back with resiliency.

 

SPEAKER BIOS

Ms. Kimberly Davis is an Extension Agent/Emergency Management Specialist with the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative Extension Family, Youth and Community programs/4-H Youth Development. Her areas of specialization include natural resources, environmental education, disaster preparedness and safety. She has over 25 years’ experience in coordinating STEM and environmental education outreach programs including the Kids Involved in Math and Sciences (KIMS) Program, and the Forestry and Conservation Education (FACE) Summer Program. She also worked over 10 years with the Florida Division of Emergency Management as an Environmental Scientist and Planning Manager. She holds a M.S. degree in Agricultural Sciences with a major in Environmental Sciences from FAMU.

Jack Voight is an undergraduate student and researcher from North Carolina State University. majoring in Environmental Engineering and researching as part of the Coastal & Computational Hydraulics Team with mentor Dr. Casey Dietrich. Jack was born and raised on the Outer Banks, North Carolina.

To see our previous webinars, please visit our YouTube channel

Spring 2024 Topics

YOUTH & Climate, Recording Here.

STORYTELLING & Climate, Recording Here.

DIY–Self-Guided Climate Instruction, Recording Here.

COMMUNITIES & Climate, Recordings Here: WA Latine Co-created Materials, PA Women Forest Owners

AGING & Climate, Recordings Here.

 

 

 

HOST: this “CONNECTING CLIMATE to COMMUNITIES” webinar series is hosted by National Extension Climate Initiative (NECI) Curriculum Working Group – a volunteer group looking to share resources amongst interested extension educators.

This program was curated by NECI CWG Active Volunteers Summer 2024

David Kay, Cornell University

James Shope, Rutgers University

Patricia Townsend, Washington State University

Rebecca Ward, NC State University

Jenifer Wightman, Cornell University

Join us or any NECI working group -learn more here: https://nationalextensionclimateinitiative.net/workinggroups/

***NECI is actively seeking a Communications Lead, please contact David Kay if you are interested.

$50 million to help private forest landowners mitigate climate change

Forest Landowner Support provides competitive grant opportunities to entities and organizations for delivering technical and financial assistance to private forest landowners—including Tribes, underserved landowners, and smaller-acreage landowners.

To see the following opportunities, go here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/state-private-tribal-forestry/coop-forestry/ira-forest-landowner-support

ClimateCorps.gov are now open for applications!

20,000 young Americans will find positions in jobs like solar installation, mangrove restoration, re-build wetlands, weatherize homes, fight forest fires, and work on air quality monitoring.

For applying, go here: https://www.acc.gov/

For more press on the topic, go here: https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2024/04/biden-announces-first-tranche-climate-corps-jobs-hopes-segueing-thousands-federal-service/395960/?oref=govexec_news_alert_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GovExec%20Alert:%20April%2022%2C%202024&utm_term=newsletter_ge_alert

 

Faculty Job: Forest Ecosystem Sustainability, tenure-track, Cornell

Faculty Position Available

Assistant/Associate Professor, Tenure-track.

Forest Ecosystem Sustainability 

Department of Natural Resources and the Environment

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University 

Full Listing here: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/26799

 

Location: Ithaca, NY, USA. The academic home for this position is the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), housed on the Ithaca campus of Cornell University.

Position Description and Responsibilities: 

We invite applications for a 9-month, full-time tenure-track position at the level of assistant/associate professor. The position will be 50% research and 50% teaching. The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (DNRE) (https://dnr.cals.cornell.edu/) is a leader of sustainability science within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (https://cals.cornell.edu) at Cornell University due to our collective expertise in the environmental and social sciences and a strong program of transdisciplinary, engaged scholarship. We aim to build on this capacity by hiring a tenure-track assistant/associate professor whose work advances understanding of forest ecosystems.

The successful candidate will establish an internationally recognized, externally funded interdisciplinary research program that advances theory, methods, and practice related to forest ecosystems. The position is premised on our department’s commitment to examining both ecological and social dynamics of natural resources. We seek applicants who investigate the direct/proximate drivers of forest ecosystem degradation related to natural disturbances, such as insect induced mortality, as well as anthropogenic forces, such as climate change and forest harvesting/management, as well as the implications of those changes in terms of carbon sequestration, displacement of people and communities, and/or ecological function. The research of the successful candidate is not limited to a particular scale, although we seek candidates with the ability to work across scales. The successful candidate’s program is also expected to include a field research component. Local on- and off-campus forest lands can be utilized for program research and teaching that are part of the Cornell Botanic Gardens (https://cornellbotanicgardens.org) and the Arnot Teaching and Research Forest (https://blogs.cornell.edu/arnotforest/). In addition to the candidate’s knowledge and passion for trees and forests, experience with other diverse biophysical components of forest ecosystems are welcome.

Outstanding research scholarship is expected, as is excellence in and commitment to teaching, translation of knowledge, and advising and mentoring of students. We seek colleagues with a record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas, and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive excellence at Cornell. As such, candidates are expected to engage in service and leadership activities within their department, the college and university, and relevant professional societies. The successful candidate will teach two undergraduate courses (one of which will be in the area of forest ecology) that will strengthen the cross-college Environment and Sustainability (E&S) undergraduate major, and will develop one graduate seminar.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in a related field. Applicants should demonstrate capacity to apply cutting-edge methods in novel ways that advance understanding of forest ecosystems. Ability to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels is required. We seek candidates able to support a diverse student body through culturally aware advising and inclusive teaching strategies. The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment particularly seeks applicants whose record in research, teaching, and outreach prepares them to contribute to Cornell’s institutional commitment to diversity and equity, and to our department’s commitment to work across the social and biophysical sciences.

Applications received by February 29, 2024, will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Webinar Series: Connecting Climate & Communities- 4th Wed of the month – free

This free webinar series features 17 outreach perspectives for engaging different communities in addressing climate.

The goal is to share resources, stories, methods, and tools from across the U.S. for re-use locally.

Our primary audience is extension educators but this webinar series is applicable to all citizens.

Join Us!

 

Connecting Climate to Communities

Webinar Schedule, YouTube Channel for recordings

TOPICS (scroll down for more details)

February 28: YOUTH & Climate, Recording Here.

March 27: STORYTELLING & Climate, Recording Here.

April 24: DIY–Self-Guided Climate Instruction, Recording Here.

May 22: COMMUNITIES & Climate, Recordings Here: PA Women Forest Owners, WA Latine Co-created Materials

June 26: AGING & Climate, Register Here.

WHEN:

4th Wednesday of the month

3pm EST

Free

Register below

Most events will be recorded and shared publicly here, after the event recording has been processed.

Feb 28, 3pm EST: YOUTH & Climate, Recording Here.

This hour long webinar will explore two existing programs focused on educating youth and educators of youth on climate change. It will be followed by a discussion to explore opportunities for collaborative learning and the potential for building upon each other’s efforts to amplify impact.

WORKING WITH YOUTH
TITLE: Engaging Educators and Participants in Youth Climate Education
PRESENTER: Jack Wright (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

Learn how Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County uses an energy efficient tiny home, nicknamed the “PowerHouse,” to teach youth about energy use and climate change. We’ll explore the successes and challenges of our mobile, enrichment-style programming at schools and libraries.

WORKING WITH YOUTH EDUCATORS
TITLE: Networking with Educators Around Locally-Relevant Climate Information
PRESENTER: Rebecca Ward (NC State University)

This talk will describe the NC Climate Education Network, a virtual network designed to bring together education experts and subject matter experts around teaching climate change in North Carolina. The Network focuses on holding semi-regular virtual panel discussions and Q&A’s on locally-relevant topics to creatively explore novel approaches to teaching climate change.

OPEN INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION
Let’s chat on how to connect with youth in your community!

SPEAKER BIOS

Jack Wright (he/him) is the PowerHouse Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County in Ithaca, NY. Since graduating with his BA in Environmental Science and Public Policy, Jack spent four years working as a nature- and farm-based youth educator in MA and NY. In his current role, Jack uses the PowerHouse, an energy-efficient tiny home, to lead youth education programs on energy and climate change in schools, libraries, and camps.

Rebecca Ward (she/her) is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at NC State University with backgrounds in climate extension and science education. Her work centers around supporting local communities in North Carolina with building climate resilience through networking, education, and capacity-building.

 

March 27, 3pm EST: STORYTELLING & Climate, Register HERE.

This hour long webinar will discuss connecting climate change information to communities through storytelling and interdisciplinary approaches.

TITLE: How to Build Data Literacy Skills in your Climate Change Program
PRESENTER: Janice McDonnell (Rutgers)

Data literacy has become an in-demand skill for our future workforce to navigate tough decision making as we adapt to the climate crisis. As New Jersey the first state to adopt climate literacy standards, what are our obligations of Cooperative Extension to support learning about climate change? What partnerships are needed to support climate adaptation and resilience? In this workshop, Janice McDonnell will share experiences developing Data to the Rescue, Penguins Need our Help, an out-of-school time program to teach data skills and climate change solutions. She will share lessons learned about how to integrate data literacy skills and climate science solutions discussions in learning environments including tips for including social emotional learning practices.

TITLE: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Discussing Climate Change
PRESENTER: James Shope (Rutgers)

Connecting stakeholders and students to climate change information can be difficult and often climate data may feel abstract to the audience. What are some methods to make climate change information more relevant and connected to our local communities? In this presentation, James Shope will present activities developed for k-12 educator training that contextualizes climate information from different perspectives such as art and environmental justice to help connect students and communities locally relevant issues and solutions for climate resilience.

Story Map example: redlining and the urban heat island: https://gwmke.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=94113f89b61b4b638db54b5aa2b76706

Data Visualization & Mapping Tool example: putting climate data into a more local context: https://njclimateresourcecenter.rutgers.edu/nj-adapt/

TITLE: Climate Change STEM Education for Tribal Youth
PRESENTER: Art Nash

As a part of an NSF grant to reach underserved audiences with climate change education. One of the climate change teaching venues is a public tribal charter school setting. Speaking with Athabascan Indian Elders about what is important for tribal youth to know about climate change, as well as utilizing a national Cooperative Extension curriculum on the topic, classes are guided which cover various science dynamics that are tied to worldwide and regional climate variation. This webinar will describe the teaching process used thus far.

*Note. This talk by Art Nash will not be recorded.

SPEAKER BIOS

Dr. James Shope is an assistant extension specialist in climate services with the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University. His work addresses a wide range of climate change impacts and adaptation strategies in New Jersey. In particular, he is interested in how agricultural production, municipal planning, and public health will respond to a warming climate, heavier rainfall, and more frequent flooding. James frequently engages in outreach efforts across New Jersey, including leading resiliency tool trainings, co-authoring public-facing reports, providing climate science resources for k-12 educators, and sharing actionable scientific resources for community planners.

Janice McDonnell is the STEM Agent in the Department of 4-H Youth Development at Rutgers University where she focuses on developing and implementing high quality STEM programs and resources for young people.  She focuses on facilitating hands-on projects where youth receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to build their data literacy by taking on proactive leadership roles in environmental decision making.

Art Nash began working with tribal youth of several reservations nearly 40 years ago and since has taught students as youth group leader, middle school teacher, Title I (remedial math and reading) teacher, interim principal, social (services) worker, and as associate energy professor. Incorporating local, native knowledge with academic data driven info, Art engages youth discovery thru the environmental and social sciences so that they can critically assess/adapt to the world around them and the rapid changes it is going through.

 

April 24, 3pm EST: DIY–Self-Guided Climate Instruction, Register HERE.

This is an hour long boot camp tailored for extension! Come learn how to use a suite of climate resources designed for DIY-learners and publicly available on https://www.ecoactus.org/neci 

EcoActUs is a joint venture between the Climate Reality Project and the Harvard Alumni for Climate and Environment. EcoActUs has been adopted by NECI as a resource for Extension Professionals and Educators who want to understand the latest on climate change, sustainability practices and guidance for incorporating climate education into your daily interactions. It contains extensive and highly curated video presentations and other media resources and is free to use for non-commercial use. EcoActUs can be approached as a self-guided learning and reference tool or you can participate in a two week Climate Boot Camp which incorporates three virtual sessions to help guide you through the resource and network with other users who may be trying to do the same things you are. Help is available if you would like to take a group through the Boot Camp for your organization. Information and registration for the self-guided sessions are found at https://www.ecoactus.org/neci

TITLE: Self-Guided Climate Boot Camp for Extension Professionals

CO-PRESENTERS: 6 different presenters will carry you through their comprehensive DIY educational programming so you can delve in deeper – or help others navigate its resources.

Michael Linn (Co-Director of EcoActUs) is a climate refugee, inventor and entrepreneur with a broad background in energy, software technology, finance and organizational process.  He helped build and sell a company to Microsoft, design the Department of Energy information systems and win the 2014 ASHRAE Global First Place Tech Award for Ed buildings.  He grew up in a farming community and is currently helping to create a training farm for Inua, Partners in Hope.

Mark Dambro, a Climate Reality Leader, trained in 2020. I’m a retired engineer and physician with a special interest in the health effects of climate change and on the existential question of whether or not humanity can survive this unprecedented crisis. I completed my MD degree at Washington University in St. Louis and practiced family medicine after residency and fellowship.  I’m a guest lecturer at TCU (Texas Christian University) in my home town of Fort Worth, TX.

Dr. Dayo Ajayi-Obe, a consulting pediatrician and epidemiologist, trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2021. Dr. Ajayi-Obe completed her medical training in Nigeria and holds a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the TH Chan Harvard School of Public Health.  She supports educational institutions in Nigeria and around the globe. Her mission is to help individuals, groups, businesses and organizations, unravel the hidden treasures of forging forward into the regenerative era of climate sustainability. And to investigate the links between climate change and epidemics.

Scott Graham, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps, currently the owner of Graham Leadership Growth which provides Leadership Coaching empowering people to realize their professional goals. Scott served with the American Red Cross as the Division Disaster Executive coordinating the responses to numerous disasters including hurricanes Harvey, Matthew, and Florence along with wildfires in Northern California and Oregon. Scott is a graduate of the University of Kansas and holds Executive Leadership Coaching Certificates from Georgetown University and University of Georgia.

Rick Schumann, who comes to us from NECI (National Extension Climate Initiative) which serves to link climate change-related education and research across Extension program areas and associations. Rick is a trained Climate Reality Leader (2020) and a Master Gardener with the University of Florida IFAS Extension. He has a degree in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. He is retired from a career in Seismic and Meteorological Applied Research, as well as, Systems Engineering in Radar, Telemetry and Weather systems.

Wendy Hamilton held numerous Extension positions in OR, PA, MT, and NM throughout her 34 yr. career. She retired in 2020 as an Extension Evaluation Specialist from New Mexico State University. She now holds the position of Emerita Professor dedicating her retirement to climate education and mentoring young career professionals.

May 22, 3pm EST: COMMUNITIES & Climate, Register HERE.

This hour long webinar will share lessons learned from co-creating materials made with different communities.

TITLE: Co-creating Opportunities for Women to Engage in Climate-smart Forestry
PRESENTER: Melissa M. Kreye (Pennsylvania State University)

Melissa will present findings from her peer education program for women landowners interested in climate-smart forestry. The program is part of the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education Program, a collaboration between 13 extension institutions in the eastern US.  More here: https://sites.psu.edu/focce/

TITLE: Creating a culturally inclusive climate change curriculum with and for Indigenous people: Lessons learned
PRESENTER: Ros McCann (Utah State University – Moab)

As part of a national science foundation project inspired by the NECI network, Ros will share her experience in building relationships with tribal members in the Colorado Plateau region. This will include an overview of how she formed a diverse team to co-create a climate change curriculum by and for Indigenous participants, what the curriculum entailed and the products that resulted from this process. Coverage here: https://www.usu.edu/today/story/usu-helps-host-unique-and-indigenous-student-specific-natural-resource-leadership-program

TITLE: Climate Change and the Latine Community: Co-creating Curricula and Programs
PRESENTER: Patricia Townsend (Washington State University)

This presentation will include recommendations for how to co-create education programs with diverse communities. There will be examples from Patricia’s work adapting the UC Climate Steward curriculum with and for the Latine community in Washington State.

SPEAKER BIOS

Melissa M. Kreye is an Assistant Professor of Forest Resources Management and Extension Specialist in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Pennsylvania State University. Her extension programs include the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education program and Effective Environmental Outreach Strategies. Recent research projects examine landowner interest in climate-smart forestry and prescribed fire as a forest management tool.

Roslynn Brain McCann is a Professor & Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist in the Department of Environment and Society, College of Natural Resources at Utah State University. She teaches undergraduates Communicating Sustainability, helps lead the National Extension Climate Initiative, is the coordinator USU Extension Sustainability’s Utah Farm-Chef-Fork, the USU Permaculture Initiative, and Sustainable You! kids’ camps, co-leads the Utah High School Clean Air Marketing Contest, and is engaged in tribal climate change resilience.

Dr. Patricia Townsend is an Associate Professor at Washington State University who works with stakeholders throughout the Pacific Northwest on sustainability, climate change, sustainable materials, and ecosystem services. Much of her work is determining how to best implement applied research. Having done her dissertation research in Costa Rica, she has a long interest in collaborating with the Latine community. She is the PI of the NSF funded climate education program C3PO.

June 26, 3pm EST: AGING & Climate, Register HERE.

Older people are the most vulnerable to some climate change effects, and are also an enormous resource for climate change action. This hour long session will explore both the role of adaptive strategies to protect vulnerable older individuals, as well as opportunities for productive engagement of older people in civic engagement and volunteerism around climate change.

TITLE: Older People and Climate Change: An Urgent Issue for Research, Policy, and Practice

PRESENTER: Karl Pillemer (Cornell University)

Karl will provide information regarding both the heightened vulnerability of older people to climate change effects, as well as the role of older individuals in preventing and adapting to climate change.

TITLE: Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation
PRESENTER: Danielle Arigoni

Danielle will discuss why climate resilience planners and community-led efforts should center their work in the needs of older adults, given the disproportionate impact they bear in the face of climate change.

TITLE: Mobilizing Older Adults for Climate Change Action

PRESENTER: Leslie Wharton

Leslie will discuss how older people are engaging in climate change activism and the impacts they are having through organizations like Elders Climate Action.

SPEAKER BIOS

Karl Pillemer is the Hazel E. Reed Professor of Human Development at Cornell University, and Professor of Gerontology in Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. A sociologist and gerontologist, his work has focused on the social integration of older people, including promoting meaningful roles and activities after retirement. He created the program Retirees in Service to the Environment, which creates a pathway for older people to engage in climate change and environmental volunteerism and civic engagement. He recently created the Aging and Climate Change Clearinghouse, which serves as a  knowledge hub for older people, organizations, and researchers on the intersection of climate change and the older population (https://climateaging.bctr.cornell.edu/).

Danielle Arigoni is an urban planner and community resilience expert.  She currently serves as Managing Director for Policy and Solutions at National Housing Trust, where she provides strategic direction for the organization’s sustainability and resilience policy efforts, and oversight and guidance for NHT’s state and local advisory services. She is also author of Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation which explores the impacts of climate change on a rapidly growing demographic – people over 65 – and the need for community-scale solutions to reduce risk for all. Prior to joining NHT in 2022, Danielle served as Director of Livable Communities at AARP and held several leadership positions at HUD, EPA and USAID working to advance sustainable and equitable communities.  She holds planning degrees from Cornell University and University of Oregon, and serves as a Board Member for the League of American Bicyclists and Smart Growth America.

Leslie Wharton is Chair of the Elders Climate Action (ECA), which is a grassroots organization in the United States whose mission is to mobilize elders to address climate change. She herself first learned about climate change when she was 56 years old. A few years later, shocked by the lack of progress in the U.S. and elsewhere, she searched for ways that she could get involved. She first became involved with ECA in 2015 when she participated in its Grandparents Climate Action Day in Washington, DC. After that experience, she became a member of ECA, started serving on its national committees, started a local chapter, and then she became Chair. Leslie Wharton received a Ph.D. in History from Princeton University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. She spent 25 years as a litigator in private practice and then 12 years in the General Counsel’s office of a federal agency before retiring in 2021.

 

HOST: this “CONNECTING CLIMATE to COMMUNITIES” webinar series is hosted by National Extension Climate Initiative (NECI) Curriculum Development (CD) Committee – a volunteer group looking to share resources amongst interested extension educators.

This program was curated by NECI CD Active Members Fall 2023

David Kay, Cornell University

Paul Lachapelle, Montana State University

Karl Pillemer, Cornell University

James Shope, Rutgers University

Patricia Townsend, Washington State University

Rebecca Ward, NC State University

Jenifer Wightman, Cornell University

Jack Wright, Cornell University Cooperative Extension

Join us or any NECI working group -learn more here: https://nationalextensionclimateinitiative.net/workinggroups/

***NECI is actively seeking a Communications Lead, please contact David Kay if you are interested.