Drew University: Environmental Studies
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Environmental Studies News [See below for Events]
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New Professor of Environmental Studies!
Dr. Catherine Riihimaki is joining the Drew faculty in September 2008.
Dr. Riihimaki is a geologist who does research on changes in landforms, glaciers, landscapes, and geological processes; how to measure
these changes; and how they are influenced by anthropogenic alterations to the climate.
She has been teaching environmental science and
geology courses at Bryn Mawr College since receiving her Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of California-Santa Cruz.
In the fall of 2008, Dr. Riihimaki will teach "Earth Systems and Environment," which will count toward the biology and environmental
studies majors and minors. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Andrew Mellon Foundation awarded a generous four-year grant to Drew University:
REIMAGINING ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AT DREW UNIVERSITY:
TOWARD THE CREATION OF AN EXPANDED AND ENHANCED INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM
Faculty and students will be working together to build a vibrant new major in Environmental Studies and Sustainability.
The grant will support environmental internships and research projects for students. It will also support development of new courses
and integration at Drew of Geographic Information Science (computer mapping & analysis) technology as a tool for learning and research.
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Environmental Events at Drew University, 2008-2009 Academic Year
To be announced...Please check back often. Submit announcements to Sara Webb (swebb@drew.edu)
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Last Year's Environmental Events:
Fern Fest: Earth Day Celebration and Ecological Restoration Festival!
Friday and Saturday, April 18 & 19, 2008:
Help plant native ferns and wildflowers between the UC and SW Bowne Hall at 1:00 on Friday.
Other events begin at 10 a.m. on Friday and culminate with music outside the UC Saturday night from 5-10 p.m.
STUFFED AND STARVED: THE HIDDEN BATTLE FOR THE WORLD FOOD SYSTEM
by Raj Patel -LC 28 at 4:15pm on TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2008
Raj Patel is the author of the new book "Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle
for the World Food System,"
and former policy analyst for Food First, a
leading food think tank.
Sponsored by Drew Environmental Action League
"The vertical farm: a new strategy for bringing sustainability to the built environment"
Dickson Despommier of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - 7:00 pm - HS-4
Dr. Despommier is a microbiologist and public health expert specializing in molecular aspects of parasitism and the effects of parasitism on the poor in the tropics. Because many tropical diseases are transmitted by soil disturbances, he is interested in developing methods of raising food in ways that minimize local impacts, such as “Vertical Farming,” a method of sustainable agriculture that can be employed in urban areas. He works with architects and students to develop plans for projects throughout the world. His work on sustainable design and planning incorporates many disciplines, including microbiology, public health, policy making, urban planning, architecture, engineering, and economics. For more information, please visit http://www.verticalfarm.com/
Sponsors: Presidential Initiatives Fund, Environmental Studies Program, Public Health Program, Civic Engagement Committee, and Sustainability Committee
"What Would Buddha Eat? Buddhist Views on Sustainable Eating"
Stephanie Kaza, Professor of Environmental Studies, University of Vermont
Wednesday April 2, 2008, 7:00 p.m, Hall of Sciences, Room HS4
Stephanie Kaza, Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont with a focus on environmental humanities, is President of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies, the author of "The Attentive Heart: Conversations with Trees," editor of "Hooked! Buddhist Writings on Greed, Desire, and the Urge to Consume," and co-editor of "Dharma Rain: Sources of Buddhist Environmentalism." She is co-chair of the University of Vermont Environmental Council and is actively engaged in campus sustainability initiatives.
Sponsored by the Presidential Initiative Fund, Environmental Studies Program, and the Theological School
America's National Forests Under Threat
Andrew Leistensnider presents an informative lecture
on how you can help decide the fate of tens of millions of acres of national forest.
Wednesday, April 2, 5:30-6:30, BC 101 -
Free pizza will be served!
Sponsored by the Biology Department and the Environmental Studies Program
FOCUS THE NATION: Two Nights, Two Sustainability Events
The 2
% Solution Webcast- Wednesday, January 30th, 7:45 PM in HS-4
Climate Change Teach-in - Thursday, January 31st, 7:30-9:00 PM in UC 107
Drawing from the expertise of the Drew community this session will offer information climate change and the work being done to fight it,
as well as the work being done here at Drew. Refreshments will be served. Speakers:
"Who Killed the Electric Car?"
Documentary film - Nov. 14, 2007, 9:30 pm, LC 28
Sponsored by Drew Environmental Action League
The Re-Greening of Northern Nicaragua:
Protecting Watersheds and Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
Thursday, November 8, 2007 - 4:30 p.m. in HS 4
Elvin Castellon of the Nicaragua Network will describe the projects of FEDICAMP ( Federation for Integral Development of Peasant Farmers):
planting 1 million + trees, land restoration, helping families build more efficient cook stoves, providing training in community empowerment
& environmental awareness, and building cisterns to provide potable water during the dry season.
Graduate Environmental Professional Studies at Duke University
Presentation by Lisa Rattray , Northeast Admissions Officer
Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment -
Nov. 7, 2007, 12:30 noon, UC 104 - Pizza will be served!
"Rapid Evolvers and Cryptic Hybrids:
Variation in Populations of Water Fleas Over Space andTime"
Dr. Jennifer Fox, Assistant Professor of Biology, Drew University,
Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 4:15, HS 4
Greening the Drew Campus: Global Warming, Biodiversity, and Other Challenges:
A Panel Presentation
Monday, October 22, 2007, 4:30-6:30 in Hall of Sciences S4
Economics Professor Fred Curtis, "What Colleges and Universities are Doing Today"
Mike Kopas, Director of Special Projects, "The New Green Dorm: Geothermal Energy and LEEDs Certification"
Political Science Professor Phil Mundo, "Government Policies: Potential Impacts on Drew"
Biology Professor Sara Webb, "Protecting and Restoring Biodiversity on the Drew Campus."
Zero to Sixty: Growing a Campus Sustainability Program From Scratch
Dr. Susan Allen-Gil and Sara Brylinsky of the Biology and Environmental Studies Program, Ithaca College
Wed., Oct. 10, 4:30 p.m., HS 4 -
Sponsored by the President's Initiative Fund and the Environmental Studies Program
Annual Drew University Hawk Watch:
Van trip to Raccoon Ridge to see the annual hawk migration
All-day trip, September 15, 2007 - Information from Dr. Windfelder
Operation Wallacea: International Biodiversity Research Programs and Student Opportunities
September 11, 2007, 4:30 in HS 4
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Selected Past Environmental Events at Drew:
Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs and Steel, and Collapse
Do Drew professors agree with Jared Diamond? Interdisciplinary discussion of " Guns, Germs, and Steel" and "Collapse"
“Lived Worlds: Self & Justice in the Brazilian Environmental Movement”, Dr. Isabel Carvalho, Lutheran University of Brazil
Info Session: Jobs in the National Parks
Annual Drew University Hawk Watch
John Seed: Deep Ecology & the Conservation of Nature
ANNUAL FERN FEST AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION CELEBRATION
China and the Environment: A panel on policy, demography, the economy, and culture in China
Environmental Careers for Liberal Arts Majors: Rich Pandullo, Trinity Environmental Consultants
Campus
Clean-Up - Drew Environmental Action League
Arctic Refuge Action Rally, Washington, D.C. - September 20, 2005
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Please send questions and event announcements to
Dr. Sara Webb, Environmental Studies Program Director [swebb
at drew.edu]