 Environmental Studies Program
Newsletter
October 2011
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Faculty Profile
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Message from the Director
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Greetings!
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Colin M. Orians, Director of ENVS and Professor of Biology
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I am so pleased with the new direction of the Environmental Studies Program. Some of the most exciting initiatives we accomplished last year were the launching of the weekly Lunch & Learn program (all are welcome to attend), the Newsletter, and more recently a much more user friendly website (http://as.tufts.edu/environmentalstudies). You can expect even more this coming year!
Most exciting, as part of the Dean's Environmental Studies cluster hire initiative, we will be hiring new faculty in anthropology, economics and philosophy. I look forward to adding many new courses and research opportunities in the coming years. Perhaps of even more immediate concern to many of you, we have a new internship/careers blog (http://sites.tufts.edu/environmentalstudies) that we hope will help you now and in the future as you begin to pursue internships and jobs.
Lastly, we continue to explore ways to improve the curriculum. You will be receiving an invitation shortly to join us in this process.
I hope your work and classes are going well and look forward to working with many of you over the coming year.
Sincerely,
Colin M. Orians, Director
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Faculty Profile: Timothy Griffin
by Nathalie Schiels | |
| Associate Professor and Director of the Agriculture, Food and Environment Program of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy
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Tim Griffin, Associate Professor and Director of the Agriculture, Food, and Environment Program at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, stands at an important nexus where he studies the way the United States' agricultural system relates to the environment. His focus goes far beyond media-hyped debates about organic vs. nonorganic and family farms vs. agribusiness. Griffin's first experience in the matter was in biological field research, working as a federal scientist with the USDA. In Maine, Griffin studied how various production systems emit different levels of greenhouse gases.
After moving to Tufts University, Griffin continued to look at the same issues of agricultural production and the related impacts on the environment, but with a greater focus on the current agricultural capacity in the northeastern United States. While the consequences of climate change can be difficult to predict with certainty, scientists and researchers are studying what these major changes mean for our ability to produce enough food to meet growing demands. Complications arise as Griffin and others study the possibility of water use restrictions and analyze the impact intense farming activity can have on water quality. An obvious example of this can be seen in the deleterious flush of nutrients that flows into the Gulf of Mexico, polluting the water and creating a dead zone because of decreased levels of oxygen in the water.
At the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Griffin encourages his students to think about how government policies and regulations can be used to lessen negative impacts and incentivize best practices to ensure the long-term sustainability of our soils. The expanding population requires increasing our capacity to produce food, but resources are finite and impacts on the natural world must be minimized.
Griffin believes it is the function of universities to innovate solutions that address the threatening gap between supply and demand in the US as well as the environmental impacts of intensive land and water use. New strategies and policies must look at multiple issues, rather than moving on an issue-by-issue basis, to address the interplay and potential for a rebound effect from regulations and agricultural practices. By operating under the acceptance that society's nutritional needs must be met, Griffin hopes to produce innovative solutions worthy of the complexity of the issue.
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ENVS Announcements
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Arts and Sciences Now Hiring for the ENVS Cluster Hire Tufts Unversity is now seeking candidates for the following full-time positions to satisfy the cluster-hire in the Environmental Studies Program. Positions to begin September 2012.
- A tenure-track appointment at the level of Assistant Professor in the Anthropology of the Environment
- A full-time faculty position at the rank of assistant, associate or full professor in Environmental Economics
- A tenure-track Assistant Professor in Environmental Ethics for the Philosophy Department
It is anticipated that the fourth Environmental Studies hire will be in the Geology Department in the following academic year.
Student Representation on the Environmental Studies Executive Committee Congratulations to Sara Matasci and Frances Wilburn for being selected to serve as student representatives on the ENVS Executive Committee. Sara and Frances will provide student input on various projects and will serve as the initiators of the formal elective process for student representation on the Executive Committee. We look forward to working with them and consider them a valuable resource to the program.
Undergraduate Environmental Photography Contest Guidelines and Submission Information The Tufts Environmental Studies Program is accepting photo submissions for the first annual Environmental Photo Contest. The contest is open to all Tufts undergraduate students and will include prizes for 1st place ($150), 2nd place ($100), and 3rd place ($50). Each student can take and submit multiple photos as part of the contest, but are only eligible to win one of the prizes listed above. All styles of photography are welcome (black & white or color), including but not limited to: - Documentary
- Scientific
- Fine art
- Abstract
- Landscape
- Architecture
- Wildlife/nature
We would like students to explore environmental communication through the lens of a camera, using your own creativity and image-making capacity. To be considered for one of the prizes, submissions must include: - All submissions must include a) a high-quality 8x10" print and b) a digital file (min. 300 dpi jpg or tif format)
- A printed document listing the names of any individuals, places, etc. included in the photo(s) and a brief description of the photo(s) itself. The entire package can be delivered to the Environmental Studies Program Office, 210 Packard Avenue, Miller Hall-East Rear Door, Somerville, MA 02155.
- The Environmental Photo Contest Application, which can be found at:
- The Photo Subject Release Form, which can be found at:
- PLEASE NOTE: Photo(s) submitted for the Environmental Photo Contest must include a completed photo release form for EVERY INDIVIDUAL in a given photo. Photos that do not meet this requirement will not be considered for any of the three awards. Photo release forms are available online.
- The Parent/Guardian Photo Release Form, (if applicable)
*(Photos taken of children under the age of 18 who are part of an individual's research or fieldwork, will not be considered unless photo release forms are signed by the parent or legal guardian of EVERY CHILD who appears in a given photo or photos. Photo release forms are available online.
Submitted prints will be exhibited in the Tufts Institute of the Environment and may be used by the Environmental Studies and TIE in their print publications, websites, or for other Tufts-related purposes. A digital exhibition will also be created on the ENVS website for those who are unable to visit Tufts in person. Photo submissions, and other required documentation, are due to the Environmental Studies Program, 210 Packard Avenue, Miller Hall-East Rear Door, Medford Campus, by Monday, October 24, 2011. All submitted photos must have been taken by the individual student submitting them. Students may submit electronic applications for the bulk of the application, but please make sure to deliver the printed image for exhibition no later than October 24th. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Photo contest winners will be chosen by faculty and staff of the Environmental Studies Executive Committee and Tufts Institute of the Environment. Winners will be announced by November 30, 2011. Questions can be sent to Ann Greaney-Williams at ann.greaney-williams@tufts.edu or by calling 617.627.3553. Return to Top |
Internships
| | Science and Social Media Intern-Unpaid
Are you interested in Science and Social Media?
I am considering taking on a science and social media intern if I find the right individual. The role would not be paid-I don't earn anything from the blog, but do so because I care. So I'll be looking for a compassionate woman or man who wants to improve public understanding of science given it matters tremendously for all of us.
Why do this? I've learned a lot about science and social media over the last five years and want to do my part to support bringing more young people into the conversation and pass on what I know to enable them to use new media tools to have an impact and influence beyond the science community.
Who should apply? Individuals looking to make a difference that and potentially use what they learn along their own career trajectory. Graduate students and early career scientists are encouraged to apply to expand their skill set, but anyone over 21 will be considered.
To apply: In no more than four sentences, tell me why Sheril Kirshenbaum why she should choose you in an email to srkirshenbaum@yahoo.com. Include your name, age, and any relevant experiences and interests. Provide contact information for at least one reference (that is not related to you).
Thanks to the Internet, location is not important and you need not be a scientist. Please type your name in capital letters in the subject line. Closing date to apply is October 14,2011.
Additional Internships
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| Jobs | Where are the Environmental Job Postings?
The Environmental Studies Program is teaming up with the Office of Sustainability to post environmental jobs. While our blog will continue to house internship information and postings; career and job RSS feeds; grants, scholarships, and fellowships; and general and specialized career information and advice, we will be providing all off-campus job postings to OOS for posting on their Career blog to avoid redundant posting.
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Events
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Environmental Studies Lunch & Learn Program
Water and People
Richard Vogel Thu, Oct 20, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - Room 745B, Dowling Hall, Tufts University, Medford Campus This lecture will provide a general overview of the relationship between emerging water issues and people. It is now possible to develop land and water resources to mimic natural systems using low impact development and restoration approaches. The limitations and problems associated with our water resources are similar to challenges related to food resources. Emerging contaminants have always played a key role on human health with many new challenges remaining. A brief discussion about the impact of urbanization, climate change and water use on our water resources and public health will be provided.  Richard Vogel is a professor of civil and environmental engineering and has been at Tufts University since 1984. His primary expertise is in the areas of water resource engineering with emphasis on hydrologic and statistical methods for analyzing environmental and water resource systems. His current research program focuses upon the areas of hydrologic and environmental statistics, water allocation, regional hydrology, regional water assessment, flood and drought management, climate change impacts, natural hazards as well as watershed modeling and management. His consulting experiences have included water resource assessment, flood frequency analysis, water allocation, hydropower feasibility analyses, and water supply investigations for several major cities, floodplain delineations, stormwater management modeling, dam
safety analyses, ice jam control and climate change impact assessments. He is currently the director of the graduate program in Water: Systems, Science and Society (http://www.tufts.edu/water). For further information on Professor Vogel see http://engineering.tufts.edu/cee/people/vogel/index.asp
Savory Green, Inc. - A Business Built Upon the Principles of Sustainability to Best Address Today's Food World Dilemmas
Tracy L. Stamos
Thu, Oct 20, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - Rabb Room, Lincoln Filene Center, Tufts University, Medford Campus
In recent decades, the food industry in America has become a large and growing source of pollution, energy wastage and excessive resource consumption. Moreover, those who listen to the news are often struck by stories about food recalls such as eggs, tomatoes or tainted beef in fast-food restaurant chains. The food that emerges from America's mass-market production system is considered by many to not be nutritious, tasty or even safe. In res ponse to these patterns of unhealthy and unsustainable food provision, Ms. Stamos made a personal commitment to change the distributing trends in our food system by creating Savory Green, Inc. Savory Green, In c. is a sustainable food service company specializing in education, green food service, and consulting to people and companies in and out of the food industry. Over the past year, the business focus has been amplified through the further development of food education and retail promotion and sales of a few signature dishes. Savory Green is now an approved vendor of Whole Foods and specializes in Earth-friendly Mediterranean Cuisine. Tracy L. Stamos is the President and Executive Chef of Savory Green, Inc., a firm she created in 2006 as an inspired response to the growing food provision and sustainability dilemmas in American culture. She has a Master's in Environmental Management from Harvard's Division of Continuing Education and has completed training as a professional chef from the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. Lunch & Learns occur every Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. Everyone is welcome. Pizza and beverages are provided. Lunch & Learn attendance is required for students enrolled in ENV0095 Special Topics in Environmental Studies with Colin Orians. Sponsored by the Environmental Studies Program and the Tufts Institute of the Environment.
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