Upcoming Opportunities & Deadlines

2007-08 Undergraduate Research Fellowship Application
The application for the 2007-08 Undergraduate Research Fellowship is available at http://esa.org/seeds/activities/FellowshipsInfo.php. The deadline to apply is September 15th. The SEEDS Fellowship allows undergraduate students to complete an independent research project to advance their experience in ecology with financial and logistical support provided by the SEEDS program. This unique opportunity also allows selected Fellows to work with SEEDS staff to select their research site and mentor.

 

Campus Ecology Chapter Special Project Grants
If your Chapter is in good standing, you are eligible to apply for a Special Project Grant. The first deadline for the new academic year is September 15th (extended). Proposal guidelines and budget worksheets can be found at http://esa.org/seeds/activities/CampusEcologyChapters/SpecialProjectGrants.php

 

Event Recaps

2006 ESA Annual Meeting
The 2006 ESA Annual Meeting was another great success. The Meeting was held this year in Memphis, Tennessee from August 6-11 with the theme "Icons and Upstarts in Ecology." SEEDS had a strong presence at the Meeting, supporting the participation of thirty-five students and twelve faculty through travel awards. Meeting-wide SEEDS events included the Diversity Mixer which celebrated the 10th anniversary of SEEDS and two workshops - Highlights of Campus Ecology Chapters (see Highlights section) and Introduction to SEEDS: How ESA Members Can Get Involved. As always, ESA members were closely involved with SEEDS, serving as "meeting mentors" for the student awardees. Events for both students and mentees included a Saturday dinner and Monday breakfast. Photos will be available on the SEEDS website soon.

 

SEEDS Highlights

Chapter Workshop
The second annual Campus Ecology Chapter Workshop was held last month at the 2006 ESA Annual Meeting in Memphis, Tennessee. The lunchtime workshop provided an opportunity for all Chapters represented at the Meeting to share their accomplishments over the last year and their plans for the year ahead.

Alabama A&M University
Normal, AL
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. William Stone
Over the past year the AAMU Chapter spent a lot of time and energy on their Flamingo Park Special Project. Club members worked on improving their Outdoor classroom project at Flamingo Park in Triana, Alabama. They finished erecting tree signs along three trails over the summer and built interpretive signs. They also developed posters and other interpretive information for the signs. They also hung bird houses and gathered natural materials to display. Other activities over the last year included a T-shirt fundraiser, a tree planting fundraiser, and traveling and competing in the ASFC (Association of Southern Forestry Clubs) annual forestry conclave and the SAF (Society of American Foresters) national convention. Ideas for the next academic year include a third phase of the Flamingo Park project, planting more seedlings, and participating in an Earth Day celebration.

American Samoa Community College
Pago Pago, AS
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisors Drs. Karolyn Braun and Eric Hanson and student members Forest Duldulao, Faiane Miller, Derek Toloumu, and Malia Tuamoheloa
The ASCC Chapter initiated the first aluminum can recycling program on campus; conducted an island ecology comparison between Upolu Samoa and Tutuila, American Samoa; participated in monthly village stream clean-ups; conducted educational outreach program with elementary schools; held coral reef discovery day; served as camp counselors for Enviro-Discovery Camp; and, were survey volunteers at the kick-off to the Year of the Sea Turtles. Plans for the next academic year include continuing many of these efforts plus creating environmental education activities for middle school teachers and conducting an island ecology comparison with Savaii, Samoa.

Chicago State University
Chicago, IL
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Tim Bell
The Chicago State Chapter held a plant sale fundraiser; sponsored a "Spotlight on Undergraduate Research" symposium in April; hosted guest spears; and, planted an oak in a campus garden.

Clayton State University
Morrow, GA
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Jere Boudell and student member Charlee Glenn
The Clayton State Chapter held a toner cartridge recycling drive; attended Atlanta's human body exhibit; went to the New Georgia aquarium; participated in Earth; took a camping trip to Florida; sponsored science lyceums at the University; and, sponsored an alumni picnic. Future plans include creating a SEEDS information board; visiting botanical gardens; participate in Georgia's Adopt-A-Stream program; build bat houses; visit middle and elementary schools; and hopefully participate in the SEEDS Coweeta field trip.

Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Julie Korb
The Fort Lewis Chapter held a number of meetings over the last semester and held its first activity the week of Earth Day by spending a workday in a campus organic garden. Plans for the year ahead include increasing student membership by going to classes and working with diverse student organizations. The main activity for the upcoming academic year is to integrate a natural area in the center of campus for many purposes including to serve as an outdoor teaching lab.

Hampton University
Hampton, VA
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Barbara Abraham
In the last academic year the Hampton Chapter took a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to collect sand samples; conducted outreach to high school and middle school students on careers and opportunities; held fundraisers including a spades tournament and a movie night; held two cleanups and an Earth Day clean up. In the next academic year the Chapter plans to work with the Virginia Aquarium to do outreach and assist with special events; take a trip to the Outer Banks again as well as the Baltimore Aquarium; continue doing outreach and cleanups; and hold seminars.

Howard University
Washington DC
Represented at the workshop by student member Tyra Pendergrass
The Howard University Chapter has been involved in several community outreach activities including developing a science fair for sixth graders; presenting a workshop on plant ecology; partnering with Environmentors, a Washington DC based program to mentor high school students; and, cosponsoring seminars. Plans for the future include raising funds to adopt a Liberian village; connecting with more Washington DC environmental groups; and, developing a website to promote the Chapter.

Johnson C. Smith University
Charlotte, NC
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Joseph Fail, Jr. and student member Jallah Rouse
The JCSU Chapter focuses on education, research, and field trips and summer programs. The Chapter activities include teaching ecology to local fourth and fifth graders; conducting research with neighboring UNC Charlotte; and, conducting trips to San Luis, Costa Rica and hurricane-devastated New Orleans.

LeMoyne-Owen College
Memphis, TN
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Stanley Abell
The LMOC Chapter collaborates with the local chapter of the Sierra Club to address environmental justice issues in Memphis. The Chapter has held an on-campus collaborative workshop with the Sierra Club; participated in the Tennessee pollution prevention roundtable; participated in a GIS laboratory activity to demonstrate the relationship between pollution and race, disease, and income levels; and, facilitated a community concern discussion meeting on campus.

Livingstone College
Salisbury, NC
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Sashi Sabaratnam
This past year the Livingstone Chapter visited the Duke University Marine Laboratory to learn about graduate programs and career opportunities as well as North Carolina coastal vegetation and marine life. The Chapter also built a greenhouse with a SEEDS Special Project grant to conduct short-term research training for students to study plant responses to the environment.

North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, NC
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Godfrey Uzochukwu
The NCAT Chapter held an Earth Day fair this year with a campus clean-up and distribution of environmental information. They also participated in the NC Environmental Education Community Outreach Meeting; help a campus clean-up in October and February; and participated in a World Food Day teleconference.

United Tribes Technical College
Bismarck, ND
Represented at the workshop by student members Marla Collins and Michaele Lindeman
The UTTC Chapter shared their research projects at AIHEC (American Indian Higher Education Consortium this past year with Marla Collins winning Ms. AIHEC. The Chapter planted Sweet Grass in a campus garden and planters as well as other culturally significant plants. Through a SEEDS Special Project grant the Chapter planted native plants, shrubs, and trees along a future campus walking path.

University of Hawai'i at Manoa
Honolulu, HI
Represented at the workshop by student member Ku'ulei Vickery
The UHM Chapter participated in outreach activities with Hokulani Elementary School, a beach clean-up, volunteering for the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Conference in February, and Earth Day activities. A highlight of the Chapter's year was their Special Project, an ecological field trip to East Maui. The trip helped expand student knowledge regarding the conservation of endemic and native species, appreciation of Native Hawaiian culture, sustainable living, and protected area management strategies.

University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
Represented at the workshop by student member Jolene Trujillo
The UNM Chapter hosted the November SEEDS field trip along with the Biology Department and the Sevilleta LTER Program. The Chapter has been trying to grow its membership via pizza luncheons at which they have graduate student presentations about research. In 2006-2007 the Chapter will continue their chapter development and plan for additional activities. One upcoming event in fall 2007 for which they received some funding will be a SEEDS mini-workshop for the UTEP Chapter of SEEDS.

University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX
Represented at the workshop by student members Noemi Baquera, Alex Benhumea, Cristina Campbell, Fernanda De La Cerda, Lisa Garcia, Brenda Nieto, Claudia Ramirez, and Jorge Ramos
This past year the UTEP Chapter provided information on environmental hazards at the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta; participated in a tumble wee round-up; celebrated Earth Day; held a bake sale fundraiser for water pump maintenance for the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park; and, led butterfly tours at "Bosque in Bloom," an event to create support for the wetlands. Over the last year the Chapter also conducted floral and faunal monitoring at Rio Bosque and participated in an outreach program designed to expose children to ecology and strengthen their abilities in science for the annual state mandated test. Future plans include continued traditional annual events as well as activities with Rio Bosque.

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
Represented at the workshop by Faculty Advisor Dr. Randy Jackson
The UWM Chapter held two ecology symposia - one in September and one in April featuring UW-Madison and visiting faculty. The Chapter also held a strategic planning dinner to introduce the Chapter and encourage support. Two student potlucks were held and a Lake Mendota boat tour with a limnology data sampling demonstration for local high school students.

 

Ecology Bulletin Board

Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Annual Meeting
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Participation Dates: November 5-8, 2006
Stipends are available for the 2006 Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Annual Meeting. This conference is targeted for students interested in graduate study and careers in fisheries and wildlife.
Benefits: Stipends cover registration, transportation, lodging, and meals per diem.
Application: http://seafwa2006.org
Deadline: September 25, 2006
Contact Michele Radney, Missouri Department of Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO, 65102, 573-522-4115, michele.radney@mdc.mo.gov

 

Planting Seeds For Future Harvests: UNC 2nd Annual Diversity Summit
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Participation Dates: October 5-6, 2006
This conference "Cultivating a Professional Community To Address the Growing Importance of Natural Resources and the Environment For A Diverse Population" is for anyone interested in exploring the challenges and opportunities of successfully aligning student interests and academic programs with the needs of industry and communities to better serve a diverse world.
Benefits: Take advantage of the opportunity to connect with future scholars and leaders at this year's career fair.
Application: http://www.cnr.ncsu.edu/diversity/2ndDiversitySummit.htm
Deadline: September 8, 2006 for registration
Contact: Thomas Easley, 919-513-0534, Thomas_Easley@ncsu.edu

 

Archbold Biological Station Internship
Location: Lake Placid, Florida
Participation Dates: Internships generally run for 4-6 months but are flexible in their starting dates and durations
Openings are available for research internships at Archbold Biological Station in south-central Florida. Research in the plant ecology laboratory of Eric Menges emphasizes conservation biology, plant demography, population viability assessment, fire ecology, landscape ecology, and fire management. We study many species of endemic vascular plants in endangered Florida scrub and related communities, at Archbold's 2000-ha preserve and other preserves on Florida's Lake Wales Ridge. Active fire management provides outstanding opportunities for short-term comparative studies in fire ecology. Our long-term (12-year) datasets on dozens of scrub plants gives context to short-term, focused, field projects. Archbold Biological Station is active in research, conservation, and education. Our facilities include an outstanding regional library and a GIS lab running ARCINFO. We have a staff of about 50 with many visiting scientists, an active seminar program, and a relaxed biological station atmosphere. Staff research is varied, with particular strengths in population biology, behavioral ecology, geographic ecology, systematics, landscape ecology, and conservation planning. Study organisms include plants, invertebrates, birds, mammals, and herptiles.
Benefits: Interns receive room, board, and a weekly stipend of $100.* They work 20 hours per week as research assistants and the remainder of the time on their independent research project. *Partial travel expenses may be available based on need.
Eligibility: Ideal for students with undergraduate degrees contemplating graduate school
Application & Deadline: www.archbold-station.org/abs/internvol/internrevres.htm
Contact: Dr. Eric S. Menges, Archbold Biological Station, P.O. Box 2057, Lake Placid, Florida 33862 USA, 863-465-2571, EMenges@archbold-station.org

 

Student Pugwash USA
Location: Nationwide (and globally through www.student-pugwash.org)
Participation Dates: Our programs and conferences run throughout the year
Student Pugwash USA enables students to think independently about how the development of cutting-edge science and technologies affect society—issues that range from international security to public health, from global warming to the development of U.S. science policy. With chapters on more than 25 campuses across the country, Student Pugwash USA hosts regional and national conferences throughout the school year, currently focused on the issue of scientific integrity. The best way to get involved in our programs is to join our email list, which offers weekly updates on science issues, upcoming events, exciting job and internship opportunities, and resources to help students take socially responsible steps on campus.
Benefits: There are no membership fees associated with Student Pugwash, and we offer free regional conferences nationwide on a number of provocative science and society issues. SPUSA enables students to organize a wide range of science and society events on their campuses. Student Pugwash USA presents issues from a variety of different viewpoints, acting as a catalyst for ethical debates on campuses nationwide. We also provide our members with information about upcoming events in the scientific community, such as professional conferences and science and ethics meetings, job and internship postings, and other student resources.
Eligibility: Our programs are for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. We also have opportunities available for young professionals and alumnae/i.
Application & Deadline: www.spusa.org/forms/listserv.html
Contact: Sharlissa Moore, Program Coordinator, smoore@spusa.org, 202-429-8900

 

If you're interested in posting an opportunity, please visit http://www.esa.org/seeds/activities/newsletter.php

 

Help Support SEEDS

We invite you to contribute to ESA's SEEDS Program to help support and encourage greater diversity in the ecology profession. Contributions to the SEEDS program are tax deductible and are used to support special initiatives for underrepresented students. To contribute, visit www.esa.org/seeds/supportSEEDS.php