The Department of Natural Resources Conservation changes its name and revises its Graduate Program

Its official! The Department of Natural Resources Conservation is now the Department of Environmental Conservation and has a single Graduate Degree Program. The Graduate Program, also called Environmental Conservation, provides students with a choice of 5 available concentrations. Starting in September of 2010, graduate students entering the Department of Environmental Conservation (ECO) will enroll in the Environmental Conservation Graduate Degree Program and choose from one of five focus areas of study: Building Systems Environmental Policy and Human Dimensions Forest Resources and Arboriculture Water, Wetlands and Watersheds Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology What's changed? The department has changed its name to Environmental Conservation The degrees in Forest Resources and Wildlife & Fisheries Conservation are no longer offered. New students enrolling in graduate studies in the department will now enroll in and earn a graduate degree in Environmental Conservation. How does the transition affect current and incoming students? Currently Enrolled Graduate Students will continue in their existing program, either Forest Resources or Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation with the requirements that were in place when they enrolled. However, currently enrolled graduate students will have the...
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PhD student, Dennis Babaasa, receives grant from International Foundation for Science

NRC PhD student Dennis Babaasa received a research grant from the International Foundation for Science (http://www.ifs.se/). IFS supports developing country (social and natural) scientists’ research relevant to the sustainable management, use or conservation of biological or water resources. These grants are awarded for amounts up to USD 12,000. Applicants must be citizens of a developing country with an academic degree of an MSc/MA and carry out their research in a developing country. The proposed research must be relevant to the needs of the country or region, contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the grantee’s field. Dennis’s research project is on determining habitat suitability for mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.   ...
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Professor Kittredge receives Governor’s Appointment

David Kittredge, faculty member in the Department of Natural Resources Conservation, was appointed on 2 June by Governor Deval Patrick to the state's Commission on Financing Forest Conservation. This commission was created by legislation to study innovative methods for funding the conservation of forested wildlands and woodlands in the Commonwealth. Roughly 70% of all the state's forestlands are privately held, and a variety of finance methods will be explored that may underwrite conservation and ensure the continuance of public ecosystem benefits from these private lands....
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Professors Griffin, Schweik and Danylchuk Create Mobile ‘App’ to Aid in Gulf Crisis

UMass-created 'app' takes aim at oil by Kristin Palpini - GazetteNET AMHERST - University of Massachusetts professors hope a new smartphone application they've created will give regular people the tools to help clean up the oil-soaked Gulf coast. Relying on everyday technology, the app known as MoGo, which is short for Mobile Gulf Observatory, allows people to photograph wildlife in need of help and summon experts to its precise location. "I hope this goes viral. We need as many people to know about it as possible," said Curt Griffin, a UMass natural resources and conservation professor and one of the app's creators. "By downloading (MoGo), people can become citizen scientists helping to document the affect of the oil and rescue animals." In response to the ongoing BP oil leak miles off the Gulf Coast, four UMass computer and natural environment scientists teamed up to create and launch the free iPhone application. This is how it works: iPhone users who come across an oiled bird or other...
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Building Energy Extension Assistant Professor Position Announced

  POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION and UMASS-EXTENSION UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS-AMHERST Title: Extension Assistant Professor - Building Energy Appointment: Academic Year (9 Month) – Non-tenure track Available: Earliest appointment date is September 1, 2010 Application: Review of applications begins May 1, 2010. Search will continue until the position is filled. The Position: The position includes an appointment for 20% Teaching, 20% Research and 60% Extension/Service and Outreach. The candidate will be expected to teach two classes. These will include: Energy Efficient Housing and an additional course to be developed in Building Energy. The candidate will oversee an online professional development series in green building that will serve multiple roles in traditional teaching and in outreach and extension. The candidate will develop and implement an integrated research and extension agenda including: engaging university faculty, industry and government partners in identifying, conducting and funding building energy research, education and extension/outreach; Serving as a clearinghouse for research-based knowledge, ideas, information and techniques; engaging and involving partners and collaborators in the delivery of programs. Research...
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