Message from the Director
Welcome back, Cougs! As you’ll see in this newsletter, the CEREO community has been busy this summer, as always. Some of the highlights include new funding and collaboration opportunities associated with the Northwest Climate Science Center’s recent move to our new consortium, continued training in data-intensive research skills, and new research-oriented workshops upcoming in the Fall, including another Tri-State FEW workshop to follow up on the successful spring workshop. In addition, we are delighted to welcome new CEREO Executive Committee members Jesse Brunner, Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, and Ani Jayakaran. Our heartfelt gratitude to Mark Dybdahl, Kris Johnson, and Jim Kropf for their years of ExComm service, and for their continued collaboration as they move into the “Former ExComm” circle of the CEREO community.
In looking forward to the grant proposals we will be developing this year for collaborative interdisciplinary environmental work, please let us know how we can help. WSU has developed excellent guidelines for making these projects work well here, and CEREO can provide expert advice, staff support, and help in creating a successful team!
– Stephanie
Research News
USGS Climate Science Center
WSU is one of five university partners selected as the new consortium hosting the Department of the Interior’s Northwest Climate Science Center. University of Washington leads the consortium that also includes Boise State University, University of Montana and Western Washington University. The group was selected as the CSC host consortium after an open competition and extensive review by scientific experts. The Northwest Climate Science Center (NWCSC) is managed by the USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center. Each consortium university is currently seeking graduate students and postdocs who will become the first cohort of NWCSC Fellows – at WSU, please apply by 11 September 2017! Press Release
WSU Best Practices for Interdisciplinary Research
A memo from Office of Research provides practical guidance on the best practices for cross-unit collaboration at WSU, and assures researchers and administrators that interdisciplinary collaboration is valued both in spirit and in accounting. A worked example of such best practices is based on the complex research projects facilitated by CEREO.
2nd Tri-State Food-Energy-Water Workshop
Last spring, the research offices at WSU, University of Idaho, and Oregon State University, supported a 1.5 day workshop to generate and build out new, collaborative, food-energy-water research proposals. Focusing on a breadth of social, technological, natural and physical science issues, teams also explored ways to partner with industry to tackle problems affecting regional economies and environmental and human health. Outputs from this interdisciplinary workshop are being submitted to federal funding agencies.
Stephanie Hampton from WSU, Chad Higgins from OSU, and Andrew Kliskey from University of Idaho are co-organizing another workshop to be held on 23-24 October 2017 in Hermiston, OR to help keep these and other new collaborative teams engaged in FEW research. Press Release
Interested faculty and teams should apply by 18 September 2017. For more information, please visit: http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/tristatenexus/
WSU Study on Science Literacy- Participants Needed
Science literacy is an important outcome for students. One aspect of this is the development of scientific knowledge or the nature of science. Please consider participating in a study by Larry Collins that examines expert vs. novice views of the development of scientific knowledge. Participation will take approximately 10-15 minutes. You’ll be asked to complete a sorting task that could be adapted for assessing science content in undergraduate courses. Please contact Larry Collins (larry.collins@wsu.edu) for more information.
Other News
Hampton named Chair of NSF’s Biology Directorate Advisory Committee
Stephanie Hampton, director of WSU’s Center for Environmental Research Education and Outreach, was recently named chair of the National Science Foundation biological sciences advisory committee. The BIO AC provides recommendations to the NSF concerning support for research, education and human resources in the biological sciences. BIO provides about 66 percent of federal funding for nonmedical, basic research at academic institutions in the life sciences. Press Release
Data-intensive Research Skills Training through CEREO
Over the summer, CEREO continued serving the WSU community’s needs for gaining and refining skills in computer programming and data management associated with environmental research. A Software Carpentry workshop in Python was co-hosted with the Center for Institutional Research Computing (CIRC) and the Laboratory for Atmospheric Research (LAR); as is the case for the Software Carpentry workshops CEREO has hosted using R, demand was so high that we are planning for an additional workshop using Python in the Spring. CEREO also gained experience with delivering these materials to REU students this summer, in cooperation with the Office of Undergraduate Research. This year, expect more training opportunities and attend the vibrant R Working Group whenever you can!
Climate Change Education at WSU
Faculty, staff and students met on Friday, May 5, 2017 to discuss future directions for aligning and building educational opportunities focused on climate change at WSU. Attendees acknowledged a need for a clearer pathway for students interested in studying climate science and climate change issues, and discussed suggestions for 1) creating a new UCORE course to satisfy physical science requirements, 2) aggregating and sharing information on existing climate-related courses, through CEREO, and 3) creating a climate change certificate program.
For more details on this town hall discussion or to add an existing class to our climate education database, please visit: http://cereo.wsu.edu/climate-change-education-wsu/
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
General Opportunities
NSF/NSFC Joint Research on Environmental Sustainability Challenges
This call is for research proposals from joint U.S. – China teams in the environmental sustainability themes of: “Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems (INFEWS: U.S.-China)”
1. Quantitative and computational modeling of a FEW system
2. Innovative human and technological solutions to critical FEW systems problems.
Every proposal must include the participation of researchers from at least one U.S. institution and at least one institution in China.
Submission window is October 1 – October 20, 2017. The window closes at 5:00 pm submitter’s local time on October 20, 2017. More information on submittal procedures is posted at: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505338
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Regional Host Institution
Program: Sustainable Agriculture Program
Closing Date: Thursday, September 28, 2017
The purpose of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program is to encourage research and outreach designed to increase knowledge concerning agricultural production systems that:
1.maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil;
2.conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources, and fish and wildlife habitat;
3.maintain and enhance the quality of surface and ground water;
4.protect the health and safety of persons involved in the food and farm system;
5.promote the well-being of animals; and
6.increase employment opportunities in agriculture (7 U.S.C. 5801 and 5811).
For more information
2nd Tri-State Workshop for Food-Energy-Water Collaboration in the Pacific Northwest
On 23-24 October 2017, Oregon State University, Washington State University, and University of Idaho will convene a second workshop to catalyze tri-state research on food-energy-water (FEW) systems. Apply by 18 September 2017. http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/tristatenexus/
Fall 2017 NSF Grants Conference
The next NSF Grants Conference will be held November 13-14 in Phoenix, Arizona. Further information is available on the NSF Grants Conference website. Registration for this conference will open the week of September 4th. In addition, NSF plans to provide a live webcast of the plenary sessions. Visit the NSF Grants Conference website for additional details.
Faculty Opportunities
Northwest Climate Science Center Fellows
The Northwest Climate Science Center (NWCSC) is seeking graduate students and postdocs who will become the first cohort of NWCSC Fellows – faculty and their students or postdocs will need to work together on this application. Please apply by 11 September 2017!
2017 WSU Research Week October 9-13
Join the Office of Research for a week of activities celebrating achievements and preparing for the future as we Drive for 25. Discover the means to advance your research, build new partnerships, and pursue new opportunities.
Monday Oct 9: Introduction & Review of WSU Research Initiatives Strategic Reallocation Projects’ Annual Review. (Chris Keane, VP Research)
Tuesday Oct 10: Intro to Office of Research Services Matchmaking for Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Wednesday Oct 11: Matchmaking for Interdisciplinary Collaboration Planning Your Research Career short & long-term goals
Thursday October 12: Alternative Funding: when Federal’s not an option Working with Industry
Friday October 13: Getting the first grant – learn from winners VPR Lecture – TBD
Call for Presenters: Matchmaking for Interdisciplinary Collaboration
As part of the upcoming Research Week, the Office or Research will host two fast-paced faculty-led interdisciplinary collaboration experiences. Our goal is to provide faculty the opportunity to foster valuable interdisciplinary partnerships, highlight their research, and inspire unique and innovative broader impacts across the university. We invite all faculty interested in this opportunity to come meet, mingle, and share their work.
Session Description:
Tuesday, October 10th, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Wednesday, October 11th, 10:30am-12:30pm
Call for Presenters:
• We seek faculty from all colleges interested in presenting their projects to colleagues.
• If interested, please complete this Qualtrics survey to reserve your presentation space:
https://wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_56X94eP7HIxQd4V.
• Deadline: Thursday, September 7, 2017.
For questions, please contact Becky James (elizabeth.james@wsu.edu, 5-3822) or Maureen Bonnefin (maureenb@wsu.edu, 5-0904)
Student Opportunities
Two Postdoctoral Research Positions focusing on the Water-Energy- Climate Nexus in the Greater Mekong Sub-region
The positions will be located within the Pillar of Engineering Systems Design at Singapore University of Technology and Design. Successful applicants will be offered a 2-year position in Singapore and will collaborate with Dr. Stefano Galelli (SUTD), Dr. Bikramjit Das (SUTD) and Dr. Paul Block (University of Wisconsin-Madison).
Both positions are available starting March 1, 2018. Attractive working conditions include a competitive compensation and an option to renew for a third year. Applications will be evaluated until a suitable candidate is selected. Interested candidates should send a 1 page letter on why they are motivated, CV, and a list of publications to stefano_galelli@sutd.edu.sg
For more information