Message from the Director
We are off to a new Fall semester! It is exciting to see the students are back and lots of things are already happening. The air seems cleared after the first fall rain here in Pullman, just like our minds after some quiet time during summer, hopefully. Julie and I are excited to be directing CEREO while Stephanie is directing the Division of Environmental Biology at the National Science Foundation.
CEREO is planning ahead, and we are looking for input from all of you. Our first town-hall style meeting is on September 13th. It’s an opportunity to connect with others across campus. At the meeting, we will be seeking input on thematic areas of interest and importance in Research, Education, and Outreach. All are invited, especially if you have not been involved in CEREO in a while, or if you are new to WSU.
The integration of research, outreach and education has been critical to success in bring science to society. The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture are placing emphasis on convergence as the new term for research driven by a specific and compelling problem and deep integration across disciplines. At the NSF, convergence research is defined as a means of solving vexing research problems, in particular, complex problems focusing on societal needs. It entails integrating knowledge, methods, and expertise from different disciplines and forming novel frameworks to catalyze scientific discovery and innovation. Convergence research is related to other forms of research that span disciplines – transdisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity, and multidisciplinarity. It is the closest to transdisciplinary research which was historically viewed as the pinnacle of evolutionary integration across disciplines. Centers are a great mechanism for universities to achieve convergence research, and we are set up to come together to help answer big societal questions.
CEREO continues to organize seminars and workshops, and keep you informed of ongoing activities through our weekly emails. Whenever you have ideas for CEREO activities, drop us a line (cereo@wsu.edu).
– Jan
CEREO Faculty Gathering
The Center for Environmental Research, Education, and Outreach (CEREO) would like input from faculty on new activities and directions that CEREO should take in the coming years. This informal brainstorming and discussion event will be held on Sept 13th, and will be of particular interest to anyone interested in collaborative research, interdisciplinary education, or innovative outreach strategies. CEREO excels at helping faculty at WSU tackle complex environmental problems through our wide network of affiliates, and our resources for offering faculty pre- and post-award grant support. Come to share your ideas, meet new colleagues, and have some fun!
Please RSVP to jacquem@wsu.edu before Sept. 6, 2018.
Event Info
Sept 13, 2018 | 3-6pm
The Seasoned House
215 Southeast Paradise Street,
Pullman WA, 99163
Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be provided
CEREO Seminar Series- Fall 2018
The fall schedule for CEREO seminars is now available. This research seminar series focuses on a breadth of environmentally-related work being done by WSU faculty and other researchers. It’s open to the public and advertised to all CEREO affiliates- faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergrads- representing a wide variety of disciplines. Seminars are held on Wednesdays from 3:10-4:00pm in the PACCAR Environmental Technology Bldg Room 202. Our next seminar will be on Sept 19th, we hope to see you there!
| Date and Time | Event Title & Presenter | Link to Register |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Sept @ 4:10pm PT | Advanced methods in the use of GIS for public health Ofer Amram, WSU College of Medicine | Flyer Register |
| 26 Sept @ 4:10pm PT | How does climate restrict blacklegged ticks? Experimental tests of our collective wisdom Jesse Brunner, School of Biological Sciences | Flyer Register |
| 10 Oct @ 4:10pm PT | Global salinization of freshwater systems: Impacts on wildlife and human health Erica Crespi, School of Biological Sciences | Flyer Register |
| 24 Oct @ 4:10pm PT | The ecoimmunology of health and disease. The hygiene hypothesis and plasticity in human immune function Aaron Blackwell, WSU Anthropology | Register |
| 7 Nov @ 4:10pm PT | Power outage and Firewall studies Claire Richards, WSU College of Nursing | Register |
| 28 Nov @ 4:10pm PT | Stress and reproductive health disparities Anna Strahm, Sanford Health in South Dakota | Register |
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
General Opportunities
FY 2019 WRC Small Grant Program Call for Proposals- Due 14 Nov 2018
The State of Washington Water Research Center (WRC) is soliciting research proposals for submission under Section 104(b) of the Water Resources Research Act. The objectives of this program are to sponsor research that fosters (a) exploration of new ideas to address water problems or expand understanding of water-related phenomena, (b) entry, education, and training of future scientists in water resource fields, (c) multidisciplinary research, and (d) dissemination of research results to academic and non-academic audiences. The deadline for proposals is November 14, 2018. Visit the WRC website for More Information
Instrumentation Discovery Travel Grant (IDTG)- Due 30 Sept 2018
The program enables scientists to learn the details of hydrologic instrument installation, operation, maintenance, and data processing by visiting experts or scheduling reverse site visit. CUAHSI offers Instrumentation Discovery Travel Grants (IDTG) of up to $1,000 to help cover travel expenses for scientists at U.S. universities and colleges to visit colleagues with specific instrumentation expertise. For complete application instructions, click here. Questions should be submitted to Jon Pollak at jpollak@cuahsi.org.
WSU Survey Design Clinic
If you are a WSU student, faculty or staff member, you can now take advantage of our new Survey Design Clinic. The SESRC’s team of experts provides survey design guidance so you can get the most out of your survey research and avoid the common pitfalls with administering them. No appointments necessary, just stop by our Clinic at our Graduate Student Office located in room 143 Wilson-Short Hall, or call 509-335-4169 or email us and one of our clinic staff will gladly help you. From questions regarding question writing to survey design, we will do our best to provide you with solutions to conducting surveys. Open for the 2018 Fall Semester starting on September 4th.
Hydroinformatics Innovation Fellowship- Due 30 Sep 2018
CUAHSI is pleased to offer the Hydroinformatics Innovation Fellowship to support projects that will result in a hydroinformatics product to be disseminated to the CUAHSI community within one year of funding. Awardees will receive up to $5,000 for eligible expenses including: travel costs associated with acquiring new skills, site or reverse site visits, software or data licenses, access to cyberinfrastructure, dissemination costs, and student support. For complete application instructions, click here. Questions should be submitted to Jon Pollak at jpollak@cuahsi.org.
Faculty Opportunities
NSF: Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems (INFEWS)- Due 26 Sep 2018
The overarching goal of the INFEWS program is to catalyze well-integrated, convergent research to transform understanding of the FEW Nexus as integrated social, engineering, physical, and natural systems in order to improve system function and management, address system stress, increase resilience, and ensure sustainability. Click here for more information and guidelines for submission. Questions regarding proposal submissions should be directed to INFEWSquestions@NSF.GOV
Save the Date: Plan to join your fellow Washington State stormwater professionals for MuniCon 2019- 24 & 25 April 2018
This unique conference located in SeaTac, WA focuses specifically on addressing high-priority issues and challenges faced by municipal NPDES permittees statewide, in order to promote broad communication, coordination, and sharing of valuable municipal tools and stormwater management approaches from permittees and other professionals across the state.
Due to the continued popularity of the half-day sessions, we are again looking for groups who may be interested in self-organizing a session to provide in-depth perspective and/or training on a topic of significance to permit holders across the state. Please contact Laurie Larson (253-445-4593, laurie.larson-pugh@wsu.edu) if you would like more information on how to develop your proposal. Sign up to receive more information on this conference.
Student Opportunities
Pathfinder Fellowship- Due 31 Oct 2018
The program enables graduate students to go beyond “one site, one view” in their research. Graduate training in water science often focuses on a single field site, analytical, or modeling approach. The Pathfinder Fellowship program provides travel funds to graduate students in hydrology and related sciences to make an extended trip to enhance their research by adding a field site to conduct comparative research, collaborating with a research group, or working with researchers on adding an interdisciplinary dimension to a project. Fellowships are awarded to cover travel costs of up to a maximum of $5,000. For complete application instructions, click here. Questions should be submitted to Jon Pollak at jpollak@cuahsi.org.
The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center Seeking An Actionable Science Postdoctoral Fellow
The University of Washington College of the Environment invites applications for a Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC) Actionable Science Postdoctoral Fellow. The NW CASC is one of eight regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers dedicated to delivering science that helps wildlife, water, land and people adapt to a changing climate. Research supported by the NW CASC provides objective scientific information and strategies that Northwest managers of land, water, wildlife and cultural resources can use to anticipate, monitor and adapt to climate change. This position requires a PhD in an area of natural or social science related to climate change and demonstrated experience working at the interface of climate science and decision-making. This is a full-time, 12-month term appointment with potential for extension. Preference will be given to applications received by September 5, 2018. For a complete job description and application requirements, please visit: https://apply.interfolio.com/52841
Water Resources Science & Management Undergraduate Certificate
This certificate is a 15-credit undergraduate program open to students from all colleges and disciplines who are interested in freshwater resources. Through this program, students will develop an interdisciplinary understanding of the physical, social, and cultural drivers that shape how water is managed within the larger environmental and human landscape. Those completing this certificate will emerge with the breadth of knowledge required to think critically about water issues. Need more info? Email Julie Padowski (julie.padowski@wsu.edu) or visit our website: https://wrc.wsu.edu/news/wrsm-certificate-program/