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Student Poster Competition for QUEST International Conference & Tradeshow in Winnipeg

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QUEST – Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow – is hosting Smart Energy Communities in Cold Climates - QUEST 2012 International Conference & Tradeshow, taking place November 18 – 21 at the Fairmont Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Smart Energy Communities in Cold Climates will feature leading thinkers, strategists, and decision makers from across Canada and internationally sharing cutting edge information about Integrated Community Energy Solutions. Integrated Community Energy Solutions (ICES) are all about creating smart energy communities by linking energy with land use, building, transportation, water, waste, and other infrastructure at the community level. QUEST – www.questcanada.org - is a collaborative network of stakeholders whose mission is to advance ICES and create smart energy communities in Canada.

Student Poster Competition

QUEST invites Canadian post-secondary students to submit a Poster Proposal for a Poster to be displayed at the QUEST 2012 International Conference & Tradeshow.

Develop and display your poster at the QUEST 2012 International Conference & Tradeshow
Receive FREE registration for the event ($600 value)
Get high visibility from leading professionals in the energy and sustainability fields
Excellent networking opportunities
With the winning poster, get FREE travel and registration at the QUEST 2013 conference and be the official 2013 QUEST Student Ambassador
View eligibility and poster guidelines.

What should the subject of the Poster Proposal be?

Any component of what it means to be a “Smart Energy Community”, including:
- Smart Energy Buildings
- Smart Transportation and Mobility
- Smart Land Use
- Waste, Water or Wastewater
- Or how any of the above can interact and interconnect to make smarter use of energy at the community level

For more guidance, see QUEST's Technical Principles and background information on Integrated Community Energy Solutions (ICES).

For more information or to submit your poster proposal, contact ecampbell@questcanada.org

Call for Papers: Mining, Ethics and Sustainability

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Call for Papers: Mining, Ethics and Sustainability
World Mining Congress 2013
August 12-14, 2013
Montreal, QC

EXTENDED Abstract Submission Deadline: November 1, 2012
Registration Opens: November 30, 2012
Paper Submission Deadline: March 30, 2013

The purpose of the "Mining, Ethics and Sustainability" program stream of the World Mining Congress is to identify and discuss the ethical values that should define the boundaries of the emerging economic, social and environmental responsibilities of mining in the 21st century and the dimensions of mining's social license to operate.

As a participant and organizational partner in the World Mining Congress, CBERN has been invited to organize a program stream for the theme of "Mining, Ethics and Sustainability". The program will extend over three days, from August 12-14, 2013 in Montreal, QC. It will include:
Three key note addresses by thought leaders whose ideas are helping to describe the nature and character of the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of mining companies in the 21st century;
Three cross sector panels that will explore the themes of "mining and sustainability", "women and mining", and "First Nation perspectives on the ethical values that define responsible mining";
Peer reviewed papers and presentations on "Mining, Ethics and Sustainability" submitted in response to the program stream Call for Papers. For a list of relevant topics and themes, and for submission details, please click here.
Call for Papers
Abstract Submission Deadline: November 1, 2012
Submission of papers and case studies that explore the ethical responsibilities of mining and the capacity of mining to contribute to sustainable development are invited. For a list of relevant topics and themes and for submission details please click here.

Contact Information
For further information on the World Mining Congress "Mining, Ethics and Sustainability" program stream please contact Hilary Martin at hmartin@cbern.ca.

Post-doctoral Research Fellowship in Sustainable Neighbourhoods

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The University of British Columbia is searching for a Post-doctoral Research Fellow with experience in the emerging fields of regenerative design and sustainability assessment methodologies – particularly as they relate to neighbourhood development – to work as part of a team including several faculty members affiliated with our Regenerative Neighbourhoods Project, their students and other post-doctoral fellows. The supervisor of the successful Post-doctoral Fellow applicant will be Dr John Robinson, Director of the CIRS research program.

The ideal candidate for this one-year program (renewable to a maximum of two years) would hold a recent (graduated within the last year) PhD in Architecture, Engineering or a social science field related to community or urban sustainability. Of particular interest is expertise in sustainability assessment tools and frameworks.

Click on the link below to read more:
Post-doctoral Fellowship - Sustainable Neighbourhoods 2012-10-11

TIG Toronto Office is Hiring!

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TakingITGlobal is looking for volunteer interns to work in our Toronto office in January! Have a look at the opportunities below - and please forward on to any friends or colleagues you think might be interested.

TakingITGlobal's mission is to empower youth to understand and act on the world's greatest challenges. As a registered charity in Canada and the US, our key strategic initiatives include:

- providing a virtual space (www.tigweb.org) for cross-cultural expression, dialogue, networking and collaboration among youth
- supporting youth action and understanding around global issues
- developing meaningful, interactive, global education experiences
- facilitating the development of local initiatives, multilingualism and skills training

Want to know more about the internship program at TakingITGlobal? Check out our intern video here: https://www.tigurl.org/internvid

We're looking for volunteer interns to fill the following positions:

1: TIGed Professional Development Program Assistant
For more details: http://opps.tigweb.org/10659

2: Online Community Volunteer Management Assistant
For more details: http://opps.tigweb.org/10675

3: Communications Coordinator
For more details: http://opps.tigweb.org/10651

4: Adobe Youth Voices Project Assistant
For more details: http://opps.tigweb.org/10673

5: Online Community Communications Coordinator
For more details: http://opps.tigweb.org/10677

6: Global Encounters Program Coordinator
For more details: http://opps.tigweb.org/10653

7: Research Assistant
For more details: http://opps.tigweb.org/10671

8: Educational Assistant - Sprout E-Course
For more details: http://opps.tigweb.org/10683

9: TIGed Program Assistant
For more details: http://opps.tigweb.org/10655

10: Human Resources Assistant
For more details: http://opps.tigweb.org/10667

11: Innovate4Good Project Assistant
For more details: http://opps.tigweb.org/10691

The application deadline is Monday, November 12th, 2012

Please submit a resume and cover letter to:

Contact: Human Resources

Email: jobs@takingitglobal.org (include the title of the position in the subject of the e-mail)

Mail: 19 Duncan Street, Suite 505, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3H1

Fax: 416-352-1898

For Inquiries: 416-977-9363 ext. 315

Why should you volunteer with us?

- Your work will have an impact! TakingITGlobal's programs reached over 4.5 million users last year, empowering young people in over 200 countries to express themselves, develop understanding, and take action to address social issues in their communities and around the world!

- The staff at TakingITGlobal encompasses a broad range of skills including web development, design, marketing, evaluation and surveys, fundraising, writing, editing and strategy development. The organization provides a great platform to improve and learn new skills due to the variety of projects and the opportunity to learn from others;

- TakingITGlobal has a strong international reputation within the NGO, non-profit and charity sectors. Experience at TakingITGlobal will be respected by future employers and TakingITGlobal's collaborative nature means volunteers may grow a solid professional network and gain experience vital for future job opportunities;

- TakingITGlobal is a vibrant and positive work environment! As part of a youth-led, youth-focused organization you will be working amongst peers in a collaborative structure. Although headquartered in Toronto, TakingITGlobal is an international organization and you will have the opportunity to work with colleagues from all parts of the world!

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about these positions! Thanks for sharing these opportunities with others!

TakingITGlobal
http://www.tigweb.org

COAL Prize Art and Environment 2013 Adaptation

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Call for entries open to february 28th, 2013

The Coal Prize Art and Environment rewards each year a project by a contemporary artist involved in environmental issues. Its goals are to promote and support the vital role which art and creation play in raising awareness, supporting concrete solutions and encouraging a culture of ecology. The winner is selected out of ten short-listed by a jury of well-known specialists in art, research, ecology and sustainable development.

The 2013 Coal Prize will reward entries that focus on adaptation issues. The award of the 2013 Coal Prize will take place in spring 2013 at Le Laboratoire, a private art center specializing in the blending of art and science.

The prize carries an award of 10 000 euros. Launched in 2010 by the French organization Coal, the coalition for art and sustainable development, the Coal Prize is supported by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, theFrench Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development, the National Centre of Fine Arts (CNAP), Le Laboratoire, PwC and a private benefactor.

SCHEDULE

Application deadline: February 28th, 2013
The Coal Prize will be awarded in spring 2013

THEMA : ADAPTATION

Adaptation, a term used in biology as well as in art, is the adjustment of an entity, a representation, an individual, a system, or an organization, to the changes in their natural and cultural environments. At a global level and in relation to the theory of evolution by natural selection as defined by Darwin, the adaptation capacity of a species explains the conditions for their survival or their disappearance. Climate change has affected the lives of many species in the past, resulting in five major mass extinctions. Today, climate change and the depletion of our ecosystems is accelerating with innumerable consequences which once again, pose a threat to the extinction of the diversity of the life forms with which our species has co-evolved for over millions of years.

In our society do we have the means and tools to adapt to these profound changes? International summits give birth to disagreements or commitments in minimal time. This is incompatible with the urgency of the issues at stake and with society facing the economic crisis, employment and short-term are priorities. How do we reconcile adaptation, expectation, change and resilience? How do we reverse the principles that structure the relationship of western man to his environment? Adapting to the scale of his needs rather than his capabilities. What are the values that govern our resource, food, social, political and economic choices? Who are the people that hold the keys to this adaptation? Ecologists, town planners, farmers, industrialists, lawyers, artists? What role can social networking, collaborative innovation, creativity and biomimicry play in order to encourage adaptation? With social inequalities dramatically on the rise, will this create a great cast who may or may not adapt? Will safe havens, sanctuaries and abundance of unspoilt nature be the new ghettos of the privileged classes of tomorrow? Will they leave those countries most affected behind or will they be united on a national and international scale, with the progress of climate justice, world governance and social ecology?

Adaptation: This word is at the heart of contemporary thought and strategies used by nations, cities, businesses, and communities in order to cope with climate change. It is the subject of a movement, of appropriation, of adaptation by artistic creation. It is the term we have selected for the 2013 COAL Art and Environment Prize

Click here for more information.

 

Walmart Kicks-off Most Ambitious Student Challenge in Canada

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Top CEOs from Walmart, Ford, Google, CN and SC Johnson to judge post-secondary students on game-changing green business innovations
 
TORONTO, September 25, 2012 – Do you know a post-secondary student who has the vision to change Canada’s business landscape and the confidence to pitch their creative ideas to top CEOs?
 
For the second year, Walmart Canada is running the Green Student Challenge where teams of post-secondary students from across the country have an opportunity to convince some of Canada’s most successful business leaders that they have the most compelling breakthrough idea to change business as we know it.  A total of $100,000 in cash will be awarded including $25,000 to the winners and $25,000 to the winners’ school.
 
The preeminent panel of judges includes Shelley Broader, president and CEO of Walmart Canada, Dianne Craig, CEO of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Chris O’Neill, managing director of Google Canada, Claude Mongeau, president and CEO of CN, Ana Dominguez, president and general manager of SC Johnson Canada.  The challenge is a celebration of our country’s future business leaders and provides a rare opportunity for students from across Canada to showcase their talent in front of some of Canada’s most accomplished business leaders.
 
“Every member of our judging panel has signed on because they recognize the value of discovering the young minds who will change the future landscape of Canadian businesses by thinking green,” said Shelley Broader, president and  CEO of Walmart Canada. “Businesses today are looking for ways to introduce sustainable business practices that improve the bottom line.  The Walmart Green Student Challenge gives students the chance to introduce Canada’s next big sustainable business idea.”
The winner of the inaugural Walmart Green Student Challenge in February 2012 was a team of three from the University of Waterloo that presented an integrated energy hub for retail distribution centres. The hub would integrate solar rooftop panels, be connected to the smart electricity grid to provide grid balancing and auxiliary services, and produce net economic benefits estimated at $1.35 million per year over 20 years.
 
“Last year’s winners pushed the boundaries of innovative thinking, and I am thrilled to confirm Walmart Canada is investigating the feasibility of implementing their winning entry,” said Andy Ellis, senior vice president of supply chain and logistics with Walmart Canada. “The leadership, vision and passion demonstrated by last year’s semi-finalists were beyond what we expected, and it demonstrated the quality of leadership that exists among our country’s best and brightest students.”
The panel of judges will be looking for three key criteria when they evaluate the proposals of this year’s Walmart Green Student Challenge submissions: the winning idea will present a new way of doing business, have a significant sustainability benefit, and have a strong business case to back it up.
 
To learn more about the Walmart Green Student Challenge and how to enter, please visitwww.greenstudentchallenge.ca, visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WalmartGSC or follow us on twitter at @WalmartGSC.

Kevin McKague defends his PhD – Making Markets Work for the Poor

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Congratulations to long-time IRIS Senior Research Fellow, now Dr. Kevin McKague, on a successful defence of his dissertation last week.

Kevin's research has focused on micro finance and farmers in Bangladesh. Some of Kevin's research will be published in the journal, California Management Review (McKague and Oliver, 2012 vol 55 no 1. pp. 98-129. Enhanced Market Practices: Poverty Alleviation for Poor Producers in Developing Countries)

Over the years, Kevin has been active in the IRIS community and has brought in excellent seminar speakers including a wonderful talk on microfinance by speakers from MEDA, the Mennonite Economic Development Association.

Here is his dissertation title and abstract.

Kevin's PhD. is titled, Making Markets Work for the Poor: Market-Based Approaches to Poverty Alleviation as Institutional Leveraging and Redistribution of Social Control

Interest in market-based approaches to reduce poverty has grown substantially in the last decade. To date, however, explanations in the management literature of how this can be achieved have focused on viewing the poor as consumers at the base of the economic pyramid, as microentrepreneurs in need of microfinance loans, and as potential employees of local small and medium-sized enterprises. Missing from the core of the management conversation has been an adequate understanding of the poor as primary producers and an explanation that situates them within their broader market and institutional context. Drawing on an in-depth study of market-based poverty alleviation initiatives for smallholder farmers by a non-governmental organization in a least developed economy, this dissertation offers the first theoretical model to explain the process by which a non-state organization can strategically enhance market practices in ways that reduce poverty for poor producers and improve overall market functioning. Findings suggest that meaningful improvements in income can be explained by the enhancement of market practices that redistribute social control toward poor producers in ways that reduce market and government failures. In addition, data revealed that the effectiveness of market development and poverty alleviation strategies is moderated by the extent of institutional leveraging to incentivize market changes in alignment with existing norms and logics. The model offers an integrated explanation of how market-based approaches can alleviate poverty and grow inclusive markets for poor producers. Findings suggest a number of business implications, including the importance of rebalancing power relations and enhancing productivity throughout an entire value chain. In addition, findings contribute to the literatures on business and poverty alleviation and the literatures on institutional change.

York members interested in attending COP 18 need apply by Friday

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The 18th United Nations climate change conference and the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) will be held from Nov. 26 to Dec. 7 in the State of Qatar.

York community members interested in attending COP 18 should e-mail Annette Dubreuil, coordinator of York’s Institute for Research & Innovation in Sustainability (IRIS) by Friday, Oct. 5 at noon.

Dubreuil can be reached at afdubreu@yorku.ca.

For more information about COP 18, visit the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website.

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