Dawn Bazely: From biology to sustainability

Published February 26, 2014 by hdrdla

Published February 26, 2014

by hdrdla

The following is an excerpt from University Affair's article, Meet 5 academics who have switched disciplines mid-career, published February 12, 2014 by Daniel Drolet.

Dawn Bazely: From biology to sustainability

Director, Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability
York University

With degrees in botany and zoology, Dawn Bazely was content working in her field as a biology professor with a specialty in ecology, particularly forest and grassland ecology. But when she was recruited in 2006 as director of York University’s Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability (known as IRIS), she encountered a whole new discipline – and a steep learning curve.

“I have learned to feel uncomfortable,” says Dr. Bazely. “But I get to be a student every day. How awesome is that?” She says that the chief editor of Ecological Monographs tells her “that I have done a de facto PhD in sustainability, science policy and environmental security.”

IRIS has a tradition of breaking down barriers: Its first director was a political science professor, its second came from York’s Schulich School of Business. When the position opened up again, Dr. Bazely was asked to apply. “At first I was terrified,” she confides.

“I can’t begin to tell you how different it is from what I did as an ecologist. It’s publishing in completely different journals, it’s science policy. The most important thing I have learned is that social scientists generally believe that researchers in science and engineering don’t understand the history of our own field.”

She also has learned that scientists don’t understand how they damage their own credibility because they insist on being “super-neutral” and not speaking up about policy or political issues. (The most popular research seminar she gives in science faculties is on “Why don’t scientists get more respect?”)

With her new insights, Dr. Bazely now believes this is because scientists fool themselves in thinking science is above the fray. “Being in sustainability has exposed me to the humanities and social sciences and ethics. It has caused me to question my own assumptions.”

She now understands that there are different kinds of knowledge, “and sometimes academic knowledge might take primacy and sometimes it will not. It’s situating that knowledge in the broader human landscape.”

Taking positions on topics of the day is something she is now comfortable doing. “I don’t think doing that damages my standing as a scientist.”

Posted in: IRIS News | News | Sustainability News

Water and Climate Change in Africa: Challenges and Community Initiatives in Durban, Maputo and Nairobi

Published February 12, 2014 by hdrdla

Published February 12, 2014

by hdrdla

THEME: Environmental politics and sustainable development

TITLE: Water and Climate Change in Africa: Challenges and Community Initiatives in Durban, Maputo and Nairobi

AUTHOR(S): Patricia E. Perkins

PUBLISHER: Routledge

DATE: April 4, 2013

TAGS: environment, economics, sociology, resources, politics, society, sustainable development

ABSTRACT: In the coming decades, countries around the world will face increasingly severe challenges related to global climate change. While the details vary from country to country, the impacts will be especially grave for marginalized people, whose access to food, potable water, and safe shelter may be threatened due to fluctuations in rainfall and temperature, and to extreme weather events. Because weather extremes are the main way that climate change manifests itself, water governance is a crucial aspect of climate change resilience.

Following an overview of the ways climate change is affecting three cities in Africa, Water and Climate Change in Africa: Challenges and Community Initiatives in Durban, Maputo and Nairobidiscusses the equity and climate justice implications, and then gives examples of ways in which a range of local community organizations are extending their current activities to address these challenges through innovative new programs and initiatives at the grassroots. This approach has implications for communities worldwide; it is a process of building on existing organizations’ aptitudes and strengths in the light of local knowledge of climate challenges, and creating partnerships to build equity-enhancing new methods of protecting people’s subsistence.

This book should be of interest to climate change scholars, activists and policy-makers, as well as development studies researchers and practitioners.

LINKS: To view the entire publication, go to http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415822039/

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Perkins, P. E. (2013). Water and climate change in Africa challenges and community initiatives in Durban, Maputo and Nairobi. New York, N.Y.: Routledge.

Posted in: Publications

Graduate Student Exchange – Frankfurt 2014 to 2015

Published February 5, 2014 by hdrdla

Published February 5, 2014

by hdrdla

Graduate Student Exchange

Frankfurt 2014 – 2015

The City Institute at York University and the Canadian Centre for German and European Studies in cooperation with FES and the Department of Geography offer one or two study abroad opportunities to spend one or two semesters during the 2014-15 academic year at the Department of Human Geography, Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany).

While there is no funding in place through this program at the current time, we will work with interested students to open opportunities for subsidies for travel and accommodation through York University and other sources.

The Frankfurt summer semester starts in April and ends in July. Since our winter term ends in late March, this would be a perfect time for York graduate students to go on this exchange.

Frankfurt program description:

The Department of Human Geography at the Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany) has set up a two-year program called “Geographies of Globalization” with possible specialization in two fields: Economic Geography and Urban Studies. York University exchange students will be able to participate in courses and have access to academic advisors. Instruction will be in English in some courses.

A description of the Frankfurt MA program can be found at: http://www.geo.uni-frankfurt.de/ifh/English/Study/study_programs/master/index.html

Eligibility: York University Masters or PhD students

Application:

· Letter of application containing a statement of how the Frankfurt exchange will contribute to your program at York University (MES students: please include plan of study);

· One letter of reference from a relevant York faculty member;

· CV with publications or other documentation relevant to this application.

Language requirement: Basic knowledge of German is an advantage but not a requirement.

Application: Open until filled

For more information contact Professor Roger Keil (rkeil@yorku.ca)

Please send applications to Sara Macdonald, 703 York Research Tower (city@yorku.ca)

Posted in: Opportunities

Hutchinson Environmental Science Limited (HESL) Undergraduate Research Grant

Published February 5, 2014 by hdrdla

Published February 5, 2014

by hdrdla

The Friends of the Muskoka Watershed and Hutchinson Environmental Science Limited (HESL) are offering an undergraduate summer student research funding opportunity.

HESL will provide $5,000 which must be met with a minimum of $2,000 from a university researcher to support an undergraduate research assistant for 16 weeks. The student will assist with the researcher’s ongoing research into any aspect of aquatic ecosystem management in the Muskoka River watershed.

Applications are due by February 28, 2014, with the award announced by March 28, 2014. If you know a worthy 2^nd , 3^rd or 4th year student that would benefit from this program please encourage them to submit an application by February 28, 2014. Further details are on the attached program outline.

Posted in: Funding | Opportunities | Research

York University President’s Sustainability Awards

Published February 5, 2014 by hdrdla

Published February 5, 2014

by hdrdla

The first annual York University President’s Sustainability Awards recognize students, faculty and staff who are contributing to making York a leader in sustainability among postsecondary institutions. The awards are intended to raise awareness on the important work that sustainability champions are doing at York, to provide much deserved recognition of their work, and to encourage others to get involved in sustainability initiatives on our campuses. Up to five (5) awards will be given out each year.

“York University consistently strives to be a leading university in Canada on sustainability,” said President Mamdouh Shoukri. “These awards will help us recognize the many people across the University who are leading the way.”

Any student, faculty or staff member from the University community can nominate any other individual or group for consideration. Nominees will be considered for the award based on their demonstrated leadership in sustainability, specifically through the following criteria:
The overall impact of the nominee’s contributions to sustainability on campus, including the depth (how significant the contribution is) and breadth (how widespread, collaborative and/or replicable the contribution is). Degree of innovation and originality, and or degree of enhancement (to existing initiatives). How the individual or group went ‘over and above the call of duty’ (additional time and resources committed that were not part of their job description or academic program).

To submit a nomination, visit the President’s Sustainability Leadership Awards web page. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, Feb. 21.

Posted in: News | Sustainability News

NOMINATIONS FOR YORK UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Published February 5, 2014 by hdrdla

Published February 5, 2014

by hdrdla

The York University President's Sustainability Leadership Awards recognize students, faculty and staff who are contributing to making York a leading university on sustainability in Canada. The purpose of the awards are to raise awareness on the important work that sustainability champions are doing at York, to provide much deserved recognition of their work, and to encourage others to get involved in sustainability initiatives on our campuses. Up to five (5) awards will be given out each year.

Eligibility Criteria: Anyone from the York University community can nominate any other individual or group for consideration. For the purposes of the award, the York U community is defined as students, faculty, and staff members.

Nomination Process: The nomination period opens on January 20, 2014 and all nominations must be received by February 21, 2014.

To submit a nomination, please fill out the online form here. (best viewed in Firefox, Chrome or Safari)

Review Period: Applications will be reviewed during the latter half of February and early March, with final decisions on awards to be made by mid-March.

Review Committee: Applications will be reviewed by a committee of 5, including 2 students, 1 faculty member and 2 staff members.

Evaluation Criteria: Nominees will be considered for the President's Sustainability Leadership Awards based on their demonstrated leadership in sustainability, specifically through the following criteria:

The overall impact of the nominee's contributions to sustainability, including the depth (how significant the contribution is) and breadth (how widespread, collaborative and/or replicable the contribution is).
Degree of innovation and originality and/or degree of enhancement (to existing initiatives)
How the individual or group went "over and above the call of duty" (additional time and resources committed that were not part of their job description or academic program).
See the YFile story

Announcement of Awards: Award winners will be announced during Earth Week, March 24-28, 2014.

Posted in: Opportunities

York U President for a Day Contest!

Published February 5, 2014 by hdrdla

Published February 5, 2014

by hdrdla

Two years ago, Rabia Sajun did it. Last year, David Mayer did it. Do you think youhave what it takes to be President of York University? If so, then now is your chance to enter our third annual “President for a Day” contest.

For those of you not familiar with this contest, on March 19, 2014, York University's President will swap roles with an undergraduate student. He will experience life as that student, and the winner will take on the role of "President" for a day.

To apply, undergraduate students only must submit a resume and a 500-word written or video essay on the topic, "If you were appointed President of York University, what would be your top three priorities that would directly impact students?"

The contest, which officially launches on January 23, 2014, closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 24th, 2014, with the winner being announced on March 10, 2014.

See the website

Posted in: Opportunities

Migration Matters seeks volunteer student bloggers

Published February 5, 2014 by hdrdla

Published February 5, 2014

by hdrdla

Migration Matters is looking for volunteer student bloggers. Migration Matters is a new initiative that aims to showcase migration scholarship at York. We need volunteers to write about pressing issues/questions related to migration, broadly defined. Some examples include: emerging issues in the news (temporary foreign workers, professional qualifications, language proficiency and settlement outcomes, access to services for various entry classifications, the role of research in advocacy, etc.); issues emerging from your own research on migration; a compilation of publications, initiatives, resources, ideas on migration-related issues; report on a recent migration seminar or conference.

Interested? Please contact Luann Good Gingrich at luanngg@yorku.ca or Michele Millard at mmillard@yorku.ca

Please note that for students enrolled in the Refugee Studies diploma or certificate programs, this will count toward your volunteer requirements.

Posted in: Opportunities | Volunteer Opportunities

Student Social Enterprise Competition

Published February 5, 2014 by hdrdla

Published February 5, 2014

by hdrdla

Students Offering Support has partnered with Communitech to launch
two neat student competitions: The ASCEnt Social Enterprise
Competition (www.SEcompetition.ca) and the Communitech DATA.BASE Open
Data Competition (www.databasechallenge.ca). They both are happening
now, with submissions due March 4th. 5 finalists get brought to
Waterloo to present to judges, top team wins $5000!

Students at York are welcome to submit their social enterprise ideas!

A few instructional slides:
http://www.studentsofferingsupport.ca/SOSCompetitionSlides.pptx

Posted in: Opportunities

Dawn Bazely’s book tackles environmental change and human security in Arctic

Published January 29, 2014 by hdrdla

Published January 29, 2014

by hdrdla

The following appeared in the Monday, January 28th edition of YFile.

A new book co-edited by biology Professor Dawn Bazely is being hailed as the first comprehensive exploration of why human security is relevant to the Arctic.

Environmental and Human Security in the Arctic examines at what it will mean to achieve human security and how the health of the environment, identity of peoples, supply of traditional foods, community health, economic opportunities and political stability all play a role.

The traditional definition of security has already been actively employed in the Arctic region for decades, particularly in relation to natural resource sovereignty issues. This book tackles how and why the human aspect should be introduced and what this region can teach others about human security in the wider world. It also reviews the potential threats to security, putting them in an analytical framework and indicating a clear path for solutions.

Contributions come from natural, social and humanities scientists, hailing from Canada, Russia, Finland and Norway. It is co-edited by Bazely, director of the Institute for Research & Innovation in Sustainability; international relations Professor Gunhild Hoogensen of the University of Tromsø , Norway; Marina Goloviznina, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Tromsø in the Department of Sociology, Political Science and Community Planning; and Andrew Tanentzap, the Banting Fellow at York University in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science.

Bazely led the Canadian section of the International Polar Year project, GAPS, Gas, Arctic Peoples and Security, and recently spent her sabbatical as a Charles Bullard Fellow at Harvard Forest, Harvard University. She was also a 2013 recipient of a President’s University-Wide Teaching Award and was named a “hotshot prof” in The Globe and Mail‘s Canadian University Report.

Environmental and Human Security in the Arctic is considered an essential resource for policymakers, community groups, researchers and students working in the field of human security, particularly for those in the Arctic regions.

Posted in: IRIS News | News