Call for Papers: Edited Book Collection, Environment and/as Mourning

Call for Papers: Edited Book Collection, Environment and/as Mourning


Book Editors: Ashlee Cunsolo Willox (McGill University) and Karen Landman (University of Guelph)

Background: Human activities and human-induced climatic and environmental changes are increasingly causing the destruction and degradation of natural environments, and the death and loss of natural environments and non-human entities through the destruction of ecosystems, biodiversity, non-human bodies and entities, species, soundscapes, and landscapes. With this loss, comes mourning for non-human entities and for the natural environment: the destruction of forests and farmlands; the scarring of lands from tar sands projects; the levelling of mountain tops and creation of open pits from mining; the pollution of rivers and lakes; the loss or degradation of forests from logging; the deaths of other creatures; the melting of ice caps; human-induced extinction of many other species; and the changes in landscapes around the world because of climatic shifts and variability.

Although ecological grief and mourning are experienced by individuals worldwide, this environmentally-based sense of loss remains largely absent and marginalized in broader public and academic discourses. Indeed, while human loss is predominately featured, the grief and mourning of environmental loss has not yet enjoyed a substantial seat at the discursive table. Mourning, however, can be an important and powerful theoretical construct that has the potential to transcend anthropocentric values and become the mechanism through which we can begin to ground a different ecological ethic premised on shared interspecies loss and grief and on the recognition of non-humans as fellow vulnerable beings.

Understanding the political, theoretical, and lived potentials of mourning, this work seeks to redress the absence of ecological-based mourning in academic and public discourse, and through a collection of contributions from numerous perspectives, including theoretical perspectives and case study research, to extend the concepts of mourning, grief, loss, and melancholia beyond the human.

Abstract Submission: Submissions are invited from any global or geographic region, and representing numerous disciplines and areas, including but not limited to: geography, environmental studies/sciences, literature, psychology, environmental design, environmental politics, ethics, landscape studies, environmental history, environmental behaviour, environmental philosophy, sustainability studies, Indigenous studies, conservation ecology, biodiversity, and human-nature relations.

 

Interested authors are invited to submit an abstract for a proposed chapter by September 1, 2012 to the collection editors Ashlee Cunsolo Willox (ashlee.cunsolo@mail.mcgill.ca) and Karen Landman (klandman@uoguelph.ca).

Abstracts should be between 300 and 400 words in length, and clearly articulate the themes of environmentally-related grief, loss, mourning, and/or melancholia.

Please see the attached Call for Papers for further details and information.

Download CFP Environment and as Mourning June2012.pdf

JOB: IDRC Senior Program Officer

We are pleased to let you know about a job opportunity at IDRC´s Climate Change and Water Program.

Please see the attached announcement, in English and French.
 
Detailed information on the position requirements can also be found at www.idrc.ca/careers
 
Best regards
 
Climate Change and Water Program Team
 

Download Career Opportunity CCW.PDF

Download Avis d’emploi CCW(F).pdf

Smith Fellows 2013 Call for Proposals Announced

Smith Fellows 2013 Call for Proposals Announced

The Society for Conservation Biology is pleased to solicit applications for the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship Program. These two year postdoctoral fellowships enable outstanding early-career scientists to improve and expand their research skills while directing their efforts towards problems of pressing conservation concern for the United States.

Each Fellow is mentored by both an academic sponsor who encourages the Fellow’s continued development as a conservation scientist, and a conservation practitioner who helps to connect the Fellow and her/his research to practical conservation challenges.

Fellows will spend up to three weeks per year during their fellowship attending orientation and training events. These offerings provide opportunities to cultivate professional networks and to gain better understanding of applied research needs. Fellows will participate as a group in three or more of these Program-sponsored meetings, conferences, or professional development events each year.

The Program especially encourages individuals who want to better link conservation science and theory with pressing policy and management applications to apply. We envision that the cadre of scientists supported by the Smith Fellows Program eventually will assume leadership positions across the field of conservation science. Fellows are selected on the basis of innovation, potential for leadership and strength of proposal.

The deadline for receipt of application materials is 21 September 2012. The Program expects to select four Fellows in January 2013 for appointments to start between March and September 2013. Fellowship awards include an annual salary of $50,000, benefits, and generous travel and research budgets. For detailed proposal guidelines, please visit http://www.conbio.org/smithfellows/apply/ . Questions may be directed to Shonda Foster, Program Coordinator, by emailing sfoster@conbio.org .

IHDP Secretariat’s Writing Contest

          

Enter the 2nd IHDP Writing Contest and Win a Cash Prize!
Introduction

The IHDP Secretariat's Writing Contest is open
again! Young scholars are invited to take part and write an article for
the second issue of the DIMENSIONS magazine, to be published in late
fall 2012. The
issue will focus on the human dimensions
of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and will be directed towards a
wider audience, including non-scientists interested in the topic. Upon expiry
of the submission deadline, the Secretariat will select up to five winners to
be awarded cash prizes – and will publish their work in the magazine (print
and online).

Cash prizes will be as follows:

    1st Place – $ 500

    2nd Place – $ 200

    3rd – 5th Place – $ 100 each

                

Who
is eligible?

The contest is open to young scholars from
all over the world (graduate students, PhD students or postdocs). Scholars from
developing countries are particularly encouraged to take part.
         

 

Topic

Articles must address a significant issue
relating to the human dimensions of biodiversity
and ecosystem services. Topics may focus on, but are not limited to, challenges
for the developing world or the close inter-linkages that occur across
biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being.

 

Guidelines

While the subject matter may cover
political, technological, economic or social aspects, contestants should seek
to write an article that is understandable to a non-scientific audience,
ideally offering a narrative and avoiding the use of too many technical terms.
Winning articles will be written in engaging, non-scientific language, and will offer an interesting and easy
read. Contributions in the style of an academic paper will not be accepted.

Entries are not to exceed 3,000 words and
must be submitted via e-mail to secretariat@ihdp.unu.edu by August 31, 2012,
including “Writing Contest” in the subject line. Contestants are asked to
provide a short paragraph about themselves stating their date of birth and
field of research. All submissions will be reviewed carefully. The five winners
will be announced on the IHDP website and social media channels and informed via
email.

To find out more about DIMENSIONS magazine and download the first issue, please click here.

JOB: Professorship for Systems Science at the University of Graz

Dear Sir or Madam,

Our institute currently offers a "Professorship for Systems Science"
(permanent employment) . The research area of this position is defined
with system sciences, especially systems modelling (agent-based
modelling, System
Dynamics) and system evaluation with regard to sustainable
development.

Please see the attachment for further details.

Best regards,

Maximilian Mrotzek

Dr. Maximilian Mrotzek
Institute for Systems Sciences,
Innovation & Sustainability Research
University of Graz
Merangasse 18/1
A-8010 Graz, Austria
Phone: + 43 316 380 7342
Fax: +43 316 380 9585
maximilian.mrotzek@uni-graz.at

www.uni-graz.at/isis

Download Professorship_UniGraz_english.pdf

SCB Social Science Working Group Call for Nominations: June 30 Deadline

Call for Nominations      
                
The Board of the Society for Conservation Biology’s Social Science Working Group (SSWG) seeks nominations for five representatives to the SSWG Board to serve a two year term, beginning in July 2012.       
               
The SSWG is a global community of conservation professionals interested in the application of social science to the conservation of biological diversity. Since its founding in 2003, the SSWG has grown to over 500 members in 60 countries. The SSWG is home to a diverse and multidisciplinary array of conservation researchers and practitioners, including social scientists, natural scientists, and humanists from many different backgrounds. The SSWG Board has been active in developing and coordinating initiatives that best accomplish the mission of the SSWG, which is to strengthen conservation social science and its application to conservation practice. 
 
We seek nominations of dedicated, creative, and enthusiastic individuals to provide leadership in the following five SSWG Board positions:                   
                   
* Political Science representative
* Sociology representative
* Economics representative
* At-large representative 
*At-large student representative
 
We welcome self-nominations and ask that you don’t nominate someone without his/her permission. Up to two nominees will be selected to run for each position. All nominees must be SCB and SSWG members in good standing. Applicants for the disciplinary seats should be able to demonstrate appropriate disciplinary training and scholarship to represent that field. All candidates should possess: (1) demonstrated commitment to SCB and SSWG (both the missions and the organizations); (2) sufficient time/capacity to provide leadership; (3) relevant research and/or practitioner experience. 
 
Board members are expected to serve as the Chair of a standing SSWG Committee, implement the SSWG 2009-2014 strategic plan and annual work plans, and support the SSWG's goals in the following five areas:           
                  
1. Science. Advance scientific understanding of conservation as a social process. 

2. Policy. Inform conservation decision-making through scientific dialogue and stakeholder engagement. 

3. Capacity-building. Enhance the ability of scholars and practitioners to understand and address the social dimensions of biodiversity conservation. 

4. Membership. Expand, diversify, and engage the SSWG membership. 

5. Organizational development. Increase the capacity of the SSWG to achieve its mission.
                  
More information about the SSWG (including strategic plan, work plans, and annual reports) is available athttp://www.conbio.org/workinggroups/sswg/. The SSWG Board includes members representing each of six social science disciplines (anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, sociology), four at-large seats including a dedicated student seat, and the social science representative to the SCB Board of Governors. More information is available on the SSWG website.
 
Nominees should send a CV and a statement of interest (250 words maximum) to Robin Roth (SSWG Acting Nominations Committee Chair, rothr@yorku.ca) by June 30, 2012. Elections will follow in July. Apologies for the late posting, if you’re interested but the deadline is too tight, please contact me! Also let me know if you would like more information about how to become an SSWG member.

EXHIBIT: In(visible) Body-Mapped Stories of Latin American Undocumented Workers in the GTA

We invite you to attend a community-friendly research art exhibition entitled:
"In(visible) Body-Mapped Stories of Latin American Undocumented Workers in the GTA", June 26-28, 2012

Opening Presentation & Research Findings Launch: Tuesday June 26, 2012 @ 5PM, Toronto City Hall, Rotunda on the Ground Floor(100 Queen Street West, Corner of Queen Street W. & Bay Street)

About the exhibition:

This
exhibition is based on a research project led by Dr. Denise Gastaldo
(Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto) and Dr. Lilian
Magalhaes (Department of Occupational Therapy, Western University),
which utilized drawing and painting techniques with Latin American
undocumented workers in the GTA to help them tell their migration and
settlement journeys to Canada. Through their body maps, workers convey
their reasons for leaving their countries of origin, for coming and
staying in Canada, the work they perform here, and the health
consequences (social, mental and physical) of living without the
protection of citizenship. On display, are 20 body maps, which are
impressive, 2-meter high, translucent prints that visually represent
workers' migration stories.

The title of the exhibition, "In(Visible)", captures the in-between presence of this population:

Visible
because it is estimated that there are half a million undocumented
workers living and working in Canada; mostly in the Greater Toronto
Area. Invisible because most Canadians believe they don't know an
undocumented worker.

Visible because they produce
wealth and essential services that Canadians utilize for everyday
living. Invisible because they use strategies to remain unnoticed within
the multicultural mosaic of the GTA.

The key findings of the
research study will be presented on the opening night of the exhibition.
These findings draw from a comprehensive e-book written for the general
public entitled, "Entangled in a Web of Exploitation and Solidarity".
The e-book will be available for downloading in late June 2012 from www.migrationhealth.ca

Conchita Poncini Jimenez International Human Rights Fellowship – due June 30, 2012

The International Federation of University Women (IFUW) is proud to announce the Conchita Poncini Jimenez Human Rights Fellowship promoting the use of human rights instruments and agreements for the advancement of women and girls. The award is named in honour of Conchita Poncini Jimenez, IFUW Representative to the United Nations from 1994-2011.From her professional career with the International Labour Office from 1964-1994, to her active volunteer work with IFUW from 1994 until her death from cancer in 2011, Conchita spent her life fighting for gender equality and women’s empowerment. She was a leader in the campaign to have women’s rights recognized as human rights and lobbied continuously against violations and practices that threaten the rights and lives of women and girls throughout the world.Up to 70% of the world’s women will experience violence in their lifetime. Up to 800,000 persons are trafficked across international borders annual, the vast majority of them women and girls. Three million girls per year are thought to be at risk of genital mutilation. Only one country out of three has reach gender parity at both the primary and secondary school levels. These are but a few of the stark statistics on violations of women’s human rights taking place throughout the world.International human rights instruments and agreements to protect women human rights, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), have been adopted, but much work is needed to ensure their implementation at the national and local level. The Conchita Poncini Jimenez Human Rights Fellowship will be awarded for advanced research, an internship or study related to the use of human rights instruments and agreements for the advancement of women.Those interesting in supporting this award can contribute by clicking on the donate button to the right.
Eligibility:

The Conchita Poncini Jimenez Human Rights Fellowship is open to women human rights activists, scholars, journalists, writers, or social scientists with a demonstrated commitment to the advancement of women and girls and the attainment of their human rights.
Both IFUW members and non-members may apply.
Preference will be given to applicants with at least five years of proven activist and/or research experience in the field.
All applicants must either have a degree from a higher education institution or an equivalent qualification or have substantial relevant work experience at a significant comparable level.
The award is open to women of all nationalities.
Proposals must relate to the use of human rights instruments and agreements for the advancement of women, for example the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) or the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The award may be used for any of the following: a major research project at a university or institution of higher learning in any country; an internship or project to be carried out with an appropriate international or national human rights organization; or study for an appropriate academic qualification (e.g. Masters or PhD) for those with substantial experience of national or international human rights activity but no higher degree.
Terms:

The CPJ Human Rights Fellow will receive CHF 20,000, payable in two installments. The first will be paid at the beginning of tenure, the second after submission of a mid-term report.
The award is non-renewable.
The award is for 8 to 12 months of full-time work/study or up to 24 months of part-time work/study.
The CPJ Human Rights Fellow will be expected to:

Complete the work or study for which the award is given;
Submit a one-page mid-term progress report;
Contribute a written report of 3,000 to 5,000 words by the end of the funding period;
Make an oral presentation at IFUW’s Triennial Conference in Istanbul in August 2013, for which airfare and accommodation will be provided.

Any changes in a recipient’s plan of research, study or training differing from the application must have prior written approval of the selection committee.
The financial assistance given by IFUW must be acknowledged in any published material embodying the results of the work carried out.

JOB: Director of Academic Programs at Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society

> The Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society (RCC) is looking for a
> scholar in the field of environmental history or related disciplines to
> join its team as Director of Academic Programs. The RCC is an
> international, interdisciplinary research institute located in central
> Munich, founded in 2009 as a joint initiative of LMU Munich
> (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität) and the Deutsches Museum. The RCC aims to
> advance research and discussion concerning the interaction between human
> agents and nature, and to strengthen the role of the humanities in current
> political and scientific debates about the environment. By bringing
> together scholars who work in various disciplines and national contexts,
> and communicating the results of their research, the RCC aims to
> internationalize environmental studies and to raise its profile as a
> globally significant and growing field. The center supports more than 25
> fellows each year. In addition, the RCC also organizes numerous
> conferences, workshops, and summer schools in Munich and abroad, produces
> several publication series, maintains an international doctoral program,
> and develops both the Environment & Society Portal (
> www.environmentandsociety.org ) and museum exhibitions. The center's working
> language is English.

> The role of Director of Academic Programs has been newly created with the
> aim of strengthening and optimizing research in the environmental
> humanities at the RCC. The Director of Academic Programs will be
> responsible for conceptualizing and overseeing a range of RCC events and
> projects, working with the events team and external conveners to organize
> conferences. In addition, s/he will serve as a liaison for the fellows. The
> Director of Academic Programs may be charged with writing grants and
> proposals to secure third-party funding for new projects and programs; s/he
> will also teach courses in environmental studies at LMU Munich. Other
> potential tasks include initiating and coordinating strategic partnerships
> with related institutions and organizations, supervising interns, and
> representing the RCC at national and international conferences and events.
>
> The candidate must hold a PhD or equivalent and have demonstrable research
> experience in at least two different subject areas within the broader field
> of environmental history and/or other environmental humanities disciplines.
> Native-level English competency and computer literacy are required.
> Knowledge of German would be advantageous. Applicants should enjoy working
> with colleagues of diverse cultural backgrounds, be able to balance
> multiple assignments, and meet tight deadlines.
>
> The position is a full-time (40.1 hours a week), in-house, service
> position. It does not include paid time for individual research endeavors,
> and would suit a candidate who is looking to move into academic
> administration, or gain skills in management and coordination to complement
> a research career. The RCC offers an attractive compensation package
> including a yearly gross salary between 38,000 – 60,500 Euros (based on the
> tariff contracts for public service, level E13/14, commensurate with
> experience) and 30 days paid vacation. Working hours are flexible, and the
> RCC offers a family-friendly working environment. The RCC can also assist,
> if necessary, with work permits and visas. As the candidate will be a state
> employee, s/he is required to have German health insurance and to make
> contributions to the German tax and social welfare system.
>
> To apply, please send your cover letter, CV, a 2-page academic writing
> sample (i.e. an expose of a current or previous research project,
> etc.),and the contact information of two references to Arielle Helmick
> via email arielle.helmick@lmu.de by 15 July 2012. Interviews will take place in the
> first week of August 2012.
>
> www.carsoncenter.uni-muenchen.de
>

JOB: Disease Ecology and Computer Modeling

Interested in international field research experience and the challenges of coordinating large-scale interdisciplinary projects? The Disease Ecology and Computer Modeling Laboratory (decml.osu.edu) is looking for an experienced researcher with a background in biology, ecology, or veterinary medicine who is adaptable, enthusiastic, good at working in teams, and comfortable working with computers and internet communication. A successful applicant will be stationed with our research team in Maroua, Cameroon, for one year and will be in charge of data collection and data management training, communications between Ohio State and the Cameroon team, and data quality assurance. There is ample opportunity to develop independent research or veterinary clinical practice within the context of our larger project during this appointment. Management and database experience, international or cross-cultural experience, and ability to speak French and/or Fulfulde would be helpful. The position title and compensation are somewhat flexible. This could be a position for a graduate student advanced to candidacy, a recent graduate, or a post-doctoral researcher. If you have questions or would like to apply for this position, please contact Rebecca Garabed (Rebecca.Garabed@cvm.osu.edu). An application will consist of a resume or CV, letter stating your professional goals and how this project is of interest to you, and a list of three references. The proposed starting date would be September 1st, 2012.