February 2010

McGILL SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER – Feb. 26, 2010 / Vol. 2, Issue 5

This newsletter is electronically sent to MSE registered students on a monthly basis. If you are not an MSE student, and wish to receive future copies, danielle.lefebvre [at] mcgill.ca (contact me) and I will be happy to add you to our mailing list.

February 2010

SPECIAL EVENTS

What do Wes Jackson and Hans Langseth have in common?

That's right! They both live by the motto, "If you're working on something you can finish in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough."

Melanie Lefebvre had an opportunity to interview Dr. Jackson, Founder of The Land Institute. Discover how he is turning abstract ideas into physical reality.

For those of you who could not attend the public lecture, you can do it now. View the podcast

Green Week - Working in the Environment

Green Week is your opportunity to meet people working in the environmental sector, including professionals, alumni, and labour market specialists. Learn about the issues and employment needs in this growing sector.

The week will feature events at both the Downtown campus and Macdonald campus. Learn more >

What's new at the MSE?

The MSE Speakers Series brings to campus an outstanding array of environmental speakers to discuss major environmental issues of the day, and to provide students and faculty with opportunities to interact with some of the people who are shaping our world.

The MSE Speakers Series will take place at MSE's downtown office, 3534 University, 1st Floor Conference Room at 12:30 pm.

*Exception: March 31st, location Room 202, New Chancellor Day Hall, Faculty of Law, entrance 3660 Peel St.

Wednesday, March 10 - Prof. Andy Gonzalez
The Janus-faced challenges of biodiversity science: some initial explorations

*Wednesday, March 31 - Professors Stephen Clarkson and Stepan Wood
Co-sponsored by the Hydro-Quebec Scholarship in Sustainable Development
Green Leader/Collosal Fossil? Canada, the Environment, and Globalization

Wednesday, April 7 - Prof. Madhav Badami
Urban Transport in India: My Journey to the Bottom of the Pyramid (And Other Diversions)

Read more

Important Conferences sponsored/co-sponsored by the MSE

Canadian Water: Towards a new strategy, March 25-26, 2010, McGill Faculty Club - registration is required

Amidst growing concerns about the state of Canadian water, the goal of this conference is to promote a pan-Canadian strategy for the management of Canadian water resources. As the conference unfolds, I invite you to communicate your ideas, consider new perspectives and meet new people who share your interest in trying to understand water policy challenges and to determine how governments, private industry and citizens can respond to these challenges.
Join us!

Antonia Maioni, Ph.D., Director
McGill Institute for the Study of Canada


Connecting Academia and Activism on Water Issues, March 26-28, 2010, student-led conference at McGill University - registration is required

Are you interested in water issues? Curious about how water is the common current through privatization, issues of access, and environmental degradation? Then come to the three-day student-led conference on water issues!

www.unchartedwatersconference.ca

4th World congress of Environmental and Resource Economists to be held June 28 through to July 2, 2010, on the campus of the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) at Pavillon Judith-Jasmin, 405 St. Catherine Street East , Montréal, Quebec. Read more

Reminders

March 22 to April 14, 2010: Mercury On-Line Course Evaluation Period
Can you believe the end of term is drawing near? On March 22nd the course evaluation module on Minerva will open to take your feedback from all of your courses. Please take the time to send us feedback. It's valuable to us and to future students. Thank you!

MSE Honours Students Spring Symposium 2009-2010 to be held on Wednesday, April 14, 2010. Downtown campus, Burnside Hall, room 426, 2:30-7:00pm.

All are welcomed! Mark your calendars.

Field Studies Programs - Application Deadlines
March 15, 2010: Barbados Interdisciplinary Tropical Studies
March 16, 2010: Barbados Field Studies Program
March 26, 2010: Panama Field Studies Program
April 30, 2010: Canadian Field Studies in Africa

AWARDS, INTERNSHIPS, TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS

March 8, 2010: First deadline for IHSP Student Internship Applications


The Internship Program at the Institute for Health and Social Policy provides graduate and undergraduate students at McGill with an opportunity to become directly involved with the Institute's research initiatives. Our multidisciplinary interns have researched a range of different topics, including the working conditions of multinational companies in China, national and international efforts to reduce or eliminate child labour and global trends in gender-related educational inequalities. Interns work closely with Institute staff, receive training in research and policy analysis and become active members of the Institute team. Read More

March 22, 2010: Deadline to apply for the ARTS Internship Awards

The Faculty of Arts is able to provide partial financial support to many Arts students who will be interns this summer. Last year it was possible to make awards to 48 Arts students.

Students are strongly encouraged to start working on their application as soon as possible.

Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. Read More

March 29, 2010: Macdonald Campus Award for Teaching Excellence 2010: Deadline to submit nomination.

The Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has a tradition of recognizing outstanding teachers in the Faculty each year, by presentation of an Award for Teaching Excellence. In particular, the Faculty wishes to honour teachers who present course material in an effective and stimulating manner. Innovative teaching methods and the ability to enhance lecture material with field trips, laboratory exercises, and practical applications are also worthy of recognition.

Nominations for the Award for Teaching Excellence will be accepted from all students in this Faculty, graduates of the past five years and members of the academic staff. Each nomination must be individual: no petitions or group nominations will be considered. Find out how to nominate your favourite teacher

April 1, 2010: Deadline to apply for a Moyse Travelling Scholarship

Are you in the Faculty of Arts or Science, and, is your GPA 3.50 or higher? Check out this scholarship.

April 30, 2010: Deadline for MSE Award for Teaching Assistance Excellence

Now is the time for all good students to nominate their favourite TA for an MSE award. The TA can be chosen from this term, Winter 2010, or from Fall 2009.

More information

The McGill School of Environment recognizes the contributions of our Teaching Assistants (TA) through our Award for Teaching Assistant Excellence. This award is given to an outstanding TA who has helped students in an effective and stimulating manner or has excelled in the quality of feedback during marking of written work and oral presentations.

Nominations will be accepted for TAs of any ENVR course. The name of the recipient will be announced in May of each year. Recipients will receive a letter of commendation along with a cheque of $200.

Print out a nomination form MSE TA Award Nomination Form 2010 , scan and save it, and then danielle.lefebvre [at] mcgill.ca (Email my MSE TA Award Nomination to Danielle) .

Or, you can print it out and fax it to Danielle Lefebvre at (514)398-7846, or send it in the McGill internal mail system to:

Danielle Lefebvre
Administrative & Student Affairs Coordinator
MSE TA Award Nomination
McGill School of Environment, Rowles House
21,111 Lakeshore Rd.
Ste-Anne de Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9

MSE BLOG

The MSE Blog is run by the MSE reporter, who is this year, Melanie Lefebvre. Do take some time to peruse through its pages, as there is some wonderful reporting being showcased

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TEACHING RESOURCES

Miti is offering graduate students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences workshops which are designed to help you become an excellent teacher!

The Macdonald Innovation for Teaching Improvement is a group devoted to the improvement of the quality of teaching and learning on the Macdonald Campus. Workshops are being offered on March 24th at 6:00pm, Faculty Lounge of the Macdonald Campus (MS2-022). Read More

Learning to Teach: A Professional Development Workshop for Graduate Students

Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), and Teaching & Learning Services (TLS) host Learning to Teach: A Professional Development Workshop for Graduate Students and Post-Doctoral Fellows at McGill. The event takes place March 7. Read More

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KEEPING IT REAL

Get connected; get informed. Prof. Madhav Badami offers up new ways to get connected through these great environmental links/articles. Discover

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STUDENT GROUPS

McGill Environment Students' Society What do MSE students do, besides party? Read More

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LINKS

Links Environmental News Network (ENN).

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

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UPDATED SECTIONS ON THE SCHOOL'S WEBSITE

Check out the MSE's web pages on careers.

MSE Career Centre - useful new links:

• The Big Guide to Living and Working Overseas
  www.workingoverseas.com/mcgill

No longer printing these directories; they are now on-line only:

The Career Directory
www.mediacorp.ca/tcd
Use "The Career Directory" on-line and search jobs currently posted at employers in this year's edition of "The Career Directory". Click on the "Online Career Directory" button.

Top 100 Employers
www.eluta.ca/search_top_employers

Search jobs from Canada's top employers.

To unsubscribe or for questions or comments regarding the newsletter please email:
danielle.lefebvre [at] mcgill.ca (Danielle Lefebvre)
Tel.: (514) 398-7559
Communications Department - McGill School of Environment
Design: McGill Content and Collaboration Solutions