ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES MAJORS NEWSLETTER

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES MAJORS NEWSLETTER

March 2008

Dear Major:

We hope you are having a productive year! In preparation for the Fall 2008 semester, this newsletter presents important information on advising, courses, placement, research opportunities, awards, and graduation.

ADVISING INFORMATION

The Department of Environmental Sciences is recruiting students for both its BS and BA degrees. We encourage you to recommend our department to fellow students who may have not selected their major at this time. Anyone needing assistance in determining whether a degree in Environmental Sciences is right for them should see Mr. Hornberger (UGARC chair) or any other department faculty member.

Fall Courses (follow hyperlinks for course descriptions and prerequisites):

Lower Division:

EVSC 101 Introduction to Environmental Sciences, Ms. Blum

EVSC 102 Practical Concepts of Environmental Sciences, Ms. Blum

EVSC 120 Elements of Ecology, Mr. T. Smith

EVSC 201 Materials That Shape Civilization, Mr. Shiflet

EVSC 222 Conservation Ecology, Ms. Lawrence

EVSC 230 Politics, Science and Values, Ms. Thomson

Core Courses: Each of our four required core courses is offered every semester, and each consists of a 3-credit lecture and a 1-credit laboratory. The offerings and instructors for Fall 2008 are:

EVSC 280, 280L Fundamentals of Geology, Mr. Biggs

EVSC 320, 320L Fundamentals of Ecology, Mr. Epstein

EVSC 340, 340L Physical Hydrology, Mr. Scanlon

EVSC 350, 350L Atmosphere & Weather, Mr. Davis.

*Note that EVSC 320L serves as a second writing requirement for anyone still needing one.

Upper Division: Planned upper division offerings for Fall 2008 include:

EVSC 362, 362L GIS Methods, Mr. Gist and Mr. K. Johnson

EVSC 384 Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. Mr. Howard

EVSC 413 Population Ecology and Conservation, Mr. Wilbur

EVSC 423 Marine Environment and Organisms, Mr. Zieman and Mr. D. Smith

EVSC 430 Management of Forest Ecosystems, Mr. Shugart

EVSC 431 Methods in Aquatic Ecology, Ms. McGlathery

EVSC 457 Microclimatology, Mr. Fuentes

EVSC 465 Environmental Policymaking, Ms. Thomson.

EVSC 483 Seminar in Environmental and Biological Conservation, Ms. L. Galloway

EVSC 485 Coastal Processes, Mr. Dolan

EVSC 488 Planetary Geology. Mr. Howard

EVSC 493 Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Seminar. Mr. Macko

EVSC 493 Topics in Organic Geochemistry, Mr. Macko

EVSC 493 Climate: Past, Present & Future, Mr. Davis and Mr. Hayden

EVSC 493 Coastal-Marine Conservation, Mr. Ray

EVSC 493 Limnology: Inland Water Ecosystem, Mr. Pace

EVSC 493 Coastal Storms, Mr. Dolan

EVSC 493 Seminar in Isotope and Organic Geochemistry, Mr. Macko

EVSC 493 Field Methods in Environmental Science, Mr. Biggs

EVSC 493 Weather Forecasting, Ms. Moody

EVSC 493 Ore Deposits of the US, Mr. Biggs

EVSC 493 Hydrological Resources, Mr. Mills and Mr. Hornberger

EVSC 493 Mountain Meteorology Seminar, Mr. DeWekker

EVSC 493 Climate Impacts on Coastal Processes, Ms. Moore

EVSC 495 Supervised Research

Students are reminded that courses at the 500-level are open to them, and most advanced majors should be able to handle the subject material in those courses as well as they can handle 400-level courses.

EVAT 550 Environmental Climatology, Mr. Hayden

EVGE 584 Sediment Processes and Envi, Ms. Wiberg

EVHY 545 Hydrological Transport Process, Mr. D’Odorico

EVSC 505 Managing Environmental Info, Mr. Porter

EVSC 562 Intro to GIS, Mr. Gist and Mr. K. Johnson

FOUR YEAR PLAN:

The plan of course offerings for the next several years is available at our website under “Courses.” The specific link is http://www.evsc.virginia.edu/courses/courses_4yearplan.shtml.

Much of the basic information about the Department is available on the Environmental Sciences webpage: http://www.evsc.virginia.edu.

Faculty Advisors

The Department's Undergraduate Academic Advising Committee (UGARC) (Mr. Davis, Atmospheric Sciences, red3u@virginia.edu; Mr. T. Smith, Ecology, tms9a@virginia.edu; Ms. Herman, Geology, jherman@virginia.edu; Mr. Scanlon, Hydrology, tms2v@virginia.edu) coordinates advising for majors. When someone wishes to declare a major, they may contact the area representative or George Hornberger (gmh3k@virginia.edu), UGARC chair. At that time, a faculty advisor is assigned; if the student has a preference, that person can be assigned. During the course of the student's time in the department, their assigned advisor is the primary source of information. For more complicated issues, they can contact the area representative on the UGARC, and for particularly vexing problems, they can contact George Hornberger.

Arts and Sciences Council Advising

ACS will sponsor a Majors Fair on Tuesday, March 25 from 11:00-2:00 on the Newcomb plaza. ACS has academic peer advising office hours in Clemons (4^th Floor) from 2:00-4:00 PM every Wednesday. The Environmental Sciences Department is represented by Ben Chrisinger (bwc8t@virginia.edu) who is also available to meet with students on an appointment basis. Be sure to drop by with your questions.

Faculty-Student Interaction Grant. This is a new grant created to promote interaction between faculty and students within their departments in the College. These requests are up to $200, and must be submitted three weeks prior to the proposed event. Applications are online, at http://artsandscience.virginia.edu/asc/

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ORGANIZATION

The Environmental Sciences Organization (ESO) serves as a link between EnviSci students and faculty, and provides a fun forum for promoting undergraduate involvement in department and environment-related activities. This semester ESO meetings are held every Thursday at 6:00 PM in Clark Hall, Room 102. The ESO website is www.evsc.virginia.edu/ugrad/eso/eso.html. Check out the bulletin board in the lobby of Clark Hall for notices of ESO meetings and events! The ESO president this year is Thushara Gunda, and she can be contacted at tg7r@virginia.edu. The ESO faculty advisor is Tom Biggs (thb3k@virginia.edu).

New officers will be elected in early April 2008 for the 2008-2009 academic years. ESO meeting times for fall semester will be announced early in the semester. ESO also sponsors a Career Forum in the spring semester to help students get a feel for possible career paths from department alumni.

FALL 2008 MAJOR'S SEMINAR

The Environmental Science Organization sponsors the Major's Seminar each semester from 4-5 p.m. on Tuesdays to address subjects in environmental sciences and related fields. The seminar covers the interests of the Department of Environmental Sciences and specific issues related to the environment. Current research in the department, local concerns, and world-wide environmental issues broadly categorize the seminar topics. If you have any suggestions for the seminar, please contact Mr. Steve Macko (sam8f@virginia.edu). Please remember that because this course is not graded, it cannot be used to satisfy the requirements for the degree, but the 1 credit can count toward the 120 credits required for graduation.

Specialization in Environmental and Biological Conservation

The Department of Environmental Sciences, in conjunction with the Department of Biology, offers an opportunity for students to obtain the Bachelor of Arts or Science in Environmental Sciences with a Specialization in Environmental and Biological Conservation. Candidates for the Specialization must fulfill all the requirements for the Environmental Sciences major.

The requirements for the Specialization are as follows: (1) Related math and science courses are calculus (MATH 212 or 131), organismal biology (BIOL 202 or BIOL 301) with lab (BIOL 204) and either chemistry with lab (CHEM 141/141L) or physics with lab (PHYS 151/201L); (2) the four core environmental science courses (EVSC 280, 320, 340, 350) with their labs; (3) Two introductory courses in environmental conservation (EVSC 222, BIOL 345), population ecology (EVSC 413) and the 2-credit capstone seminar in environmental and biological conservation (EVSC 483); (4) an additional four upper-level courses in either Environmental Sciences or Biology. The courses must cover each of the following areas: Biological Diversity-a course focused on a particular group of organisms (e.g. plants, birds, mammals); Environmental Diversity-a course focused on a particular habitat (e.g. wetlands, oceans, forests, grasslands, tundra); Techniques in Conservation-a course focused on policy, related chemical or physical sciences, statistics, modeling, geospatial analysis or field methods; Field Experience-this can be fulfilled through any field-oriented class (e.g. Stream Health Monitoring, Orphaned Lands Assessment) or a field-based independent study with faculty in Environmental Sciences or Biology, a course at a University of Virginia field station (Mountain Lake Biological Station, Blandy Experimental Farm, the Virginia Coast Reserve LTER), or an internship with a conservation agency. The Conservation specialization can be completed as part of the B.S. degree in Environmental Sciences provided all of the B.S. requirements are met.

Students who are interested in this Specialization should consult with an advisor who is a faculty of the Environmental Conservation Program, preferably when declaring their major.

INTERNATIONAL STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

The University of Virginia has a formal undergraduate exchange program of special interest to students in Environmental Sciences with Lancaster University, Lancaster, England. Lancaster University offers a range of courses in the environmental sciences, and is recommended by the UVA Department of Environmental Sciences. Information on the program is available in the International Studies Resource Library, Minor Hall 216. The link for the International Studies Office is www.virginia.edu/iso/

FACULTY CHANGES 2007-2008

Mr. Dolan is on leave for the spring 2008 semester.

Mr. Epstein is on leave for the 07-08 academic year.

Mr. Shugart is on leave for the Spring 2008 semester.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

There are a number of ways majors can gain research experience, including participation in the various programs listed below:

DISTINGUISHED MAJORS PROGRAM: The Department of Environmental Sciences participates in the College's distinguished majors program designed for highly qualified students with an overall GPA of 3.4 or above. This study plan requires 12 hours of advanced work (6 hours for advanced course work related to the research specialization and 6 hours of independent study for the thesis research activities). It is best to begin this program in the early portion of your third year. The project must be completed in the semester you plan to graduate. For additional information, consult http://www.evsc.virginia.edu/ugrad/dmp/index.shtml or contact Ms. Janet Herman (jherman@virginia.edu)The deadline for applying to the program for graduation in May 2008 is October 15, 2007 (note that the deadline for the 2008-2009 term will be mid October 2008.)

If you expect to have an overall GPA of at least 3.4 upon graduation and are interested in doing a significant research project of your own, you should seriously consider this program. It is usually a 2- or 3-semester effort that involves working with a faculty member of your choice, developing a research proposal, doing the research and presenting it to a forum of peers and faculty. Please see the faculty member with whom you would like to work and explore the program with them, or contact Ms. Janet Herman about the details of the program.

SUPERVISED RESEARCH: Supervised research is an excellent way to learn specific lab or other techniques in a faculty member’s lab or project. This is similar to independent study, in that you will be using or developing new techniques to generate data and results. Becoming involved is similar to Independent Study: contact a faculty member of interest to you. If you simply want to gain lab experiences, then seek their advice on how to proceed. If you have your own research topic to propose, then seek their permission to supervise your project. Such a project would usually involve some background reading, completion of data collection or analysis or some other work plan agreed to by you and your supervisor, and then writing a report on your findings. Some projects may require more than one semester to complete, and some may even lead to publication in scientific journals or presentation at conferences. The experience of completing an undergraduate research project, besides being intellectually rewarding, provides excellent preparation for graduate work. Those who are considering graduate study are strongly encouraged to conduct a Supervised Research project in their third or fourth years.

GRADUATE MENTORING PROGRAM

The Environmental Sciences Department Mentor Program provides undergraduates an opportunity to become actively involved in field and laboratory scientific research at the University of Virginia. This program links individual undergraduate students with graduate students of similar research interests. Two types of research programs are possible: (1) undergraduates may assist graduate students with field and laboratory work; or (2) they may conduct their own research project. A combination of these two types of programs is encouraged. The framework of the program will be developed around the undergraduate and graduate student relationship. Individual programs will be catered to the specifics of the undergraduate's interests and the graduate student's needs. Academic credit, though not a requirement of the program, may be obtained with permission and active involvement of the faculty advisor. For more information, please visit our web site at: http://www.evsc.virginia.edu/~evscgsa/mentor.html.

PAID RESEARCH EXPERIENCES: Many of the research projects in the Department need various types of skilled student labor during the school year and summer. If you are interested in using or developing a research skill for pay, please contact the faculty member of your choice and explore with them what might be done, or contact Mr. George Hornberger for suggestions on who you might contact.

SUMMER RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS: Some of the research projects in the Department have scholarships for summer research work. Recently these have been through the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project and through Blandy Experimental Farm, although several other programs offer these scholarships occasionally. Watch for notices of availability, or contact these projects during the Fall or early Spring.

RESEARCH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH UVA’S CENTER FOR UNDERGRADUATE EXCELLENCE

The UVA Center for Undergraduate Excellence provides many funding opportunities. Some are listed here. Check out this link for the latest information on these and other opportunities: artsandsciences.virginia.edu/cue/home.php

Harrison Undergraduate Research Awards: These are prestigious, University-wide awards in which first-, second-, or third-year students can receive up to $3,000 in support of their research. Forty awards are anticipated to be offered in Spring 2008. The application deadline for submission of Harrison Award proposals should be announced soon.

RESEARCH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE

Small Research Grants: The deadline for summer awards will soon be posted. These awards, up to $500, are granted for travel, supplies, services, and other expenses connected with research. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences are invited to submit applications for small research grants. Budget requests are considered to a maximum of $500. At the time of application, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4 or better. Interested students should send a one-page research proposal and budget, one letter of recommendation from the student’s faculty sponsor, and a transcript to Assistant Dean Lyons, 101 Garrett Hall. The application essay (double spaced, in print, not by email or fax) and recommendation letter should be submitted to Assistant Dean Shawn Lyons, College of Arts and Sciences, 101 Garrett Hall. The application deadline for awards in Spring 2009 will be in mid March.

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects designed especially for the purpose. This solicitation features two mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department, or on interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an international dimension are welcome. A partnership with the Department of Defense supports REU Sites in DoD-relevant research areas. (2) REU Supplements may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects or may be included as a component of proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative agreements.

Undergraduate student participants in either Sites or Supplements must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.

Students may not apply to NSF to participate in REU activities. Students apply directly to REU Sites and should consult the directory of active REU Sites on the Web at http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm.

Organization for Tropical Studies REU: check website:

http://www.ots.duke.edu/en/education/under_summer_reu.shtml

The OTS research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) was designed for advanced biology students interested in conducting field research under the supervision of an experienced tropical ecologist. OTS will support ten undergraduates, selected through a competitive application process, for a ten-week research program at the world-renowned La Selva Biological Station in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. In collaboration with a research mentor, students will design, conduct, and present field research projects at La Selva. The program will provide students with a first-hand look at the challenges and rewards of tropical field research. Students will participate in a rich academic field environment, including research presentations, discussions, an ethics component focusing on issues in tropical biology and conservation. In addition, participants will have access to the social, cultural, and recreational activities of the rural communities surrounding La Selva.

SEEDS Undergraduate Research Fellowships

SEEDS Undergraduate Research Fellowships offer the opportunity for a year-long independent ecological investigation. The Fellowship is intended for undergraduate students that have a sincere interest in pursuing an ecology career, have gained some experience in the field, and will be a sophomore, junior, or senior during the term of their fellowship. SEEDS fellows conduct a year-long independent ecological research project with the help of a mentor scientist. The mentor is an Ecological Society of America (ESA) member, working outside the student's home institution. The most unique aspect of the SEEDS Fellowship is that the student-mentor match is a highly individualized process. SEEDS staff work with fellows once they have been accepted to find a mentor who is working in the student's interest area, and, if desired, also in a relatively close location to facilitate the year-long format of the fellowship. The fellowship provides students with a $6,000 research stipend, plus travel, housing and research expenses, in addition to travel to two ESA Annual Meetings. See Professor Deborah Lawrence for further information.

MAJORS PROFESSIONALIZATION EXPERIENCE

Majors can gain professional experience in the field of Environmental Sciences in a number of ways through participation in the research or advanced course work in the Department. Each of these experiences will provide insight into how you may want to proceed within the field and each can provide the types of interaction with our faculty that can lead to independent research opportunities, paid research experience, or simply excellent letters of recommendation for career opportunities.

GRADUATE COURSE WORK: Environmental Sciences courses at the 500-level can be taken by any well-prepared undergraduate. (Courses at higher levels may be taken with the instructor's permission.) These courses are considered to be introductory graduate work. These courses can provide valuable advanced training if you are considering graduate school or employment. One would usually take graduate-level courses in the 4th year. Success in these courses can lead to excellent letters of recommendation from your instructor.

DEPARTMENTAL SEMINARS AND THESIS DEFENSES: A variety of professional presentations are offered in the Department, and Majors are encouraged to attend. Although some of the material presented may be advanced, the types of questions being researched and the research approaches being used should suggest professional skills you may want to develop. Every Thursday at 4-5 p.m. in Clark 108, a visiting scientist from another institution or agency presents his or her research findings. Throughout the year, Doctoral and Masters candidates present and defend their research. These defenses provide in-depth information about progress in the field of environmental sciences and may suggest further study that you might wish to pursue. The Major's Seminar series on Tuesdays 4-5 p.m. in Clark 108 provides a range of information on careers, research, and societal issues related to the environment. Announcements of specific talks are posted in the front of Clark Hall, distributed by e-mail, and listed at http://www.evsc.virginia.edu/news/seminars/index.shtml.

CAREER AND PLACEMENT INFORMATION

Our faculty and the Office of University Career Services (UCS) are here to help you decide what you want to do and to help you develop the skills needed to seek graduate schools and jobs. It is up to you to do the actual research and succeed in finding what you want.

DEPARTMENTAL RESOURCES

Faculty Resources for Placement

Each of our faculty will be happy to talk with you and can advise on careers. Each faculty has an understanding of the placement process in their areas of specialization and may know of specific positions available. You should discuss your career goals and preparation with those faculty in your area of interest and begin to arrange letters of recommendation in the middle of Fall semester for graduate school applications and in the early Spring semester for job applications.

ESO's Placement Activities

The Environmental Sciences Organization (ESO) provides notices of employment, scholarship, internship, graduate school and other opportunities at it weekly meetings and helps provide advice on how to use University Career Services and departmental resources effectively. ESO also sponsors a panel-style Career Forum early spring semester, with department alumni from federal, state and local governmental agencies, environmental consultants, and various industries available to answer questions and provide career insights to undergraduate and graduate students. The ESO website is www.evsc.virginia.edu/ugrad/eso/eso.html.

UNIVERSITY CAREER SERVICES (UCS) is located on the second floor of Bryant Hall at the southeast end of Scott Stadium to the left of the ticket office. The staff at UCS is dedicated to helping students develop their career goals and the tools needed to achieve those goals. More information can be seen at http://www.career.virginia.edu. Some focused materials have been developed for Environmental Sciences, and you can benefit from reviewing this career information long before you are beginning your job search. UCS can also help focus your search for summer internships as well as for graduate school.

JEFFERSON EXTERN PROGRAM: This is an excellent opportunity to explore career possibilities. The Extern program is a one-week, volunteer, job-shadowing experience. You can “work” with a professional in the field in order to learn what you like and dislike about that career. In addition, many Externs are offered summer or permanent employment by their sponsors. It is a great opportunity to make contacts and learn more about various professions. UCS does not place students directly with externship sponsors. However, Jefferson Externs have access to many UCS resources, including an extern database which lists past extern sponsors. Also, Jefferson Externs will gain valuable job search, resume writing, networking, and interviewing experience. UCS sponsors small group workshops throughout the year.

ENGINEERING CAREER SERVICES: Many recruiters and programs contacting the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) are seeking environmental scientists as well as environmental engineers. Engineering Career Services offers services and programs appropriate to our Majors seeking professional placement including on-Grounds interviews and an annual Job Fair that attracts nearly 70 firms to Grounds each Fall. Prepare your resume and check out the services at http://www.seas.virginia.edu/careerdevelopment.

END-OF-THE-YEAR ANNOUNCEMENTS

DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS CEREMONY AND RECEPTION

The annual Departmental Award and Recognition Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. in Clark Hall 108. The undergraduate awards to be presented include the Wallace-Poole Award for the outstanding major and additional awards for each area of the department. The Distinguished Major levels will be announced, and the Grant Goodell Award for most outstanding interdisciplinary thesis will be given. We urge you to attend this department-wide academic and other achievements awards ceremony.

Following the ceremony a reception will be held in a Lawn Garden. All Environmental Sciences majors are invited.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE GRADUATION CEREMONY

The Department of Environmental Sciences will honor and award degrees to graduating majors in Clark Hall, after the University's Commencement Exercise on Sunday, May 18, 2008. Mr. Zieman will award diplomas at that time. Graduating majors will be contacted with further details.

CONCLUSION

You will get the most benefit from your experience as an Environmental Sciences Major if you engage with the faculty, graduate students, and other undergraduate students in taking advantage of the broad range of academic, professional, and social activities in the Department. Please take advantage of getting to know your advisor, your professors, your teaching assistants, your research colleagues, and your fellow students. If you need any more information about your chosen field of study or about our program, please ask any member of the Department.