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Science at Barnard

Greening at Barnard

BARNARD

Archive

Welcome back to the final stretch into Spring!

Noteworthy News:

Senior Thesis Poster Session--another great success for our seniors!
At this year’s Sixth Annual Senior Thesis Poser Session, Barnard and Columbia Seniors in the Environmental Science Senior thesis Research Seminar presented their thesis work in poster form, each with a one-minute introduction of their topics, followed by a reception and presentation period during which they discussed their research to colleagues, professors, researchers, visitors and family members in front of their posters. The event was co-sponsored by the Environmental Science Department at Barnard College and Columbia’s Department of Earth and Environmental Science and Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Department, and with the kind support of the Office of the Provost at Barnard and the Earth Institute at Columbia University.

Lunch Talk with Kornelia Kavanagh '62, Environmental Sculptor
Please join us Monday, May 4, at noon for pizza, images and an interesting talk with Cornelia Kavangh who recently presented her Tsunami Project, premiering her moulin scultpures at the American Museum of Natural History during this year's International Polar Weekend.
She writes: "As a sculptor, my instinct is to render personal responses to life in form. For years I attempted to find inspiration within the tradition of organic abstraction, carving sculpture in the manner of Arp, Brancusi and Moore. Today, however, celebrating natural beauty per se no longer satisfies me. I feel a need to search for beauty in all aspects of nature, even those manifested by epic disasters. My earlier TSUNAMI PROJECT has led to a sculptural exploration of the devastating effect of Arctic Ice melt, focusing on ice tunnels called moulins that are formed when melt water rushes through glacial crevasses."
Don't miss this opportunity to meet an artist who has melded form with science!
Please RSVP to Catherine asap.

Diane E. Pataki '93 awarded prestigious AGU award--Congratulations!
Only a few years after graduating from Barnard with a major in Environmental Science, and now Assistant Professor at University of California, Irvine, Diane Pataki has just been named a 2008 James B. Macelwane Medalist from the American Geophysical Union, an award given to "outstanding young scientists" (under the age of 36) for their contributions in the field of geological sciences.

Awarded under "the exceptional circumstances on the unanimous vote of the selection committee" for AGU, the medal is named after the 30th president of AGU (1953-1956), James B. Macelwane, a renowned seismologist who had a deep interest in teaching and encouraging young scientists. The award can be given to up to five scholars and this year, Diane Pataki was one of three recipients.

After graduating from Barnard, Diane went on to Duke for her MA, PhD and now teaches at UC, Irvine, with a split appointment as Associate Professor of Earth System Science at the School of Physical Sciences and the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the School of Biological Sciences.

See AGU's site for the citation given to her as well as her response in which she sites her interest in environmental research as beginning here at Barnard, with a particular note of the inspiration she recieved from Peter Bower, Joe Liddicoat and Helen Young.

Earlier this year Diane wrote "I'm still pretty much studying the topic of my senior thesis which was the role ot the terrestrial biosphere in the global Carbon cycle, so obviously my stay at Barnard had a major impact!" (Keep that in mind, seniors, as you continue your thesis work next semester...)

See also Irvine's newsletter on Pataki's Macelwane medal and her research of land-atmosphere interactions, biogeochemistry and global change biology, and stay tuned for more info on Diane Pataki's great honor after the AGU Conference finishes.

WIRED Science interviews Stephanie Pfirman on the Call for Arctic National Park. Take a read on climate change and the movement to create a 'National Park' on ice. Stephanie shares her expertise in the search for solutions to this very real problem of dwindling sea ice.

Brownfield Field Action in the News again!
Check out the January 23rd Spectator article featuring the success of Peter Bower's Brownfield Action in implementing video game tools for actual virtual learning.

Oceans summit addresses Arctic melting
Hundreds of environmentalists and advocates for the oceans are gathered in Washington, DC in early March at the Blue Vision Summit — a conference focused on the future health of the world’s seas. Some of the conversation has centered around the Arctic and sea ice melt. At a panel on March 9, an expert on the Arctic environment warned it’s time to come up with management plans addressing rapid and dramatic melt. See Alaska Public Radio Network for article.

Check out the latest Department Newsletter! Majors will all receive a copy, but you can also read it on-line. Contact Angelica Patterson, if you have something newsworthy or a great photo! For a complete view of all the published Newsletters, check out the Newsletter archives.

AMNH Exhibit on Climate Change: The Threat to Life and a New Engergy Future, October 18, 2008 - August 16, 2009
Need a break from studying or do you have some time over winter break? Stop by the American Museum of Natural History to see the exhibit which Barnard students studied first-hand on how museum exhibits are developed!
Earth’s climate is changing. Global temperature is rising, weather patterns are shifting and other effects may be on our horizon. While we can’t predict the severity of those impacts in a particular place or time, we can nonetheless see—and measure—many changes. There are special rates for students, so be sure to bring your ID's and your friends.

Environmental Science at Black Rock Forest
Lecturer and Lab Director, Terryanne Maenza-Gmelch with Program Manager, Angelica Patterson took BC1001 students to explore Black Rock Forest, in October.
This summer, Terryanne and Angie taught a two week session of Field Ecology Research methods to eleven High School students, staying in the Black Rock Forest Lodge. As members of the Black Rock Forest Consortium, Barnard and Columbia faculty and students have this beautiful resource at our disposal.

Get quick answers to course credit questions about AP credit, credit for SEA Semester and SEE-U and the credit they carry for the Science Requirement and Major and Minor Requirements by checking the Credit and Placement Page. Or go directly to the Programs page for updates in Major Requirements in Environmental Science (majors and minors), Environmental Policy or Environmental Biology.

Join our E-Mail List:
Interested in receiving e-mails about course announcements and updates, Environmental events, job opportunities, internships? Those not on our student e-mail list should send an e-mail to Catherine Cook, the Departmental Assistant, with your name, year, major (if chosen, or if not, your interest) and we'll add you to the list.

EcoReps, the Res Life-sponsored program piloted this year in First-Year dorms at Barnard now has their own website, barnardecoreps.com and it's fantastic. Check out the EcoReps Newsletter and get involved. For more information about EcoReps or their activities, write to barnardecoreps@gmail.com.

EarthGoogle is an interesting site to check out satelite photos the world over! (You'll need to download the software to use it if you want to.)

Google

New York Weather

Senior Thesis Poster Session: Thursday, April 23

Summer Research Internships at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory--Details and Application On-line
DEADLINE was March 15 for BC, CC, and SEAS students

Check out the latest Department Newsletter for articles on EcoReps, Alumnae and Students in the Field, Women of Color in the Sciences Panel, the Senior Research Poster Session and much more...

Take a look at the Sustainability Report and let us know your thoughts--get involved!	The Initial Sustainability Report is posted on the College's website. This project was initiated by our department and lovingly researched by Amanda Rook '08, Alison Powell '09, and Jason Smerdon, our Mellon PostDoc, now LDEO Lecturer and Adjunct Assistant Professor at SIPA with in-put from the community and our department.