Johnston King’s Post

Check out this feature from the URI Graduate School of Oceanography highlighting my National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship award and the research I plan to undertake for my Master's degree!

Today's tips! 1. Statement of Purpose provides insight into your experience and capstone project interests. 2. You don't have to been an expert: Show that you have landscape knowledge on topics you want to explore in a potential project: who is working on the issue; what are pain points of the problem you want to solve? Join an upcoming virtual info session and Apply by Dec 13! https://loom.ly/R4vFzV4 #scipol #policy #fellowship #graduateschool #marinescience #sustainability #oceanscience #sustainablescience #marineconservation #environmentalpolicy #sustainablefutures #womeninSTEM #resilience #climatechange #coastal #masters #coastalresilience #oceanconservation

⭐ We are always especially proud to see those who start out as students with us progress into professional researchers and furthering their education as well. Eric Ndayishimiye is one of our latest leading examples of this pathway toward creating the next generation of scientists and conservationists, as he is now in the field conducting research for his doctoral dissertation. ➡️ Learn more about Eric: https://lnkd.in/e-bWAdz4

Happy Earth Day!! One big part of the earth system is the atmosphere. Chemical emissions to, reactions in, and removal of these emissions from the atmosphere to soil and water can affect climate, human and animal health, agricultural, visibility, aquatic nutrient balance, and other facets of the environment. The IGAC Project seeks to advance atmospheric chemistry towards a sustainable world, and some of the ways we do this is by fostering community and by building capacity. Our biennial science meeting and the attached Early Career Short Course are examples of how we do this. Abstracts are due 30 April 2024 for the conference, and applications for the Early Career Short Course (travel grants included) are due the same day. More information on the conference here: https://lnkd.in/gcEMxHMY Abstract submission here (will need to sign into Oxford Abstracts): https://lnkd.in/giWyeby8 Early Career Short Course application here: https://lnkd.in/gMtp94fH

Ph.D. Position – Response of US Forests to Climate Change at the University of Florida This Ph.D. opportunity at the University of Florida, to begin in fall 2025, will leverage the national-scale US Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) database and may also include field work.   Supervisor: Jeremy Lichstein (https://lnkd.in/gm5MNF5U)   Background: Multiple factors may affect trends in forest dynamics, including rising concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, climate change, and nutrient limitation. These factors may affect forest growth and mortality directly through physiological mechanisms, as well as indirectly through shifts in species composition. As the spatial and temporal coverage of national-scale data continues to improve, so do opportunities to better characterize and understand changes in forest dynamics. However, interactions between multiple global change drivers and the complex disturbance history of U.S. forests pose significant challenges for attributing changes to different mechanisms. Addressing these challenges requires creative modeling approaches. Our recent paper (https://lnkd.in/gEqymbmc) illustrates the type of research that our project is pursuing.   Details: This PhD position is associated with a USDA-funded project to study the carbon dynamics of US forests. The project aims to improve our understanding of how and why US forest dynamics have changed over recent decades. We are interested in better understanding both carbon dynamics and demography across life stages (seedlings, saplings, and large trees). Within this broad framework, the PhD student will develop questions aligned with their specific interests.   Tuition and stipend ($32,500/yr with 3%/yr cost-of-living increase) are provided for up to five years, including two semesters of TA support and up to four years of RA support.   Start date: fall semester (around Aug. 15) of 2025.   Potential degree programs include the UF School of Natural Resources and the Environment (https://snre.ifas.ufl.edu/; application deadline Feb. 1, 2025) and the UF Biology Department (https://biology.ufl.edu/; application deadline Dec. 1, 2024). If you are interested in applying, please contact Jeremy Lichstein (jlichstein@ufl.edu) by around Oct. 15, 2024 with the following pre-application materials: - Cover letter explaining your interest in the position and relevant experience. - Curriculum Vitae. - Contact information for three references. - Any questions you have about the position. This informal pre-application does not have a strict deadline and is intended to: (1) help determine if this position would be a good fit for you, and (2) help you think about how you might approach your PhD, which will strengthen your subsequent formal application(s). Formal application to one or both programs listed above is also required if you decide to move forward. #forest #fia #modeling #ecosystem

Milwaukee: your lab coats are machine-washable. No need to dry-clean ahead of Escuela Verde's #communitysciencefair on March 15. For those tuning in late, I organized three #sciencefairs for grown-ups in the '00s as Cedar Block. Joey Zocher, PhD and R. Justin Hougham, Ph.D. asked if we could reboot them for an annual event with community members AND EV students in 2016. They turned my quirky idea into something I couldn't have imagined. #ScienceStrikesBack is beautiful, brilliant and substantive in singularly inspiring ways. You can and should attend. The video at the link below shows it in action. These kids -- I think the world is gonna be alright. Consider participating, as it's open to anyone who misses doing science fairs or never got an opportunity. I participated as a civilian in February 2020, winning 1st place in the Technology division for building a functional time machine. My life has more space than it has in recent years so I submitted an application this morning for a project that considers the biology of artificial intelligence. Okay I'm done. This is simply my favorite experience in town. It makes me happier than a Bucks game or the Art Museum. "Science Strikes Back (SSB) aims to encourage community members in #Milwaukee to critically analyze #environmentalissues and solve problems in their communities. Through the development of collaborative relationships between students, educators, and content specialists from locally-based organizations, Science Strikes Back will produce a strong network in Milwaukee for continued #environmentaleducation and #naturalresourcestewardship. Inspiring an interest in our #GreatLakeswatershed, supporting #studentinquiry in #communityissues and advancing dialogue around #environmentaljustice all are examples of how SSB hopes to support science in Milwaukee." https://lnkd.in/dgKY_xgd

📣 Award announcement: Interface of Change Year 1 Seed Awards Alaska NSF EPSCoR is excited to announce the first round of research seed awards under our project "Interface of Change." The goal of Interface of Change is to bring together researchers, Gulf of Alaska community members, Tribes, educators, and entrepreneurs to investigate climate change impacts on harvested and farmed marine species, and on the lives of Alaskans who rely on them. We are soliciting proposals for seed grants from University of Alaska researchers and students, as well as non-UA affiliated research collaborators and adjacent organizations to carry out new and innovative research projects that support Interface of Change goals. Seed award projects should address themes relevant to the EPSCoR Interface of Change project. The maximum amount for research seed awards is up to $20,000 per award. For student research seed awards, the maximum amount is up to $4,000 per award. Deadline to apply: September 30, 2024 Awards will be announced: October 23, 2024 Award Period: November 1, 2024- June 30, 2025 See our awards page for more information on eligibility and how to apply: https://lnkd.in/gJ-kPXDE 📸 Photo courtesy by Schery Umanzor, who leads Interface of Change research on how climate-driven environmental changes impact red seaweed growth.

Happy to share that Copernicus researchers Josie Chambers & Gerbrand Koren were selected to join the Utrecht Young Academy! UYA is a group of motivated and ambitious young academics from across all Utrecht University faculties who seek to exchange critical perspectives on academia, policy and society in Utrecht and beyond. "𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞?" Josie's research examines how critical and artistic approaches can challenge notions of ‘inevitable’ unjust futures and enable radical imagination and transformative politics. Josie also uses creative pedagogies to transform the classroom space, leading to student-led outputs such as the Creative Collectives for Utopia Zine and Rural Utopias theatrical event. "𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬, 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭?" Gerbrand's research attempts to quantify the impact of climate change on the water and carbon cycle, with a focus on the impact of droughts, floods and heat waves. For this, he uses models, local measurements and remote sensing. Much of the research is conducted together with international partners, including researchers from the Global South, where mutually meaningful collaboration is essential. Read more about UYA, its members, and what the group together aim to achieve on the UYA website: https://lnkd.in/ewnvJJf5

PhDs can be difficult to navigate. Join us to see different experiences across the different stages of PhDing. Reminds me of this piece I co-wrote in Institute of Australian Geographers Geographical Research. https://lnkd.in/gPzJj48z

The last carriage of the Climate University Express 🌡 👩🎓 🚄 Postdoctoral researcher Lisette van Beek wrote a blog series about inspiring examples of transformative university practices that she encountered on her train journeys visiting European universities. In conclusion, she compiled a lot of examples in a catalogue Reimagining the University in the Climate Crisis. The ecological crisis and growing social injustices imply the need for radical transformations. Universities have a unique potential to drive radical change through their research, education and public engagement. So far, universities are not living up to this potential. But there is hope. All over the world, transformative university practices are being initiated, demonstrating that an alternative university is possible. This catalogue is an attempt to capture some of these practices, with the aim to inspire future collaborations, initiatives and institutional change. Let’s reimagine the university together! https://lnkd.in/ez6GUQc4