Dr. George Hess Honored with NC State’s Top Teaching Award for 2014

Posted on April 23, 2014 by

On April 23, 2014 at 7:45pm, NC State University will turn the campus belltower red in honor of Dr. George Hess.

Department Head Barry Goldfarb (r) congratulates Dr. George Hess (l) on his award.

Hess, an Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor of Conservation and Ecology in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources is North Carolina State University’s recipient of the 2014 Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching.

About the Award
In 1993 the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina system reaffirmed that teaching is the primary responsibility of each of the 17 constituent institutions of the University. To underscore the importance of teaching and to encourage, identify, recognize, reward, and support good teaching within the University, the Board created annual systemwide teaching awards with monetary stipends which are designated “Board of Governors Awards for Excellence in Teaching.”

The College of Natural Resources is very proud that a member of our faculty has received this highly prestigious award.

About Dr. George Hess
Holding research and teaching positions at North Carolina State University since 1989, Dr. Hess joined the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources in 1996.

Studying conservation planning for wildlife in suburbanizing areas and broader issues of open space conservation, Dr. Hess’s research has evolved from a strictly science-based focus to a collaborative combination of science and policy inquiry. Self-described as “…an unrepentant addict, craving the controlled chaos of engaged learning,” Dr. Hess challenges students to independently solve problems on projects in a collaborative environment using technical, communication, critical thinking, and organizational skills. He works to combine his teaching, research, and service activities at the undergraduate and graduate levels, creating exciting learning opportunities for his students and himself alike.

Dr. Hess’s activities comprise three major themes and are integrated across teaching, research, and engagement: participation in the scholarship of teaching and learning that supports the active engagement of faculty and students with community partners to address regional conservation challenges; improvement of the breadth and quality of ecologically-based information available to land use planners; and development of approaches to incorporating scientific findings about conservation into local planning activities by engaging with community partners.

As a teacher, Dr. Hess focuses on finding and developing approaches such as inquiry-guided learning, service-learning, and collaborative research that engage students in topical problems with the organizations and people who are working to solve them. Using these techniques, students respond positively to authentic learning environments.

His students have provided written support of his successful teaching methods:

“Dr. Hess introduces a realistic model of problems and solutions….”

“His classroom is a forum of active thought where students think critically to solve qualitative and quantitative problems….”

“Everything is interactive, hands-on, and designed so that students leave with a level of understanding and confidence…. ”

“… his instruction methods removed the barriers between class work and ‘real-world’ work.”

Civically active, Dr. Hess has served on the Board of Directors for Triangle Land Conservancy, the Town of Knightdale’s Land Use Review Board, and several committees focusing on land use and planning issues.

Dr. Gary Blank, Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University, writes in support of Dr. Hess’s outreach efforts, “Dr. Hess is instrumental in projects like WakeNature Preserve Partnership… he is the person who asserts the pedagogical perspective amid the sometimes too prevalent focus on just getting the ‘job’ done.”

Dr. Hess earned a BA in Biology from Columbia College (1978), a BS in Computer Science from Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science (1979), a MS in Computer Science from the Stevens Institute of Technology (1981) and a PhD in Biomathematics and Ecology from North Carolina State University (1994).
Visit Dr. Hess’s Website>>

Dr. Hess will be honored at NC State’s Spring commencement ceremony by a member of the Board of Governors, will receive a $12,500 stipend and a bronze medallion, and lifetime bragging rights.

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Dr. Hess!

Program Pilots New Path to Forestry & Environmental Resources Degrees

Posted on April 10, 2014 by

The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources(FER) at North Carolina State University is excited to launch a new pilot program, CONNECT, beginning the summer of 2014. For a select group of students who do not receive admission offers for the freshman class in fall 2014, the CONNECT program offers an alternate path to becoming a student in one of the degree programs within the department. The degree programs include: Forest Management, Natural Resources (Ecosystem Assessment or Policy & Administration), Environmental Technology & Management, and Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology.

Block of 4 photos of students in forestry & environmental resources degree programs at NC State University CONNECT begins during the summer by offering these students the opportunity to explore life as a student at NC State. Once accepted into the Connect program, the students live on campus and take two courses during Summer Session II. This offers students the chance to learn about a variety of on-campus resources, meet faculty and students, and participate in hands-on field experiences.

At the end of the summer, these students then spend the subsequent fall and spring semesters attending the 2 or 4-year institution of their choice while receiving academic advising from the FER undergraduate program coordinator, Christi Standley. The students will then return to NC State the next summer to take additional courses.

Students who earn an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher will be offered guaranteed admission into the degree programs in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources without reapplying to NC State University. If a student does not earn an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, they can apply as a transfer student.

Through the CONNECT program, students can effectively use their time and money in their first year of studies and be well prepared to enter our programs as a sophomore. The goal is to ensure that these students have accurate information about courses to take so they are eligible to transfer to NC State and be on track with credits that will count toward their specific major of interest within the department.

The FER department is excited to offer this alternate path to students who show strong qualities on their applications, so these students will be able to demonstrate their dedication and academic success, access these challenging degree programs, and achieve exciting natural resources careers.

Learn More About Connect>>

Watch a Video About Our Majors>>

Noted Quantitative Population Ecologist to Deliver Global Environmental Change Lecture at NC State

Posted on March 28, 2014 by

Dr. Barry Brook, the Australian Research Council Future Fellow III, Sir Hubert Wilkins Chair of Climate Change, and Director of Climate Science for The Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide in South Australia will deliver the inaugural Global Environmental Change Lecture at NC State University -“Power to save nature? The role of nuclear energy and ‘techno-fixes’ in conserving climate and ecosystems.”

The lecture will be held at the David Clark Labs on the NC State campus on April 8, 2014 from 4-5pm. (parking in the Dan Allen deck) and is open to the public.

Fossil fuels have supplied most of society’s energy demand for over two centuries. Yet, with the mounting problems of climate change, pollution, security and dwindling supplies, we now face the need for a near-total transformation of the world’s energy systems.

The talk will provide a critical overview of the challenges in—and potential solutions for—completely ‘decarbonzing’ our energy supplies, while also meeting the growing need for increased prosperity in the developing world.

It will be argued that of the options available, it is next-generation nuclear power and related technologies, based on modular systems with full fuel recycling and inherent safety, that offer the best chance of curing our fossil-fuel addiction.

Solving the ‘energy problem’ will not just help in mitigating climate change. It will also avoid destructive use of natural and agricultural landscapes for biofuels and diffuse energy generation, and allow societies to reduce their ‘footprint’ by sparing land and resources for biodiversity conservation

About Dr. Brook:

An innovative quantitative population ecologist, began his career studying how genetic variability affects the persistence of small populations. Since then his efforts have proliferated in many directions, with novel applications of simulation and statistical modeling to understand synergistic impacts on the biosphere. Read his blog>>

The NC State Global Environmental Change Lecture Series is organized by NC State College of Natural Resources professor L. Scott Mills and co-sponsored by the Southeast Climate Science Center.

Learn more about the NC State Global Change Forum>>

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Dr. Brooks will also deliver the weekly Forestry & Environmental Resources Seminar on April 7, 2014 from 3:30-4:30pm in Room 434 of Daniels Hall at NC State.
The topic is “Tipping Points and Metamodels: Forecasting and Abating Aggregate Human Impacts on Biodiversity”

North Carolina’s Arbor Day Celebration 2014

Posted on March 5, 2014 by rwgonzal

The public is invited to participate in North Carolina’s 2014 Arbor Day Celebration to be held at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, March 22, 2014, from 10am to 2pm. The NC State University Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources will host the fun event again this year, featuring many exhibits, a tree seedling give-away, and hands-on activities for whole family.

Arbor Day is celebrated in state observances across the country to demonstrate our appreciation of trees. According to the NC Forest Service website, the NC state legislature ratified a bill in 1967, stating in part, “Whereas, it is desirable that the planting of seedlings and flowering shrubs be encouraged to promote the beautification and conservation of the vast and varied resources of North Carolina, and whereas the designation of a particular day each year as Arbor Day would encourage and draw attention to a concerted effort by North Carolinians to beautify and conserve the state’s resources by planting young trees and shrubs.”

In honor of that spirit, several organizations will be on hand at North Carolina’s Arbor Day Celebration to share information and materials about how trees enhance the quality of life for us all. In cooperation with the Society of American Foresters’ Triangle Chapter and NC State Student Chapter, 1500 tree seedlings will be distributed to the public. The winner of the state’s Arbor Day Photo Contest will be announced and presented with their award at 1:30pm. Smokey Bear is sure to make a visit and a children’s activity area is also in the works.

North Carolina’s Arbor Day Celebration is free and open to the public. For more information, visit go.ncsu.edu/arborday2014.

Visit the 2013 NC Arbor Day Celebration Photo Gallery >>

For more information, contact:

Renee Strnad
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
North Carolina State University
Phone: 919-515-5518
renee_strnad@ncsu.edu
www.cnr.ncsu.edu/fer
go.ncsu.edu/arborday2014

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Borlaug Award Nominations Due By March 7

Posted on January 30, 2014 by

Award nominations are being accepted through March 7 for the Norman E. Borlaug Excellence in Service to Society and the Environment Award.

This award is open to all tenure-track faculty of N.C. State University and is presented annually.

Nobel Laureate Norman E. Borlaug

This year’s award will be a part of the centennial celebration of the Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman E. Borlaug’s life and will be presented this spring in conjunction with the lecture given by the awardee. The Distinguished Lecture on Global Service to Society and Environment will be held in the fall.

The award recognizes exemplary service to the environment and society in academics, research or service through enhancing global practices, new technologies, impact on students or global communities. It is intended to recognize accomplishments and to encourage future work. Details are available at the website: http:cnr.ncsu.edu/borlaug/award.php

Faculty members from any N.C. State University college are eligible for this award, named in honor of the late Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, Nobel Laureate and father of the Green Revolution. The award and lecture are sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources.

Award nomination packets are due March 7 and should be submitted to: Dr. Joel Pawlak, Campus Box 8001, N.C. State University.

Nomination packets should include the following:
• Nominee’s complete curriculum vitae
• Letter of support from department head, dean, associate or assistant dean or university officer
• Statement from the nominee about the impact of his or her work and future plans
• Letters of support from outside the university are encouraged, but not required. Such letters should describe the impact of the nominee’s accomplishments.

Nominations can originate from individual faculty members on their own behalf or from colleagues at any level of university administration. However, nomination packets must be submitted to the selection committee via the person writing a letter of support (see list above).

The awardee will have a chance to briefly address the audience assembled for the Borlaug Lecture and will receive an award certificate, a $1,000 prize, a gift from the selection committee and his or her name engraved on a university plaque.

For information contact Dr. John Sabella, CALS, jasabell@ncsu.edu,919.515.2665; or Dr. Joel Pawlak, CNR, jjpawlak@ncsu.edu, 919.515.2890.