Natural Resources Graduate Student Receives National MANRRS Research Award

Posted on April 30, 2009 by kmfaber2

NEWS RELEASE – April 30, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fourteen students accompanied by advisors from the NC State College of Natural Resources and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recently attended the National Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Career Fair and Training Conference held in Indianapolis, Indiana. The annual affair is designed as a networking and career fair workshop where students from traditional agriculture universities present research papers and posters, interview for summer internships and professional job placements, and network with other students and professionals representing a broad array of food and agricultural related industries.

Several of the students presented oral research papers and posters with three students winning various competitive events which include: 1) Porche’ Spence, CALS Ph.D. Candidate, Soil Science; 2nd place graduate research poster; 2) Wanida Lewis, CALS Ph.D. candidate, Food Science 3rd place graduate oral research competition; and 3) Jasmine Shaw, CNR Masters of Science in Natural Resources graduate student, 2nd place graduate research competition.

ISTF Professional Networking in Washington, D.C.

Posted on April 30, 2009 by kmfaber2

Prepared by Susan McIntyre, 3/31/09

Seven members of the NCSU student chapter of International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF) traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak with four organizations about their international work. The members brought unique perspectives to the meetings, as they themselves hailed from all around the world:

Koffi Bassan (Togo)
Omar Carrero (Venezuela)
Sadharga Koesbandana (Indonesia)
Liwei Lin (Taiwan)
Susan McIntyre (United States)
Yun Wu (China)
Jin Xiong (China)

The first meeting of the morning was with the Department of State Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science. We were able to speak with Mark Johnsen, International Relations Officer, and Ellen Shaw, a Forest Policy Advisor in the Office of Ecology and Natural Resource Conservation. We discussed the issues that the Bureau has with promoting and enforcing US policy on various natural resource issues, particularly in the areas of illegal logging in tropical forests and illegal imports of tropical forest products. We also learned the differences between civil servants and field agents and were able to discuss employment prospects and the hiring process.

At the World Bank, we received an excellent lunch and heard presentations from several project leaders, including the Forest Carbon Initiative. Among our hosts was Greg Frey, former ISTF President and PhD student from NCSU Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. Other presenters included Gerhard Dieterle (Forests Advisor) and Megan Meyer (Carbon Finance Analyst).

We also spoke with employees at the US Forest Service Office of International Programs and the World Resource Institute. At USFS, we enjoyed a very frank and open discussion with Alex Moad, Assistant Director for Technical Cooperation, as well as specialist staff working in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. They gave us a brief overview of the organizational structure of the Forest Service, their numerous projects, and their plans for the future. They indicated that climate change would be a major driver in future policy, research and pilot projects. We learned that the Forest Service has long been highly engaged with international partners on a variety of issues and has a history of bringing back new ideas to try in the United States.

Our day wrapped up with a visit to the World Resource Institute. After an introduction to the WRI Ecosystem Services program, the primary subject for discussion was the POTICO project that has recently been developed. POTICO stands for Palm Oil, Timber, and Carbon Offsets, the three sources of income for a new conservation scheme to protect virgin tropical forests from conversion to palm oil plantations. Susan Minnemeyer discussed plans for increasing GIS and remote imaging capabilities to better study the forests and monitor carbon projects. ISTF members had the opportunity to ask about and discuss other research being conducted in their countries and regions of interest, including carbon sequestration in China and a new project focused on ecosystem service incentives in the southeastern US.

ISTF members meet with representatives from the Department of State

ISTF members stand in front of the Capitol and symbolic cherry blossoms: Omar Carrero (Venezuala), Susan McIntyre (United States), Sherry Xiong (China).

Learn more about International Programs in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

Colby and McCarter Honored with Employee Awards of Excellence

Posted on April 22, 2009 by kmfaber2

NEWS RELEASE – April 22, 2009

Two CNR staff members are the winners of 2009 College of Natural Resources Awards of Excellence. The Awards of Excellence recognize the accomplishments and achievements of permanent NC State employees who do not hold faculty rank.

Ms. Susan Colby (SPA Award) is the Program Assistant for the Professional Golf Management Program, the creator and advisor for the PGM student ambassador group, and serves as print and web communications co-ordinator for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.

Ms. Kelley McCarter (EPA Award) is the Program Coordinator for the Forestry and Environmental Outreach Program where she coordinates the logistics of FEOP's many credit and non-credit courses, workshops, conferences and seminars for forestry and natural resources professionals; educational opportunitites for the general public, landowners, and professionals; and public forums for the exchange of information and ideas on natural resources management.

Both Colby and McCarter were recognized for their hardwork, dedication, and innovation far above the expectations for their respective positions.

"Susan and Kelley demonstrate the kind of outstanding professionalism that makes the College of Natural Resources a great place to work and learn," says CNR Dean Robert Brown. "The staff in our college are vital to our success in every arena – teaching, research and extension. We are pleased to have this opportunity to recognize the impressive accomplishments of these two members of our outstanding staff."

Colby and McCarter will be among forty-eight college/unit Awards for Excellence winners who will be honored at a social at the Talley Student Center Ballroom on June 9 at 3:00 p.m. The reception is open to the public. Both recipients receive $250 and eight hours of paid leave and are eligible to receive an additional award if chosen as one of the five distinguished employees to receive the University Awards for Excellence.

For more information on the Awards of Excellence programs visit: http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/hr/benefits/easummary.asp

Dr. Leung named President-elect of Sigma Iota Rho – Eta Chapter

Posted on April 22, 2009 by kmfaber2

NEWS RELEASE – April 22, 2009

The NC State College of Natural Resources is proud to announce that Dr. Yu-Fai Leung has been named president-elect of the Eta Chapter of Sigma Iota Rho, the NC State Chapter of the National Honor Society for International Studies.

Dr Leung is an associate professor in the NC State Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management who works primarily in the areas of recreation ecology and impact assessment and in park planning and management.

For more information about Dr Leung visit http://cnr.ncsu.edu/prtm/faculty/Leung.html

For more information on the Eta Chapter of Sigma Iota Rho visit http://mis.chass.ncsu.edu/sigmaiotarho.htm

Forestry Club Earth Day Plant Sale

Posted on April 22, 2009 by kmfaber2

The Forestry Club will be holding our annual Earth Day Plant Sale on the NC State Brickyard on Wednesday April 22nd from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Everyone is encouraged to come out and support the Forestry Club by buying a plant/tree or two (or five). We will be selling woody and herbaceous perennials and annuals, all being mostly native species. Spread the word!

All forestry club members, and friends of the forestry club, are encouraged to come and help with the sale.