Maryland's Public System of Higher Education

Week of September 13, 2010

News from Across the USM Campuses

Sept. 16^th - 3:30 pm (CSS 2400, Auditorium, University of Maryland, College Park campus) - "Revolutionizing Climate Modeling: Impact of High Spatial Resolution" with Dr. James Kinter Director of the Institute of Global Environment and Society at the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies.

Sept. 16^th - 4:00 pm (1102 South Campus Commons, Building 1, University of Maryland, College Park campus) - Film: "Crude Awakening" - An unforgettable and shocking wake-up call, A Crude Awakening offers the rock-solid argument that the era of cheap oil is in the past. Relentless and clear-eyed, this intensively researched film drills deep into the uncomfortable realities of a world that is both addicted to fossil fuels and blissfully unaware of the looming "peak oil" crisis.

Sept. 17^th - Ned Tillman?- "Growth Adventures - The Chesapeake: Past, Present and  Requirements for a Sustainable Future." Seminar will be held on Friday at 2:00pm in the Technology Research Center, Room 206, on the University of Maryland, Baltimore County campus, and is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Visitor parking passes for the TRC lot may be purchased for $4.00 in the CUERE office in TRC 102/105 on the UMBC campus shortly before seminar.

University of Maryland, College Park - Campus Green Fund - The Campus Green Fund is supported by the Student Sustainability Fee and provides funding for projects that promote environmental sustainability and positively impact the student experience at the University of Maryland. Students, faculty, and staff of the University of Maryland community can apply for funds to support projects that will advance the sustainability of the College Park campus. Application materials must be submitted electronically to the UMCP's Office of Sustainability (sustainability@umd.edu) by Monday, November 1, 2010. Projects will be awarded by July 1, 2011.

The University of Maryland, College Park Office of Sustainability (OS) now hiring for three new fulltime coordinator positions. The office is a fast paced, dynamic, and quickly changing organization and we seek talented individuals who thrive in this environment. Apply by September 27, 2010 for best consideration.

Climate Change Education Partnership Program Is Launched: Innovative education strategies advance climate science literacy (National Science Foundation Press Release, 9/10/10) [The University System of Maryland, in conjunction with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science; University of Maryland, College Park; Towson University, and University of Delaware, were awarded a 2-year, $1MM Climate Change Education planning grant, called MADE-CLEAR - Maryland and Delaware Climate Change Education, Assessment, and Research]

USM Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiative

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• Useful Links and References

Buildings follow Knights' LEED: New buildings will adhere to green standards (By Claire Saravia, The Diamondback Online, 9/10/10)

Murky Bay cleanup "roadmaps" (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 9/9/10) [Article quotes University of Maryland Environmental Law Professor, Rena Steinzor]

Potomac River's health rebounds (By David A. Fahrenthold, The Washington Post, 9/8/10) [Article quotes Dr. Donald F. Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center foe Environmental Science]

Oyster recovery plan begins (By Candus Thompson, The Baltimore Sun - Outdoors Girl Blog, 9/7/10) [Article references the state oyster hatchery at UMCES's Horn Point Laboratory]

Aquatic conservation efforts pay off: Clean-up of Potomac River offers hope to environmentalists worldwide. (By Richard A. Lovett, Nature News, 9/6/10) [Article quotes Margaret Palmer of the University of Maryland Center foe Environmental Science]

State of Maryland News

Third Annual Homegrown School Lunch Week - September 13 - 17, 2010 (Maryland Department of Agriculture Press Release)

States seek federal money for big bay cleanup plans: Complex pollution reduction roadmaps get mixed reactions (By Timothy B. Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun, 9/8/10)

Bike Boulevards - a new type of street for Guilford Avenue and Baltimore (By Christy Zuccarini, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 9/8/10)

Green, "net zero" homes in Frederick (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 9/8/10)

Grow Annapolis: a community garden project (By Susan Reimer, The Baltimore Sun, 9/7/10)

National and International News

China making inroads on emissions (By Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post, 9/12/10)

The Oil Spill's Money Squeeze (By Shaila Dewan, The New York Times, 9/12/10)

Residents return home after San Bruno pipeline blowout (By Garance Burke and Trevor Hunnicutt, Associated Press as reported by the Los Angeles Daily News, 9/12/10)

Pay $1 to use plastic bags? Texas city to impose fee (USA TODAY - Green House, 9/10/10)

Study: Termites help predict impact of climate change (USA TODAY - Green House, 9/10/10)

Government agencies make plans to reduce federal carbon footprint in next decade (By Lisa Rein, The Washington Post, 9/10/10)

White House Puts Off Solar Enthusiasts (By Andrew C. Revkin, The New York Times - Dot Earth Bog, 9/10/10)

Remoteness a Hurdle in Harvesting Panhandle's Winds (By Kate Galbraith, The Texas Tribune, 9/10/10)

Main Climate Threat Comes From Stuff We Haven't Yet Built... There's Still Time to Turn It Around (By Matthew McDermott, Treehugger.com, 9/10/10)

Scientists Find Thick Layer Of Oil On Seafloor (Reported by Richard Harris, NPR - All Things Considered, 9/10/10)

Four states prepare legal assault on California's climate law (By Mark Schapiro, California Watch Blog, 9/9/10)

The Irrigation Juggernaut (By Justin Gillis, The New York Times - Green Blog, 9/9/10)

In report on gulf oil spill, BP spreads the blame (By Steven Mufson and David Hilzenrath, The Washington Post, 9/9/10)

World Bank's Climate Change Envoy Steers Around Hot-Button Issues (By Lisa Friedman, ClimateWire as reported by The New York Times, 9/9/10) 

BP investigation cites multiple failures, but not well's design (By William Douglas, McClatchy Newspapers, 9/8/10)

Federal Agency Sues LED Bulb Maker (By Leora Broydo Vestel, The New York Times - Green Blog, 9/8/10)

BP Spill Report Hints at Legal Defense (By Ian Urbina, The New York Times, 9/8/10)