What’s New is the monthly Newsletter of the Population-Environment Research Network (PERN), containing pertinent and up to date information to facilitate research and advance knowledge of population environment relationships. All issues of What’s New are archived on the PERN website, and relevant parts of this news bulletin are cross-posted under PERN’s Conference Calendar and Jobs/Funding Opportunities.
In collaboration with the Programme for International Research on the Interactions between Population, Development, and Environment (PRIPODE) funded by the French Foreign Ministry, PERN will host an internet-based cyberseminar from 3-14 September on Populatibnon-Development-Environment Linkages in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of West Africa. For details visit the cyberseminars page.
The dates of the Population and Natural Hazards cyberseminar have now been set for 29 October-12 November 2007. Drs. Daniel Hogan and Eduardo Marandola of the University of Campinas, Brazil, will write a background paper on “Hazard Vulnerability in Population-Environment Studies.”
Archives of PERN cyberseminars from 2001-2005 have been fully restored as PDF documents on the cyberseminars page.
Special Session on “Amenity Migration & Urbanization In Mountain Regions,” Royal Geographic Society 2007 International Conference, 28-31 August 2007, London, UK
The Mountain Research Group of the RGS-IBG is organizing a session at this year's RGS-IBG conference. The session is Amenity Migration & Urbanization In Mountain Regions. Session description: Historically the focus of mountain migration has been on out-migration. However, over the past several decades a growing in-migration has been occurring to mountain regions driven by amenity seekers and new economic opportunities, and is increasingly accompanied by urbanization. This session focuses on deepening and sharpening our knowledge about this in-migration to mountains and their peripheral metropolises in both wealthier and poorer and countries and regions of the world. For more information on the conference visit http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/ConferencesAndSeminars/Annual+International+Conference/.
Call for Abstracts for the International Symposium on “Sustainable Solutions: Focus on Africa”, Delft University of Technology, 1-2 November 2007, Delft, The Netherlands
The importance of sustainability is recognized worldwide. However, developed and developing nations face different issues on the road to sustainable development. It seems to many that the Western world is consuming far more than its fair share, while developing nations struggle on under the burden of poverty, disease, poor governance, environmental decay, social unrest, rapid population increase, inequity, and gender inequality. Africa is a special case. Indeed, when compared with some countries in Asia, the pace at which living standards have risen in the past five decades has been glacial. The topical focus will be on food, water, energy, health care, urban areas, mobility, and resources, among others. The deadline is extended: Authors are requested to submit an abstract electronically no later than 15 May 2007. For more information visit http://www.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.jsp?id=e94fd9d4-f35d-4cb7-b565-25846f5c81bc&lang=en.
International Conference on Tourism and Global Change in Polar Regions, 29 November-1 December 2007, Oulu, Finland
IGU Commission on Tourism, Leisure and Global Change; Thule Institute; and University of Oulu, are pleased to host an international conference on Tourism and Global Change in Polar Regions. This conference focuses on a relatively little researched but increasingly recognized issue of growing tourism activities and global change in Polar Regions. For more information contact Prof. Jarkko Saarinen jarkko.saarinen @oulu.fi, or visit http://www.geog.nau.edu/igust/ or http://www.mri.scnatweb.ch/dmdocuments/Tourism_GC_PolarRegions.doc.
Call for Papers, European Population Conference 2008: Migration and Migrants in Europe, 9-12 July 2008, Barcelona, Spain
The European Association for Population Studies invites you to participate in the upcoming European Population Conference. The EPC 2008 is a general scientific conference where migration and migrants in Europe will receive special attention in the plenary session. Simultaneous sessions are the core of the conference program.
The deadline for submissions of Abstracts is 15 October 2007. Applicants must submit their abstracts on-line at the Conference website. Submissions should be channeled to one of the conference topics listed at the website. Each topic will be developed into a series of sessions by the Convener. Applicants will be informed whether their paper is accepted for presentation in a regular or poster session by December 2007. For more information or to submit an abstract visit http://epc2008.princeton.edu.
Call for Papers, Special Issue of the Journal “Action Research”
The purpose of this special edition is to tease out and clarify the differing assumptions built into the diverse approaches that now constitute the action research landscape, and to explore the practices which result. It will therefore address the place of theory in action research, exploring suitable topics that might include: the role of theory and understanding in action research; the forms taken by theory in action research; practical processes for building theory and understanding; the relationship between tacit understanding and explicit theory; ways of engaging participants in reaching collective understanding or explicit theory; and the value of local theory and its generalizability or transferability. In the first instance, proposals of about 600 to 800 words are solicited. These should describe clearly the proposed approach, explain the contribution that would be made to the journal issue and to action research generally, and identify what readers will gain. Proposals must be submitted by 31 September 2007, to Bob Dick, bd @uqconnect.net. From these proposals, guest editors will invite selected authors to submit full articles for review. The special issue is planned for Volume 7 No 1, final copy date October 2008 to be published in March 2009. For more information visit http://www.sagepub.co.uk/resources/ARJ_cfp_theory.pdf.
FUNDING/STUDY/WORK
OPPORTUNITIES - DETAILS:
For a complete list of meetings, visit Jobs/Funding page.
Call for proposals by the European Research Council (ERC) to support frontier research
ERC grants aim to support “frontier research” – the pursuit of questions at or beyond the frontiers of knowledge, without regard for established disciplinary boundaries or national borders. Applications may be made in any field of research - including the social sciences and humanities - with particular emphasis on the frontier of science and scholarship. In particular, proposals of an interdisciplinary nature which cross the boundaries between different fields of research, proposals in new and emerging fields and “high-risk, high-gain” proposals are encouraged. Deadline 25 April 2007. The Announcement is available at http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.IdeasDetailsCallPage&call_id=3.
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Small Grants Fund
The Ramsar Small Grants Fund was established by Ramsar COP4 in 1990 as a mechanism to assist developing countries and those with economies in transition in implementing the Convention and to enable the conservation and wise use of wetland resources - since that time, it has provided funding and co-funding, up to 40,000 Swiss francs (about US$ 32,000) per project for 165 projects. Suitable project proposals are those which contribute to the implementation of the Convention's Strategic Plan 2003-2008 for the conservation and wise use of wetlands; provide emergency assistance for Ramsar sites; or provide 'preparatory assistance' to allow non-Contracting Parties to progress toward accession. Eligibility is restricted to developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Projects may be proposed and implemented by any agency, NGO, or individual, but proposals must be endorsed and monitored by the Administrative Authority (the Ramsar implementing agency) in the Party's government, and seldom is more than one proposal approved from the same Party in any year. The call for proposals is now being made for the 2007 cycle, with a deadline of 30 June 2007 for application and with a decision by the Standing Committee around the end of the year. For more information visit http://www.ramsar.org/sgf/key_sgf_index.htm.
Summer School on Ecohydrology, 11-15 June 2007, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Boussinesq Center for Hydrology, and the Bsik program 'Climate changes Spatial Planning' are organizing a summer school on Ecohydrology. The course will consist of 10 half-day sessions. The aim of the course is to provide an overview of the current state of ecohydrology, and to give several in-depth examples of the ecohydrological functioning of different ecosystems around the globe. The course is limited to 50 participants; if more than 50 participants apply, priority will be given to PhD students that are closely related to the field of ecohydrogy. When you register yourself, please provide a short description of why you would like to join the summerschool and information on your background. This will allow us to cater more towards the interest and background of the participants. The fee for the course is 250 euro, including beverages, fieldtrip, and dinner on the last day. Lodging and travel are not included, more information on lodging can be found on the website. For more information visit http://www.hydrology.vu/ecohydro/.
Short Course on Community-Based Natural Resource Management and Adaptive Co-Management, 25-28 June 2007, Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa
This course is offered by Rhodes University immediately before the Society for Conservation Biology conference. Community-Based Natural Resource Management has three main objectives: a) maintaining or improving ecosystem integrity; b) improving the well-being of impoverished people; and c) developing the capacity of local people to manage their own natural resources sustainably. More recently, Adaptive Co-Management, where institutions and individuals learn and work together and flexibly adjust their management strategies in response to new information, has emerged as a complementary concept to CBNRM. In CBNRM the emphasis is often on rights and power relations, whereas Adaptive Co-management emphasizes cooperative governance, learning, adaptability and capacity development. The purpose of this course is to how to use adaptive co-management as a tool to achieve the outcomes of CBNRM. The course takes researchers and practitioners through the challenges associated with planning and implementing CBNRM through Adaptive Co-Management. The course will be structured to follow the activities necessary to establish, govern, manage and monitor CBNRM projects, especially those aimed at sustainable natural resource management and poverty alleviation. Learning will be through a) formal lectures; b) discussion and sharing of experiences; c) group-based problem solving exercises; d) assessment of real-life case studies; and e) a field trip to assess adaptive co-management in practice. Ample time will be allocated for participants to reflect and share experiences. The course will be run at the scenic Zuurberg Mountain Inn (http://www.addo.co.za/). A block booking has been made. The cost of accommodation (including breakfast) of R 450 (US$ 65) / day is NOT included in the course fee. The course fee of R 5 200.00 (US$ 740) includes all course materials, including the book Rights Resources and Rural Development. For more information visit http://www.nmmu.ac.za/scb/relatcon.htm or http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/events/2007CBNRMcoursebrochure.doc.
Training Seminar: Countdown 2010: people, protected areas and biodiversity conservation, 24 September-13 October 2007, Majella National Park, Italy
“Countdown 2010: people, protected areas and biodiversity conservation” is an international seminar on the management of protected areas and biodiversity, promoted by Italian Protected Areas Federation (Federparchi), Majella National Park, IUCN WCPA and CEC Commissions and WCPA European Training Task Force. The Seminar is supported by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Abruzzo Region Government. This is a result of successful long term cooperation between IUCN WCPA Europe and CEC, aimed at the development of common programmes to meet the needs and requirements for more effective management of protected areas. Based in the Majella National Park (Abruzzo Region), from September 24 to October 13, 2007, this first seminar will focus on methods and techniques of monitoring, managing and conserving biodiversity in protected areas, analyzing case studies and best practices worldwide. For more information visit http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/events/InternationalSeminar07.pdf.
Senior Researcher for the Sustainable Agriculture, Biodiversity and Livelihoods Programme, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London, UK
The Senior Researcher will take lead responsibility on aspects of a programme of action-oriented research on the governance of agri-food systems and the environment, including policy processes on science and innovation. Responsibilities will also include conceptualizing new research and designing methodologies for policy and fieldwork with local partners. The ideal person should be educated to postgraduate level in a relevant discipline with a proven ability to manage international research projects and to do research on policy processes on science and innovation, with particular emphasis on issues relating to social and environmental sustainability. Experience working on environment and development issues with a specific focus on links between food, agriculture, environment and livelihoods, experience of raising project funds and liasing with funding agencies and a strong publications record are also of paramount importance. This is a permanent full time post, Programme Grade 3 £35,133 - £43,877pa, depending on experience. Deadline for application is 4 May 2007. For more information visit http://www.iied.org/aboutiied/HR/SABLResAdvert.html .
Thor Heyerdahl Professorship in Health, Environment and Development, The Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Norway
The Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), is pleased to announce the establishment of the Thor Heyerdahl Professorship in health, environment and development and invites applications for the position from qualified persons. The 4-year professorship, partly sponsored by the Thor Heyerdahl Institute, honours the legacy of the well-known Norwegian explorer who contributed in many ways to cross-cultural understanding, international cooperation and interdisciplinarity in research. The empirical focus of the Professorship is the interface of environment and development processes. Special reference is given to people’s command over safe food and water, which is fundamental to health and human development and recognized as an integral component of secure and sustainable livelihoods. The position will be used to strengthen UMB’s programmes on health, environment and development. Qualifications: A doctoral degree in fields relevant to health, environment and development is a minimum requirement. Applicants should have proven scientific competence in interdisciplinary approaches to environment-development relations with reference to health, livelihoods and human development. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in leading and managing international interdisciplinary research programmes and working in multicultural environments, and in graduate level teaching and supervision of Master’s and PhD students. Deadline for application is 12 May 2007. For more information visit http://www.umb.no/22151.
Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Migration and Health Systems, Graduate School for the Humanities and Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
The Forced Migration Studies Programme (FMSP) at the University of the Witwatersrand is Southern Africa’s leading centre for academic research and teaching on migration, aid, and social transformation. Since its foundation in 1998, it has become a key reference point for academics, service providers, and policy makers. Its staff and associates conduct innovative, empirically grounded research and training on migration and humanitarianism in the African context together with select post-graduate students from across the continent and beyond. Job Description: Migration is often posited as a vector in the spread of disabling disease and the exclusion of migrants from health services negatively affects the health status of all. Health seeking behaviour may also encourage migration as people seek the medical services or social support needed to address their health needs. Despite an increasingly mobile population, Africa’s institutional capacity to address migration issues in the context of broader development priorities--including access to health--remains underdeveloped. The Forced Migration Studies Programme (FMSP) at the University of the Witwatersrand is seeking applications for a one-year renewable post-doctoral fellowship that will contribute to a better understanding and analysis of a number of issues related to the institutional requirements for addressing the health challenges of human mobility. This position will be part of three-year project to monitor international migrants’ access to health services in South Africa, to make recommendations to reduce obstacles facing migrants and to improve service delivery mechanisms. The applicant is also encouraged to consider comparative research outside of South Africa. In addition to research and publications, the successful candidate will be expected to co-teach at least one, intense short course on migration and health and to supervise Masters and PhD level students. Qualifications: Successful applicants will have a doctoral degree (PhD) in Public Health or a related social science discipline including Political Science, Sociology, and Anthropology. Past research should include a strong focus on health, public administration, and migration. Preference will be given to African scholars and those with experience working in sub-Saharan Africa. Fluency in English is required while working knowledge in French, Swahili, Portuguese or another major African language will be an advantage. Application Process: Applications should include: A full CV listing publications, qualifications, and grants earned; a proposal for research to be conducted while affiliated with the FMSP; certified transcripts from your most recent degree; a writing sample of no more than 10,000 words; sealed letters from three professional referees (these should be included in the application). Applications are due 15 May 2007. Applications sent by post should be sent to: Forced Migration Studies Programme, Graduate School for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Private Bag X3, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Wits 2050, South Africa. Enquires may be directed to: migration @migration.wits.ac.za.
Post-Doctoral Associate in Economics and Ecology of Ecosystem Services, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
This position is to support the recently-formed ecoSERVICES group directed by Charles Perrings and Ann Kinzig, and the DIVERSITAS ecoSERVICES core project office. Candidates must have earned a Ph.D. in Economics, Ecology or a related field at the time of appointment. Experience of interdisciplinary research in these areas is desirable. The starting time for the post is negotiable, and its duration is two years renewable by mutual agreement. Applicants should send a cover letter summarizing their qualifications, experience and interests, a curriculum vitae, and up to three representative reprints. They should also have two letters of recommendation sent to Dr. Charles Perrings, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501 or to Charles.Perrings @asu.edu. The deadline for applications is 15 May 2007, and if not filled biweekly thereafter until the search is closed. For more information visit http://www.public.asu.edu/~cperring/ and http://www.public.asu.edu/~akinzig/.
LITERATURE/NEW ADDITIONS TO PERN DATABASE - DETAILS:
Population and Environment Collection - new items:
Amsalu, A., L. Stroosnijder, et al. 2007. Long-term dynamics in land resource use and the driving forces in the Beressa watershed, highlands of Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental Management 83(4): 448-459.
Boone, R. B., J. M. Lackett, et al. 2007. Links and broken chains: evidence of human-caused changes in land cover in remotely sensed images. Environmental Science & Policy 10(2): 135-149.
Caldas, M., R. Walker, et al. 2007. Theorizing Land Cover and Land Use Change: The Peasant Economy of Amazonian Deforestation. 97: 86-110.
Daniel, W. O. N., H. T. Peter, et al. 2007. Human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP) in Nova Scotia, Canada. Regional Environmental Change V7(1): 1-14.
Dull, R. A. 2007. Evidence for Forest Clearance, Agriculture, and Human-Induced Erosion in Precolumbian El Salvador. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 97(1): 127-141.
Giannecchini, M., W. Twine, et al. 2007. Land-cover change and human-environment interactions in a rural cultural landscape in South Africa. The Geographical Journal 173(1): 26-42.
Grimmond, S. U. E. 2007. Urbanization and global environmental change: local effects of urban warming. The Geographical Journal 173(1): 83-88.
Gueye, C., A. S. Fall, et al. 2007. Climatic perturbation and urbanization in Senegal. The Geographical Journal 173(1): 88-92.
Kraas, F. 2007. Megacities and global change: key priorities. The Geographical Journal 173(1): 79-82.
Long, H., G. Tang, et al. 2007. Socio-economic driving forces of land-use change in Kunshan, the Yangtze River Delta economic area of China. Journal of Environmental Management 83(3): 351-364.
McGranahan, G., D. Balk and B. Anderson. 2007. The rising tide: assessing the risks of climate change and human settlements in low elevation coastal zones. Environment & Urbanization. Vol 19(1). International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).
Simon, D. 2007. Cities and global environmental change: exploring the links. The Geographical Journal 173(1): 75-79.
There were 8 new items added to the database:
2007. Barau, A.S., An Account of the High Population in Kano State, Northern Nigeria. Department of geography, Federal College of Education: Kano, Nigeria.
Bengston, D. N. and Y.-C. Youn. 2006. Urban containment policies and the protection of natural areas: the case of Seoul's greenbelt. Ecology and Society 11(1): 3.
Butler, C. D. and W. Oluoch-Kosura. 2006. Linking future ecosystem services and future human well-being. Ecology and Society 11(1): 30.
Chomitz, K. M., P. Buys, et al. 2007. At Loggerheads? Agricultural Expansion, Poverty Reduction, and Environment in the Tropical Forests, The World Bank.
Franz, J. S. and F. FitzRoy. 2006. Child Mortality and Environment in Developing Countries. Population & Environment 27(3): 263-284.
Island Press. 2007. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, A Toolkit for Understanding and Action: Protecting Nature's Services. Protecting Ourselves. Washington DC, Island Press.
Kinzig, A. P., P. Warren, et al. 2005. The effects of human socioeconomic status and cultural characteristics on urban patterns of biodiversity."" Ecology and Society 10(1): 23.
Leiwen, J., T. Yufen, et al. 2005. Water Resources, Land Exploration and Population Dynamics in Arid Areas - The Case of the Tarim River Basin in Xinjiang of China. Population & Environment 26(6): 471 - 503.
Messina, J. P. and S. J. Walsh. 2005. Dynamic spatial simulation modeling of the population – environment matrix in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 32(6): 835-856.
Nelson, G. C., E. Bennett, et al. 2006. Anthropogenic drivers of ecosystem change: an overview. Ecology and Society 11(2): 29.
Rodríguez, J. P., J. T. Douglas Beard, et al. 2006. Trade-offs across space, time, and ecosystem services. Ecology and Society 11(1): 28.
Roo, G. d. 2000. Environmental conflicts in compact cities: complexity, decisionmaking, and policy approaches. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 27(1): 151-162.
The Urban Resilience Program.
Torell, E., et al., Guidelines for Mitigating the Impacts of HIV/AIDS on Coastal Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management. 2007, Population Reference Bureau: Washington D. C.
PERN is a project of The International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), and the International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP) on Global Environmental Change.
Technical support for
PERN is provided by the NASA-funded
Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC)
at the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)
of Columbia University.
