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Select Latornell Conservation Symposium Sessions Will Be WebcastedNovember 17-19, 2015 at the Nottawasaga Inn Resort & Convention Centre, Alliston, ON Putting ‘EcoHealth’ Into Practice – Improving ecosystems for human healthOn November 17th and 19th, you are Invited to Watch Five Latornell Conservation Symposium Sessions LIVE Online that explore the connections between human and ecological health. Healthy ecosystems are essential for human health and survival. We all depend on clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, healthy food supplies, green spaces for recreation, and contact with wildlife to enrich our lives. The 2015 Latornell Conservation Symposium and EcoHealth Ontario are featuring five special sessions exploring human – ecology connections. Deadline to Register for one or more sessions: Friday, November 13, 2015. Instructions on How To Watch Online
What You Can WatchNovember 17, 2015 T1E – Connecting Watershed Ecosystems to Human Health [11:00 AM – 12:30 PM] This session will look at the connections between watershed ecosystems and human health in order to plan and deliver programs that recognize the connection between both. The session will look at flooding from a public health perspective, as well as explore a new tool to use indicators and GIS in order to develop management and restoration strategies that support human health. Registration Link: http://www.metrocomav.net/clients/latornell/T1E/Registration/ T2E – Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Human Health [2:00 PM – 3:30 PM] This session will look at ways to increase our adaptive capacity to address the impacts of climate change on people. It will look specifically at techniques and tools used by public health units as well as specifically address issues around urban heat islands. Registration Link: http://www.metrocomav.net/clients/latornell/T2E/Registration/ T3E – Building Resiliency with Rural Communities to Adapt to the Impacts of Climate Change [4:00 PM – 5:30 PM] This session will review new research that explores the relationship between climate change and rural populations as well as review practices and tools that can be used to build greater resiliency in rural communities for the benefit of residents. Registration Link: http://www.metrocomav.net/clients/latornell/T3E/Registration/ November 18, 2015 W1E – EcoHealth: Understanding ‘Human Ecology’ (Part 1) [8:30 AM – 10:00 AM] Humans are fundamentally dependant on ecosystems for survival, yet our awareness and understanding of this crucial connection is fragmented. Current and future challenges due to the decline of rural and urban ecosystems require proactive leadership and engagement from across the spectrum including public health, planning, environmental and urban design professionals. This first session looks at new research that clearly demonstrates the connections between green space and human health and the basis for positive change. Registration Link: http://www.metrocomav.net/clients/latornell/W1E/Registration/ W2E – EcoHealth: Understanding ‘Human Ecology’ Panel Discussion (Part 2) [10:30 AM – 12:00 PM] Building on the growing research linking our health and wellbeing to the natural environment (as demonstrated in Part 1), this session explores the practice of ecohealth. The panel will provide a wide range of perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that agencies face in putting the science into practice and what new initiatives are being developed. Registration Link: http://www.metrocomav.net/clients/latornell/W2E/Registration/ Please download the 2015 Latornell Conservation Symposium Program for speaker information. Online streaming of these sessions is provided for by EcoHealth Ontario |
Call for Regional Director 2015
Good Morning SWCS Chapters Leaders,
The SWCS Nominations Committee is currently looking for recommendations from SWCS members and chapters for qualified nominees to run for the regional board director positions available in the Southeast, Southwest, and North Central regions.
All candidate recommendations must be received by November 18, 2015. A list of states and provinces within these regions can be found here. The roles and responsibilities of the regional director can be found here.
Please contact Tom Prout, your regional nominations committee representative for further information, your recommendations, or if you have additional questions.
Tom Prout, SWCS Nominations Committee Chair, tbprout@hay.net
2015 Student Award of Merit
SWCS_Student_Award Application_2015
[update: links have been verified in this posting]
Do you know of an aspiring student in conservation? Would they benefit from the assistance and networking opportunity provided by the Arthur D. Latornell Award of Merit?
Please pass along this website and the application for the 2015 A.D. Latornell Award of Merit to these students. This award was founded and is awarded annually by the Ontario Chapter of SWCS. The A.D. Latornell Award of Merit Program recognizes and celebrates Art’s commitment and service to our Society and Ontario. Art was involved in virtually every aspect of resources conservation during his lifetime and was a role model for many beginning a career in conservation. This Award also provides significant publicity for the Chapter and helps promote the mission of the Society.
Students enrolled in college, Bachelor’s or Master’s programs in natural resources sciences and management are eligible. Ph.D. students are not eligible. There have been award winners from a wide range of disciplines in the past. Consider promoting to worthy students you have hired in the past.
Due date to receive applications is September 21, 2015.
The award winners are announced at the A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium in Alliston, Tuesday November 17, 2015. Award winners are provided registration to attend that day to receive their award, as well as $600 and a year’s membership in SWCS.
A review of the Chapter’s A.D. Latornell Award of Merit Program was undertaken last year and it was decided to discontinue the professional (non-student) award in order to sustain the award and focus on young people in the field, whom Art took a particular interest in mentoring and developing. Additional changes may be considered for next year. If you are interested in setting the future direction for the award or in helping evaluate this year’s applications please contact Award Committee Chair, Pamela Joosse at pamjoosse@gmail.com.
Please help promote the award to make sure those worthy of Art’s legacy are considered.
Sincerely,
Pamela Joosse
Award Committee Chair
70th Annual SWCS Conference 26-29 July 2015, Greensboro, NC
The 70th Annual SWCS Conference will be held 26-29 July 2015 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Full details are on the SWCS website. The theme is “Coming Home to Conservation: Putting Science into Practice”. This is an excellent conference for anyone interested in soils and water management. This year’s program looks particularly interesting including the different additional workshops you could attend.
One way the SWCS is moving forward on current environmental challenges is by incorporating the former National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) National Water Conference into the International Annual Conference, which will increase collaborative opportunities for land-grant based scientists and educators engaged in water issues. SWCS welcomes this addition to the already diverse audience and the enhancement it will provide to all conference participants.
Our very own board members will be giving presentations too. Jacqui Empson Laporte who works at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs will present “Putting Technology to Work Leading to Real-Life Solutions: Aquahacking”.
Pamela Joosse, who works at Agriculture & Agrifood Canada, will present “Defining and Analyzing Agricultural Production Systems to Determine the Capacity to Make Soil and Nutrient
Management Improvements in the Canadian Lake Erie Basin”.
Visit the SWCS.org website to see more details. The programme looks very interesting. Hope you can attend!
Upcoming Event in Michigan – A Matter of Balance
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2015
Michigamme Room, Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
[UPDATE] Cost: a fee of $25 per person for a link to the webcast, not to exceed $100 for a group viewing.
Registration: Online with Michigan Chapter of SWCS. Payment by Paypal.
A MATTER OF BALANCE: Feeding our Crops and Protecting our Water in a Changing Climate
You can join in person or by “webcast”. By webcast, you log into the conference by your computer and watch, listen from the comfort of your home or workplace. No need to travel! All you need is a computer with decent internet connection.
On-farm nutrient management has greatly improved in the past twenty-five years yet water quality problems associated with algae blooms and oxygen depletion persist in Lake Erie, Saginaw Bay and other waterways. Climate change is likely to present even greater challenges from more frequent, higher intensity storms and increased runoff. This conference will examine the linkage between cropping practices and nutrient enrichment of runoff and drainage water, and offer practical solutions for capturing and cycling nitrogen, phosphorus and other potential contaminants in the root zone. (More)
Visit the Michigan SWCS website to see the flyer, agenda, speaker biographies, and presentation abstracts.
SPEAKERS
Dr. David Baker, Director Emeritus
National Center for Water Quality Research
Heidelberg University, Tiffin, Ohio
Larry D. Geohring, Senior Extension Associate
Biological and Environmental Engineering Department
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Dr. Nathan Moore, Assistant Professor
Department of Geography
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
Blaine Baker, Co-Owner
Bakerlads Farm, Lenawee County, Clayton, Michigan
Thomas Van Wagner, Consultant
Technical Coordinator, Center for Excellence Program
Lenawee Conservation District
SWCS-Canada 