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Do you have a thesis or dissertation you have recently finished? Or an article, publication or paper dealing with hazards or mitigation? Well, let us know and we'll help spread the word!
Please consider sending library submissions to us here at the Natural Hazards Center. Our Library Manager, Wanda Headley, is always looking for new additions to our collection. As an added bonus, remember that the Natural Hazards Center searchable library database Hazlit receives thousands of "hits" each year, so this may serve as a great avenue to make others aware of your work.
Wanda may be contacted at (303) 492-5787, or via e-mail at: wanda.headley@colorado.edu. Hard copies can be mailed to: Hazards Center, University of Colorado, 482 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0482.
The center will forge medicine and public health collaborations with other Texas Medical Center institutions, including Baylor College of Medicine and the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, to help coordinate local medical response to disasters.
Complete information about the appointment is available at http://www.uthouston.edu/forMedia/newsreleases/nr2002/lillibridge.htm.
Texas Tech University Wind Science and Engineering Research Center and Extended Studies are co-sponsoring a two and one-half day short course titled "Engineering for Extreme Winds: 2003." The class will be held in Lubbock, Texas, on February 5-7, 2003. The course will include demonstrations of a wind tunnel testing facility and fluid flow visualization. Tornado hazard and shelter design criteria will also be presented. The course is geared toward those who are involved with wind load design as well as interpretation of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) standards and codes.
For more information or to register for the course, contact Professional Development and Community Outreach, Extended Studies, Texas Tech University, Box 2191, Lubbock, TX 79409-2191; (800) 692-6877; e-mail: ppdenroll.oes@ttu.edu; http://www.dce.ttu.edu.
Help shape public policy in Washington, D.C. while you contribute scientific and technical information and learn how government works. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) programs provide a unique participatory public policy learning experience for scientists and engineers through one-year assignments involving domestic and international science policy issues in the Congress and several executive branch agencies.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral-level degree from any physical, biological, or social science; any field of engineering; or any relevant interdisciplinary field. Individuals with a master's degree in engineering and at least three years of post-degree professional experience may apply. U.S. citizenship is required. Federal employees are ineligible. Approximately 50 fellowships are awarded in nine different programs including risk policy.
To receive an application booklet and further information, please e-mail: science_policy@aaas.org; to learn more about the program (including FAQs and former fellows profiles) call (202) 326-6700 or see http://www.fellowships.aaas.org/.
Aid Workers Exchange is an experimental weekly electronic conversation for knowledge sharing among field staff in humanitarian relief and international development. The format alternates between questions and answers, short articles, employment advice, and a variety of other topics. Details about format, subscription, and archived posts may be found at http://www.aidworkers.net/exchange. To subscribe, send an e-mail to exchange@aidworkers.net, with the subject line "subscribe."
The UCLA Center for Public Health and Disasters (CPHD) invites abstracts for consideration for presentation at the Annual NDMS Meeting Disaster Research Track, to be held March 9-12, 2003, in Reno, Nevada. Abstracts submitted to CPHD should be related to disasters and disaster research.
Abstracts will be peer-reviewed. Research abstracts typically include purpose, methods, results, and conclusions from a research study. Evaluation studies may also be submitted. The abstract should be no longer than 500 words in a 12-point font. Disaster research subjects include, but are not limited to, mental health effects of disasters, research on first responders, health impacts of disasters, public health systems as emergency responders, and medical systems in disasters.
Application must be submitted online via the website at http://www.ph.ucla.edu/cphdr/survey/abstracts survey.htm. The deadline for submitting abstracts is Friday, October 18, 2002.
For additional information, please contact Deborah Riopelle:(310) 794-0864; e-mail: riopelle@ucla.edu.
A six-part course titled "Advanced Topics on Medical Defense Against Biological and Chemical Agents," sponsored by The U.S. Army Medical Command and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Emergency Management Strategic Healthcare Group, will be broadcast live in 2-hour segments bi-monthly that begins on November 6, 2002, and continues through August 27, 2003.
The broadcast format includes 90 minutes of instructional material followed by a 30 minute live question-and-answer period. This interactive satellite course is designed to inform and educate physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals about appropriate medical responses in the event of an intentional biological or chemical agent release. Military and civilian medical and public health professionals must maintain skills and become more proficient in recognizing that a biological or chemical attack has occurred, activating the appropriate agencies and personnel to investigate the event, treating the casualties, dealing with psychological effects, and preventing the spread of the agent.
Complete information, including site administrator contacts, and how to register or enroll in a downlink site, is available at http://www.biomedtraining.org/proginfo.htm.
Water security -- adequate quantity and quality of water at the times and places it is needed -- will be one of the major issues facing our nation and the world during this century. There is a need for new and innovative strategies to cope with water demand and water quality management. The Universities Council on Water Resources is co-sponsoring a conference on July 30-August 1, 2003, in Washington D.C. to bring together academia, federal and state agency experts, and professionals from other disciplines to discuss the status of water research.
Abstracts and proposals are being solicited for plenary sessions that are relevant to the theme of the conference. Proposals should include the session topic and potential speakers. Submissions (300-500 words) that detail the workshop or paper and provide a discussion of approaches, results, and potential research impacts, are due by October 15, 2002. Send abstracts and proposals to: Margaret Skerly, Universities Council on Water Resources, 4543 Faner Hall, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-4526; (618) 536-7571; e-mail: mskerly@siu.edu. Acceptances will be sent out by December 1, 2002, and the deadline for receipt of a full paper for the proceedings is February 28, 2003.
[Below are a few recent job vacancies that are related to some of the myriad activities in which DR readers engage. Please contact the organizations directly for more information.]
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The University of Delaware Seeks Disaster Research Center Director
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware invites applications for the position of Director of the Disaster Research Center (DRC) and Associate/Full Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice. Candidates should have a record of scholarly accomplishments in the study of disasters, risk, or natural and technological hazards, administrative and grants-management experience, and a demonstrated ability to obtain extramural funding. The director manages center operations, supervises staff, and represents DRC with funding agencies and other constituencies. The appointment includes opportunities for teaching undergraduate and graduate courses related to disasters. The committee will begin reviewing applications on November 15, 2002. Applicants should send a statement of interest, curriculum vitae, reprints of recent publications, and three letters of reference to the Chair, Disaster Research Search Committee, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716. For more information about the Center, visit http://www.udel.edu/DRC/index.html.
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Two Jobs in the Lone Star State
There are two available positions with the City of Abilene, Texas: Emergency Management Specialist and Emergency Management Coordinator Positions are open until filled. Qualifications, salary ranges, job responsibilities and complete information for both vacancies can be found at http://www.abilenetx.com/admin_services/category.html?cat_id=29136 .
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Appalachian State University seeks Disaster Management Adjunct
The Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice invites applications for a one semester full-time adjunct teaching assignment beginning January 2003. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in public administration, community disaster management and planning, and graduate-level courses in the department's public administration program. Primary teaching responsibilities will be in public administration with expertise in emergency and disaster management and nonprofit organizations. Preference will be given to candidates with either experience in nonprofit management or emergency and disaster relief.
For a complete description of the department, its faculty and programs see http://www.pscj.appstate.edu. Complete application information is available at http://www.pscj.appstate.edu/position.html. The closing date for receipt of complete applications is November 1, 2002. Send application packets to Ruth Ann Strickland, Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice; Appalachian State University; Boone, NC 28608.
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Emergency Management and Response Coordinator
Z Tech Corporation in Rockville, Maryland, is seeking a full-time coordinator to help establish local emergency response systems. Specifically, the coordinator will assist with communication activities, including development of a web site, newsletter, meetings exhibit, and other promotional materials; coordinate technical assistance to communities and organizations; facilitate the development of a "tool box;" and develop and maintain a roster of technical experts. Requirements include a masters degree in a related field and excellent communication skills. Experience in program planning and evaluation, volunteer recruitment, risk and vulnerability assessment, and partnership building are desireable.
For more information contact: Shannon Twamley at Z Tech Corporation, 1801 Research Boulevard, Suite 102, Rockville MD 20850; e-mail: stwamley@z-techcorp.com; http://www.z-techcorp.com/careers.cfm.----------
The College of New Jersey Seeks Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
The Sociology and Anthropology Department is looking to hire a teacher and scholar to develop a concentration in disaster studies or environmental issues, as well as support required courses in quantitative research methods. The successful candidate will have international or comparative expertise in these areas and will be an engaging teacher who will seek to strengthen interdisciplinary connections across the college. A Ph.D. degree is required by the time of appointment (September 2003). Interested candidates should send a cover letter and a curriculum vita to the Chairperson, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, The College of New Jersey, P.O. Box 7718, Ewing, NJ 08628-0718. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
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Assistant Director of Emergency Management at the University of Minnesota (UMN)
UMN's Department of Emergency Management has an immediate opening for an assistant director to assist in the planning and implementation of emergency preparedness programs, including business continuity and disaster recovery for UMN's campuses. This includes developing emergency response plans, providing emergency management personnel oversight, serving as duty officer under the Minnesota Incident Management System and providing training to university staff. Qualified candidates will have a bachelor's degree with specialization in emergency management or closely related field plus a minimum of 3 years of related experience. Resumes and cover letters are due by October 11, 2002, and should be sent to Tim Rich, University Services Human Resources, 300 Donhowe Building, 319 15th Avenue S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455.
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Emergency Services Manager
The City of Berkeley, California, population 109,000, seeks to fill a newly created position of emergency services manager, to work under the direction of the fire chief and city manager. More info can be obtained from Frank Pacheco: (510) 981-6822; e-mail: fpacheco@ci.berkeley.ca.us or http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/hr.
[Below are some new or updated Internet resources we've discovered. For an extensive list of useful Internet sites dealing with hazards, see http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/sites/sites.html]
http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), unveiled its new, on-line
Water Watch web site that gives visitors an instantaneous picture of water conditions nationwide in near real time. Through the use of USGS Water Watch maps, the nation's current streamflow conditions, including high flood-flows and low drought-flows, are depicted on maps with color-coded dots that represent conditions at about 3,000 stream gages.
http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/BCSIA/ESDP.nsf/www/Research
The Executive Session on Domestic Preparedness (ESDP) is a standing task force of practitioners and academic specialists concerned with terrorism and emergency management. The site is sponsored by the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and the U.S. Department of Justice. ESDP is a resource for federal, state, and local government officials, congressional committees, and others interested in reducing the threat of terrorism and minimizing the vulnerability of democratic societies to its effects. There are a number of new discussion papers listed on the site that may be of interest to DR readers.
http://www.epa.gov/wtc/stories/yearreview.htm
"Oh My God, Look at That Plane!" begins an on-line overview of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 actions and reactions during the events of September 11, 2001. Web sections include emergency operations, environmental monitoring, sampling, and contaminant issues, communicating the response to the public, and EPA personnel narratives about work at the Fresh Kills Landfill, as well as the general agency response.
http://www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/newsroom/terrorism_response/index.cfm
The National League of Cities (NLC) has a section on its web site titled Strengthening Hometown Security that includes NLC programs and activities and profiled programs in select cities. The web site section is designed to help city officials to carry out their new roles at the front line of hometown defense. NLC topic include practical tools for local governments, available federal resources, city events that commemorated September 11, 2001 and more.
http://www.slu.edu/colleges/sph/csbei/bioterrorism/index.html
The St. Louis University School of Public Health, Center for the Study of Bioterrorism has a comprehensive web site that presents a variety of information, links, and research about bioterrorism issues. The site includes upcoming training and conferences, and a section on emergency response.
http://www.all-hands.net/pn/index.php
All-Hands.net is a new virtual community of emergency managers and business continuity professionals. It is designed as a user-supported community, and all of the site's content is provided by members and participants. The site is designed so that users can post articles, share files, and communicate with others. To register, interested persons should submit a membership request form available on the site.
[Below are some recent announcements received by the Natural Hazards Center. A comprehensive list of upcoming hazards-related meetings and training is available from our World Wide Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/conf.html]
California Emergency Services Association Annual Conference: Back to the Future. Palm Springs, California: October 5-10, 2002. For more information, contact Tracy Fessler: at (805) 520-5854; e-mail: scesaadm@aol.com.
The Second Global Conference on Nuclear Bio/Chem Terrorism: Mitigation and Response. Sponsored by Intellibrige Corporation. Washington DC: October 31-November 1, 2002. This two-day conference will have workshops led by leading international experts from government and industry. Information is available by calling Benedicte Aubrun at (301)493-5500;or can be found at http://bioterrorism-defense.com/.
30th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment (ISRSE). Sponsored by NASA. Honolulu, Hawaii: November 10-14, 2003. The overall theme of this conference is the use of Earth observation systems to understand and manage our planet's environment, with particular emphasis on natural hazards. Further information about the technical program and display exhibits can be requested by sending an e-mail to isrse@email.arizona.edu; or going to the conference web site: http://www.symposia.org/attention.html.
Fourth European Conference on Applied Climatology (ECAC): Climate-related Risk Assessment and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century. Hosted by: the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium and the European National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs). Brussels, Belgium: November 12-15, 2002. This conference will address issues of global change and its impacts upon a variety of fields of human activities. The need for identifying, reducing, and mitigating climate-related risks will be stressed. More complete information may be found by either sending an e-mail request to: ecac2002@oma.be; or visiting the following web site: http://www.meteo.be/ECAC-2002/.
Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Development: A Five-Day Workshop. Sponsor: the Institute for Business Continuity Planning. Offered in two locations: Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, Georgia: November 18-22, 2002. BCP is concerned with protecting the vital business processes of firms and organizations so that in the event of a critical incident, essential business components will continue to function. To learn more, e-mail: info@ibct.com or visit http://www.ibct.com/index.html.
EuroWorkshop: GI and Natural Hazards. Sponsor: United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Research Center for Information and Telecommunication Systems. Milano, Italy: November 18-22, 2002. This workshop will address the major issues of monitoring, predicting, and mitigating hazards related to hydro-geological catastrophic events (flooding and landsliding) through innovative methods and techniques based on GIS technology. Complete workshop information is available from Milva Carbonaro; tel: 39-010-8355588; e-mail: gisig@gisig.it; http://www.gisig.it/eco-geowater/default.asp.
Weapons of Mass Destruction Conference 2003: Preparedness Through Partnership. Sponsors: University of South Florida College of Medicine, Veterans Health Administration, Emergency Management Strategic Healthcare Group, Florida Department of Health - Emergency Operations, Brooke Army Medical Center, Pinellas County Emergency Management, and Federal Emergency Management Agency. St. Petersburg, Florida: January 24-28, 2003. For more detailed information contact: Gregory Watts: (727) 398-9482; e-mail: Gregory.Watts2@med.va.gov; http://www.va.gov/wmd/.
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