DISASTER RESEARCH 438

September 30 , 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS


  1. Natural Hazards Center Recommends Independent Katrina Review
  2. Call for Manuscripts: Hurricane Katrina Quick Response Research
  3. Post-Katrina Legislative Update
  4. Shah Family Innovation Prize
  5. Extension of National Preparedness Goal Review
  6. Call for Program Ideas: National Hurricane Conference
  7. Call for Abstracts: ASFPM 2006 Annual Conference
  8. Call for Special Sessions: Fire Ecology and Management Congress
  9. American Planning Association Student Paper Competition
  10. Volunteer Reviewers Needed for Floodplain Management Course
  11. Some New Web Resources
  12. Conferences and Training
  13. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

1) Natural Hazards Center Recommends Independent Katrina Review

On September 26, the Natural Hazards Center sent a letter to select members of the U.S. Congress recommending an immediate, independent, and nonpartisan review of governmental policies and response related to Hurricane Katrina. The Center suggested that any panel, commission, or review be composed of experts in hazards and disasters and that the scope of the inquiry be broad enough to address the underlying issues, societal as well as institutional, that contributed to the severity of the catastrophe.

The intent of the letter is to promote the need for a review that draws up on existing disasters knowledge, charts a course toward improving the nation’s disaster resilience and response capabilities, and ensures that mistakes are not repeated in future disasters. The Center encourages all of our constituents to contact their congressional representatives to share their views on this matter. Read the letter at http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/katrinaletter/.


2) Call for Manuscripts: Hurricane Katrina Quick Response Research

The Natural Hazards Center is preparing an edited volume, tentatively titled Learning from Catastrophe: Quick Response Research in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina, of the quick response social science research conducted after Hurricane Katrina. We strongly encourage researchers who have performed work in the immediate postdisaster timeframe, either through the Center’s own Quick Response program, the National Science Foundation’s Small Grants for Exploratory Research program, or through independently funded research, to submit manuscripts. If you are interested in submitting a chapter, your manuscript should be 30-40 double-spaced pages (average of 250 words/page) and should address the following issues:

  1. What was the research question?
  2. What was the methodology of the study?
  3. What were the sample size and sample characteristics?
  4. What were the findings?

If you intend to make a submission, send the Center an abstract, chapter outline, and title by January 15, 2006. The schedule for publication is as follows:

  • January 15, 2006 - Deadline for title, abstract, and outline
  • May 1, 2006 - Deadline for manuscripts
  • May-July 2006 - Peer review of manuscripts
  • August 1, 2006 - Manuscripts returned to authors for revision
  • September 1, 2006 - Deadline for final version of manuscripts

Additional questions about this opportunity should be directed to Greg Guibert, (303) 492-2149; e-mail: greg.guibert@colorado.edu; http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/special_projects/katrinamanuscripts.pdf.


3) Post-Katrina Legislative Update

The following Hurricane Katrina-related laws have been passed in the last two weeks:

TANF Emergency Response and Recovery Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-68). P.L. 109-68 provides assistance to families affected by Hurricane Katrina through the program of block grants to states for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF).

Flexibility for Displaced Workers Act (P.L. 109-72). P.L. 109-72 provides special rules for disaster relief employment under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 for individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina

Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-73). P.L. 109-73 creates special rules for use of retirement funds for relief relating to Hurricane Katrina, offers employment relief to employees and employers, implements charitable giving incentives, and establishes other forms of tax relief.

The full text of these laws is available in any federal repository library and on the Library of Congress Web site at http://thomas.loc.gov/.


4) Shah Family Innovation Prize

The Shah Family Innovation Prize awarded by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) rewards young professionals and academics for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit in the field of earthquake risk mitigation and management. Individuals in government, private firms, academia, and the international community are encouraged to nominate eligible candidates.

Candidates must be less than 35 years of age on January 1, 2006. The selection of recipients will emphasize creative and innovative thinkers who have demonstrated at early stages in their careers the potential to make major contributions to the field of earthquake risk mitigation and management. Individuals will be recognized for a combination of past accomplishments and future potential. To be considered for the prize, all nomination packages must be received by January 31, 2006. The recipient will be invited to receive the prize at the EERI Annual Awards Luncheon during the 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference in San Francisco, April, 2006. Applications should be sent to EERI, 499 14th Street, Suite 320, Oakland, CA 94612; e-mail: eeri@eeri.org. Visit http://www.eeri.org/05_ShahPrzAnnc.pdf for complete information on selection criteria and the application process.


5) Extension of National Preparedness Goal Review

The Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has extended the period for review and comment on the National Preparedness Goal and the Target Capabilities List: Version 2.0 through October 14, 2005, due to the engagement of much of the nation’s emergency community in supporting operations related to Hurricane Katrina and due to the opportunity to incorporate immediate lessons learned.

This adjusted timeline helps to ensure that all stakeholders and disciplines have the opportunity to review both documents and allows SLGCP to continue working with subject matter experts on additional refinements. The following target capabilities have been refined since August 15 and new drafts have been posted for review: risk management; citizen preparedness and participation; information gathering and recognition of indicators and warnings; intelligence analysis and production; intelligence/information sharing and dissemination; law enforcement investigation and operations; chemical, biological, radiological-nuclear and explosive materials detection; and triage and prehospital treatment.

The National Preparedness Goal and the Target Capabilities List can be accessed via the Lessons Learned Information Sharing Web site, http://www.llis.gov/. Registration is required. For membership eligibility verification, identify your organization/association and explain that you are accessing the national review.


6) Call for Program Ideas: National Hurricane Conference

The primary goal of the National Hurricane Conference is to improve hurricane preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation to save lives and property in the United States and the tropical islands of the Caribbean and Pacific. The conference will serve as a national forum for federal, state, and local officials to exchange ideas and recommend new policies to improve emergency management. To accomplish these goals, the annual conference emphasizes the following: lessons learned from hurricane strikes, state of the art programs worthy of emulation, new ideas being tested or considered, information about new or ongoing assistance programs, and the ABC’s of hurricane preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.

Help "design" the 2006 conference by submitting suggestions on important topics for training sessions, workshops, or a general session presentation, as well as suggestions for speakers. To submit an idea, indicate the type of presentation (training session, workshop, or general session), the title of the presentation, and provide complete contact information. Limit recommendations to 150 words or less. The deadline for ideas is October 31, 2005. E-mail topic suggestions to teri@HurricaneMeeting.com.

More information on the conference and call for ideas is available at http://www.hurricanemeeting.com/2006%20NHC%20Call%20for%20Papers.pdf.


7) Call for Abstracts: ASFPM 2006 Annual Conference

Abstracts are invited for presentations at the 2006 Annual Conference of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 11-16, 2006. Presentations should address the issues and problems associated with reducing flood damages, making communities more sustainable, and managing floodplain and fragile coastal resources. The abstracts submitted by potential speakers will guide the conference program. Concurrent sessions will be separated into eight tracks. Visit http://www.floods.org/ for a list of the eight tracks and for suggested track topics.

Those wanting to make a presentation must submit a one-page abstract describing the material to be presented and its relevance to the conference theme and/or major issues along with a brief biography and contact information. Submit abstracts by e-mail attachment to vas@mail.maricopa.gov with the name and "2006 ASFPM abstract" in the subject line or submit online at http://www.floods.org/. For more information, contact Valerie Swick at (602) 506-2929.


8) Call for Special Sessions: Fire Ecology and Management Congress

Submissions for special sessions are sought for the 3rd International Fire Ecology and Management Congress in San Diego, California, November 13-17, 2006. Special sessions consist of oral presentations by a group of speakers designed to address a specific topic. Special session themes can include any subject related to wildland fire ecology or fire management. A special session allows coordinated presentations by a group of scientists and/or managers working in a specific area. Sessions are usually a half day or full day in length, and can include scheduled time for discussion and interaction.

Special session proposals should be submitted by October 15, 2005, and contain a title, abstract, list of topics and/or presentation titles, and candidate speakers. Notifications of acceptance will be made by November 18, 2005. The special session coordinator then has until March 15, 2006, to provide a final description of the session, a list of presentation titles, speakers, their affiliation, and contact information. All special session abstracts are due in June 2006. Proposals may be submitted by e-mail to emmps@wsu.edu or online. Visit http://emmps.wsu.edu/firecongress/special.html for the complete announcement.


9) American Planning Association Student Paper Competition

The Information Technology Division of the American Planning Association (APA) is looking for outstanding student papers on information technology in planning. The purpose is to recognize and reward work completed for courses in accredited graduate and undergraduate planning programs. An award of $500 will be presented for the best student paper received in each of three categories: information technology in disaster mitigation and recovery; geographic information systems (GIS) and planning; and telecommunications in planning. Additionally, if the winner is not a member of the APA Information Technology Division, they will receive a one-year membership. A summary of the winning papers will be published in the Information Technology Division quarterly newsletter.

A subcommittee of planning practitioners and planning faculty will read all papers using blind review. The papers will be judged on (1) relevance to a major current issue in information technology and planning; (2) insight and significance of discussion; and (3) quality of the writing, documentation, and research. The winner will be announced at the National APA Conference in San Antonio, Texas, April 22-26, 2006.

All submissions are due by February 3, 2006, and should be submitted electronically to Cowley.11@osu.edu with "IT Division Paper Competition" in the subject line. Questions regarding this competition should be directed to Jennifer Evans-Cowley; (614) 247-7479; e-mail: Cowley.11@osu.edu. More information including eligibility requirements, is available at http://www.planning.org/infotech/competition.htm.


10) Volunteer Reviewers Needed for Floodplain Management Course

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Higher Education Project is seeking volunteers to review a draft of a graduate-level college course, "Floodplain Management." This is an approximately 600-page "Instructor Guide" that has been developed by a team at the University of Washington. Interested volunteers, who believe that they have the necessary background and expertise to review a graduate-level course in floodplain management, will have 45 days after receipt of the priority-mailed paper copy to review and return comments. It is requested that no one seek a review copy for information purposes only, as within a few months a final version of this course will be available for free downloading at the FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Web site. If interested in becoming a reviewer, visit http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/edu/completeCourses.asp to become familiar with other FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Project courses prior to reviewing this course. To become a volunteer reviewer or to request more information, contact Barbara Johnson, Emergency Management Institute, Federal Emergency Management Agency; (301) 447-1452; e-mail: barbara.l.johnson@dhs.gov; http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/edu/.


11) Some New Web Resources

[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/resources/.]

Disaster Bibliography of the Government Accountability Office
A bibliography of the Government Accountability Office’s products related to disaster preparedness, response, and reconstruction has been posted on their Web site.

Jobs4Recovery.com
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Center for Corporate Citizenship has joined with IBM to launch Jobs4Recovery.com, a "one-stop shop" for connecting job seekers from areas impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita with employment opportunities.

Help for Foreign Scientists and Students after Katrina
The International Visitors’ Office at the National Academies provides information for students, scholars, and scientists displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

ICC Hurricane Preparedness Seminars
The International Code Council (ICC) offers several seminars related to hurricane preparedness to assist public safety officials, design professionals, inspectors, builders, and contractors.

Hurricane Events: Analysis, Response, and Mitigation
The American Society of Civil Engineers has compiled a special collection of published journal and magazine articles and proceedings papers related to hurricane events.

"The Coastline at Risk: Estimated Insured Value of Coastal Properties"
This report by AIR Worldwide Corporation estimates that more than 35% of the insurance industry's property exposure in the Gulf and East Coast states is in coastal counties.

USGS Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Impact Studies
Hurricane and Tropical Impact Studies compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are available here. The Web site includes images from a cooperative research program between the USGS, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that uses airborne laser mapping systems to quantify coastal change along the entire coastline affected by Hurricane Katrina.

National Public Health Preparedness Referral Service
This free referral service matches the needs of state and local public health partners in terrorism and emergency response preparedness with available expertise, training, and other educational opportunities and services from the Center for Public Health Preparedness.

"Science" Magazine Resources on Hurricanes, Climate, and Katrina
This selection of past "Science" magazine articles related to hurricanes, coastal disasters, and disaster policy is available to aid policy makers, scientists, and the public in understanding the large-scale forces and smaller-scale scientific, social, political background of Hurricane Katrina

U.S. Census Bureau Hurricane Katrina Data
This fact sheet is available from the U.S. Census Bureau with links to population, socioeconomic status, housing, and business information for those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

"Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country"
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in partnership with federal, state, and local organizations developed this handbook that provides information about the threat posed by earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay region and explains how individuals can prepare for, survive, and recover from events. The book is a companion piece to a similar guide for Southern California.

Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire
This Web site provides information about public and homeowner views and attitudes about wildfire, risk perceptions, and creating defensible space around homes. It also includes relevant reports and publications.

USGS Paper on Tsunami Hazards in Pacific Northwest
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) paper Local Tsunami Hazards in the Pacific Northwest from Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquakes is available for downloading.

Revolution Needed in U.S. Emergency Management
A transcript of the Emergency Information and Infrastructure Program Virtual Forum presentation titled Revolution Needed in U.S. Emergency Management is available here.

National Flood Insurance Program Training
New training courses are added each year to the training station on the National Flood Insurance Program Web site. Training is available for insurance agents, stakeholders, and private citizens.

School Preparedness Workbook
The workbook Preparing Schools for Severe Weather developed by the Fort Worth/Dallas, Texas, forecast office of the National Weather Service is available here.

"Lessons from the Tsunami: Top Line Findings"
This aid recipient survey included interviews with 1,406 affected people in 197 villages in India and Sri Lanka and 376 nongovernmental organizations from the two countries. The report provides lessons learned and insights on how to improve future relief.


12) Conferences and Training

[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 Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/conf.html.]

Louisiana Chapter Conference Workshop on Recovery Planning. Organizer: Louisiana Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA). Shreveport, Louisiana: October 7-8, 2005. With the assistance of the APA, the Louisiana chapter is providing a revised program and theme for its annual conference. The theme, “Planning for Prosperity: Opportunities in Post-Katrina Louisiana,” explores economic development initiatives important to rebuilding a prosperous, sustainable future for the state. The conference will also include the Basics of Recovery Planning Workshop. It will focus on long-term planning for safer, more prosperous communities and address the challenges to long-term planning presented by the overwhelming and immediate needs of disaster victims and public pressures to rebuild quickly. For more information, visit the Louisiana chapter online at http://www.planning.org/katrina/pdf/05LAChapterconf.pdf or the APA at http://www.planning.org/katrina/chapterworkshop.htm.

Mass Fatalities Incident Response Planning. Organizer: National Mass Fatalities Institute. Dayton, Ohio: October 17-21, 2005. This course is designed for individuals with responsibilities for disaster planning and addresses the essential elements of planning for response to a mass fatalities event. It is designed to help planning-level officials from various governmental jurisdictions, public service, private sector businesses, and voluntary organizations understand the concepts of a multifaceted, integrated response plan. Enrollment is limited to 50 participants. This course is not intended to provide competency-level training for first responders or to replace the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Mass Fatalities Incident Response class. It is tuition-free through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To register for the training, visit http://www.nmfi.org/events.htm.

Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) 2005 Annual Meeting. Hosts: North Dakota University Extension Service and the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Fargo, North Dakota: October 18-20, 2005. This conference will focus on sharing disaster education tools. For more information, contact Becky Koch, bkoch@ndsuext.nodak.edu, or John Shutske, shutske@umn.edu, or visit http://www.eden.lsu.edu/2005AM/default.aspx.

Emergency Readiness Conference and Expo. Host: University of Texas at Dallas. Plano, Texas: October 24-26, 2005. The themes of this conference are interoperability of information systems during emergencies, emergency preparedness for schools and transportation, and an all-hazards approach to disaster medicine. The three day conference will include keynote addresses by national, state, and regional emergency management leaders, training workshops in chemical agents, hazardous materials refresher, school preparedness, and disaster medical management. For more information, contact Sharon Pianka; (972) 883-2597; http://som.utdallas.edu/erc2005/.

International Workshop on Strengthening the Resilience of Local Communities in Coastal Areas to Water Related Natural Disasters. Sponsors: Danish Government and International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). Copenhagen, Denmark: November 16-18, 2005. Denmark is hosting this international workshop in collaboration with a number of international and regional partner organizations in the ISDR. The purpose of the workshop is to promote dialogue between governments, decision makers, and actors in local communities in the six countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The workshop will contribute to strengthening community disaster reduction in public policy and link coastal zone management and livelihood development processes with disaster reduction. For more information and/or to contribute, contact Palle Lindgaard Jorgensen; e-mail: plj@dhi.dk or Soren Dreyer; e-mail: SDR@cowi.dk; http://www.dhi.dk/resilience/WorkshopDocument23thaugust.pdf.

2005 Australian Earthquake Engineering Society Annual Conference. Albury, New South Wales: November, 25-27, 2005. Conference topics and sessions will include tectonic issues and seismic activity modeling; earthquake attenuation; site response, hazard, and microzonation; structural design, performance assessment and retrofitting; geotechnical issues; emergency management, response, and lifelines; codes and regulations; insurance and risk studies; and social and economic issues. Visit http://www.aees.org.au/ for more information.

International Symposium on Tsunami Reconstruction with Geosynthetics: Protection, Mitigation, and Rehabilitation of Coastal and Waterway Erosion Control. Organizers: Asian Center for Soil Improvement and Geosynthetics, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, and the International Geosynthetics Society. Bangkok, Thailand: December 8-9, 2005. The purpose of this symposium is to gather experts to educate participants in the latest technology, applications, and design techniques in the geosynthetics specialization, particularly in relation to the rehabilitation of areas devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Visit http://www.sce.ait.ac.th/acsig/conference/ for more information.

8th Annual Southern and Caribbean Regional Meeting. Organizer: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Panama City, Florida: January 17-20, 2006. This meeting has been rescheduled due to Hurricane Katrina. The themes of the meeting have shifted to coastal hazards, coastal planning, and development. A new agenda will be developed and will include opportunities for all of the state coastal management programs in the region to share ideas, solutions, experiences, and lessons learned relating to hazards and coastal development. The meeting will focus on bringing in people and groups who have tools and expertise to assist coastal programs in hazards preparedness, recovery, cleanup, and redevelopment. Send suggestions for potential speakers or organizations to Kris Herrington as soon as possible; (301) 563-1168; e-mail: Kris Herrington@noaa.gov; http://www.csc.noaa.gov/seocrm/.

27th Annual International Disaster Management Conference. Presenter: Emergency Medicine Learning and Resource Center. Orlando, Florida: February 9-12, 2006. This conference has been designed to meet the educational needs of individuals and agencies involved with emergency preparedness, response, and disaster recovery, such as firefighters, emergency managers, hospital administrators, physicians, nurses, disaster planning coordinators, medical facility administrators, law enforcement officials, search and rescue responders, civil preparedness officials, mass fatality responders, and others who play important roles in critical incidents. Additional information is available at http://www.emlrc.org/disaster2006.htm.

5th Annual Infrastructure Resilience and Infrastructure Security for the Built Environment Congress and Expo. Sponsor: State Assemblies for Emergency Response. Organizer: The Infrastructure Security Partnership. Washington, DC: February 15-17, 2006. This two-day, international conference will include: workshops, a table top exercise of an incident, a read team exercise, and keynote presentations by White House officials, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the intelligence community, industry, and their European and Asian counterparts. For more details, contact, George DeBakey, debakey@ejkrause.com or Barbara Lecker, lecker@ejkrause.com; http://www.protectinfrastructure.com/.

Global Visions: From Trauma to Promise. Organizer: Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists (ATSS). Charlotte, North Carolina: March 22-26, 2006. ATSS holds biannual conferences for education, training, and the opportunity to meet and network with international members, authors, and renowned speakers in the fields of trauma and traumatic stress. For more information about this conference, contact Admin@ATSS.info; http://www.atss.info/conference.htm.

The Third International Conference on Early Warning: From Concept to Action. Sponsor: International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. Bonn, Germany: March 27-29: 2006. This conference will bring together a wide variety of governmental and nongovernmental actors, scientists, and practitioners to stimulate and help to implement concrete early warning projects on all continents that will bridge existing gaps. Relevant government departments, United Nations agencies, nongovernmental organizations, scientific bodies, private agencies, and all other interested parties are encouraged to fill out the preliminary indication of interest form and to submit proposals for concrete early warning projects. For further information or inquiries, e-mail ewc3@un.org; http://www.ewc3.org/.


13) Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

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Flood Hazard Mapping Coordinator
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation: Boston, Massachusetts

The flood hazard mapping coordinator is the primary state-level liaison for flood hazard mapping activities. This position will report to the flood hazard program manager. Position responsibilities include the following:

  • Coordinates the mapping activities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Map Modernization Program with communities, state and federal agencies, and mapping contractors
  • Analyzes and prioritizes flood map revision needs statewide
  • Develops, updates, and maintains a detailed database of map revision needs
  • Analyzes map revision needs to develop a prioritized list of map modernization activities that addresses identified needs
  • Conducts meetings with community officials to identify community mapping needs, provide information on mapping activities, and resolve technical issues with flood maps and works with local officials to ensure timely adoption of revised maps through community ordinances
  • Monitors and coordinates activities of mapping contractors and cooperating technical partners to ensure that map modernization objectives are being met
  • Identifies the availability of resources to achieve map modernization objectives by meeting with agencies and communities to identify potential mapping partners and develop implementation plans
  • Prepares for submission to FEMA an annual state map modernization business plan reporting on mapping needs and proposed mapping implementation schedules
  • Prepares quarterly performance and financial reports for submission to FEMA
  • Coordinates map modernization activities with Community Assistance Program activities conducted under the National Flood Insurance Program by other Flood Hazard Management Program staff, particularly related to map review and adoption by communities
  • Performs related work as required or assigned

The full job posting including required qualifications is available at http://ceo.hrd.state.ma.us/, job posting #6875. Questions may be directed to Richard Zingarelli; (617) 626-1406; e-mail: Richard.Zingarelli@state.ma.us.

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Environmental Professional
Ecology and Environment, Inc.: Various locations

Ecology and Environment, Inc., an international environmental and emergency management consulting firm, seeks environmental/health scientists, technicians, planners, biologists, engineers, and emergency management professionals to work on Hurricane Katrina recovery and clean-up projects. Interested candidates should send resume and salary requirements to Ecology and Environment, Inc., 368 Pleasant View Drive, Lancaster, NY 14086; ccoons@ene.com; http://www.ene.com/.

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Emergency Management Program Specialist
Western Iowa Technical Community College (WITCC): Sioux City, Iowa

This position is responsible for development of curriculum, syllabi, and program objectives to pilot a variety of emergency management courses. Other duties include, but are not limited to, teaching laboratory sessions, classroom management, committee assignments, student academic advising, and student recruitment. All candidates interviewed will be required to provide a teaching demonstration.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in related area
  • Work experience in emergency management or related area
  • Master's degree preferred with 18 hours in discipline

Job Responsibilities:

  • An understanding of the community college philosophy and the community college student
  • Experience with alternative learning delivery methods and systems
  • Commitment to cultural diversity among students, faculty, and in the curriculum
  • Experience in delivering computer enhanced laboratory simulationsComputer experience in common software and the Internet
  • Successful teaching experience
  • Demonstrated effective oral and written communication and human relation skills
  • Use of effective organizational skills, particularly as they relate to the teaching-learning process
  • Demonstrated experience in student learning and teaching excellence

Minorities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. A completed application should include a letter of application stating qualifications, a current resume, a completed application for employment form, and a copy of transcripts. Applications should be returned to WITCC Human Resources Office, PO Box 5199, Sioux City, IA 51102; (712) 274-6400; fax: (712) 274-6412; e-mail: hr@witcc.edu; http://www.witcc.edu/.

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Assistant Professor
Pennsylvania State University: University Park, Pennsylvania

The College of Liberal Arts at Pennsylvania State University invites applications for a tenure track appointment, rank open, in its intercollege program in science, technology, ethics, and medicine in contemporary society. Applications are welcome from candidates with degrees in science, technology, and society or in a pertinent discipline within the humanities or social sciences.

The program seeks candidates with expertise in the study of the relationship between contemporary society and science, medicine, and/or technology. Areas of research may include the ethical and social impact of biotechnology, engineering, environmental sciences, human sciences, and/or information sciences. The successful candidate must be able to work knowledgeably and effectively with researchers in basic and applied fields of science, technology, and/or medicine relevant to her or his area of specialization.

A PhD is required along with evidence of research strength and ability to offer a range of courses at the undergraduate and graduate level in the program in science, technology, medicine, and ethics in society. Review of applications begins on November 15, 2005, and will continue until the position is filled. Please send application letter, full curriculum vitae, sample publications, and letters of recommendation to Chair, STEMS Search Committee, Pennsylvania State University, Box GE, 111 Sparks Building, University Park, PA 16802; http://www.ohr.psu.edu/emplment/staff.htm#.....Staff%20Vacancies.

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Fred H. Bixby Fellowship Program
Population Reference Bureau: Washington, DC

The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) invites applications for its Fred H. Bixby Fellowship Program for the year 2005-2006. The aim of the program is to support a mid-career individual with innovative ideas and the capacity to help shape policy and public debate on the population and health dimensions of environmental issues. PRB helps decision makers understand and address population, health, and environment interactions through policy analysis, field research, program implementation, training, and communication initiatives focused on East Africa, South and Southeast Asia, North and Central America, and developing island states, such as Madagascar and those in the Caribbean. The fellowship will help the successful applicant gain a deeper understanding of how population and health research and data can be used to address environmental problems, while helping PRB bolster the scientific basis for its policy and program interventions.

The fellowship will be available to individuals with a graduate degree (preferably a PhD) and at least five years of professional experience. Applications are encouraged from academia, nongovernmental organizations, the corporate sector, and the media and from a variety of disciplines including anthropology, economics, demography, political science, sociology, public health, and the natural and physical sciences. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

The fellow will spend approximately 60 percent of his/her time working on an applied research project of individual interest, ideally one that is related to PRB’s priority areas. In addition, the fellow will be expected to provide a scientific perspective on the issues under discussion by giving occasional presentations, writing articles for PRB’s Web site, and working with PRB staff to develop a new project based on the fellow’s expertise. Fellowships are for full-time work and are awarded for a period of six months to one year. The fellow will be provided workspace equipped with a computer, telephone, and work materials. PRB will pay a stipend to cover partial living costs in the Washington, DC area, but neither benefits nor paid leave are included. The fellow should continue to receive benefits and a partial salary from his/her full-time employer. The fellowship has a flexible start date of January 2, 2006, with a preference for someone who can start earlier.

Applications should be submitted no later than October 28, 2005. For information on how to apply, visit http://www.prb.org/. Questions should be directed to Roger-Mark De Souza, rdesouza@prb.org.

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The following two positions are with the American Red Cross Tsunami Recovery Program(TRP):

Disaster Planning and Preparedness Advisor: Washington, DC

The disaster planning and preparedness advisor will guide the international disaster preparedness and planning portfolio for tsunami affected countries. This position aims to increase the capacity of national societies and vulnerable communities to protect themselves from and respond to future disasters in their own countries. The advisor will provide technical support to field and headquarters staff and partners in the design and implementation of disaster planning and preparedness strategies and programs in conjunction with the disaster planning senior advisor and field-based specialists. The advisor represents the American Red Cross nationally and internationally at disaster planning and preparedness forums for all tsunami-related matters.

The position requires the following: a bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred); five years of experience in emergency humanitarian response operations; three years of experience working on disaster planning and preparedness programs; two years of experience working in a developing country; and knowledge of disaster relief, disaster plans, and mitigation programs, as well as skills in facilitating institutional development. Applicants for this position must be either U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Disaster Planning and Preparedness Officer: Banda Aceh, Indonesia

The disaster planning and preparedness officer will manage a portfolio of programs in Indonesia. This person will help the Indonesia Red Cross to assess its disaster preparedness capacity, respond to disasters in an effective and efficient manner, and reduce the impact of future disasters by promoting best practices in community-based disaster planning, preparedness, and mitigation. The delegate will provide technical assistance and project oversight in designing, implementing, and evaluating various disaster management programs in Indonesia in collaboration with Red Cross and non-Red Cross partners.

The position requires the following: a bachelor’s degree in disaster management, business management, public administration, international studies, social work, or related disciplines (master’s degree preferred); five years of work experience with a humanitarian aid organization; two years of experience working in a developing country; knowledge of disaster relief, disaster plans, and mitigation programs, as well as skills in facilitating institutional development; and strong international project design and project management experience with a proven track record of successful teamwork.

This is an unaccompanied position. The officer will live in group housing in Banda Aceh.

To apply to either position, send cover letter (state position title), detailed curriculum vitae, and phone numbers and e-mails of three professional references to Hbrykarz@GlobalRecruitment.net. Complete job announcements are available at http://www.globalrecruitment.net/.

Questions for the readership and contributions to this e-newsletter are encouraged. Questions and messages should be indicated as such and sent to hazctr@colorado.edu.

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