Grad News Forum

The Dartmouth Board of Trustees appointed Provost Carol L. Folt, PhD, as the interim president of Dartmouth, effective July 1, following the election of President Jim Yong Kim to lead the World Bank. President Kim will remain Dartmouth’s president until June 30 and continue to lead Dartmouth through the conclusion of the academic year and Commencement.

Before serving as Provost, Carol Folt was as Dartmouth’s Dean of Graduate Studies and The Dartmouth Faculty Member of Biological Sciences. To read more about Carol Folt’s appointent, visit  the Dartmouth Now.

Dartmouth’s Graduate Relief Team (GRT) is an organization chaired by Marie Onakomaiya, Student Life Chair of the Graduate Student Council (GSC), which coordinates outreach initiatives for graduate students. This coming week, the GRT is hosting two events open to all graduate students.

On Monday, March 25^th the GRT is coordinating a dinner at Margaritas to raise money for this year’s relay for life. Between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM, Margaritas will donate a portion of their proceeds to the GRT Relay for Life Team. Make sure to come to Margaritas for a night of fun with your friends, and to help raise money for a great cause!

Remember the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is April 28^th. To raise money for cancer research, join the GRT’s Relay for Life team!

On Friday, March 30^th the Graduate Relief Team, in association with ONE.org, is hosting a free screening of Water Pressures—a documentary about projects focused on providing clean water to developing countries around the world—at 5:30 PM in Filene Auditorium (Moore Hall). Refreshments will be provided to all attendees, courtesy of the GSAC, Erin O’Flaherty.

The bi-annual GSC Travel Grant provides graduate students with funds of up to $250 to help defray the costs of attending a conference to present a paper or poster. This funding is meant to supplement but not replace other funding sources, such as funding from a student’s advisor or department or the travel grants offered by the Office of Graduate Studies. Funding may be granted pending acceptance of a paper or poster.

-To apply for a GSC Travel Grant, please fill out the application form.

-Please email all applications to Graduate.Student.Council@dartmouth.edu

-The application deadline has been extended to Monday, March 26th

Rich Lopez shares his research at Nerd Nights

On Thursday, March 1^st, Julia Bradley-Cook, the Academic Chair of the Graduate Student Council (GSC), hosted the first Nerd Night. Held in One Wheelock, a student-run café in the basement of Collis, five of Dartmouth’s graduate students presented their research to the event’s attendees.

Thursday’s presenters were:
-Rich Lopez (PBS)
-Erin O’Flaherty (MALS)
-Liz Macari (Pharmacology and Toxicology)
-Gilbert Rahme (Genetics) *Nerd of the Night!
-Ryan Lewis (Computer Science)

Unlike formal research conferences, Nerd Nights provides graduate students the opportunity to showcase their research in a relaxed, respectful, and informal environment. At Nerd Nights, refreshments are provided to all presenters and attendees (yes, this includes craft beer as well as non-alcoholic beverages.). After each ten-minute presentation, audience members are encouraged to ask questions and to provide constructive criticism.

At the end of the night, each attendee votes on their favorite presentation, and the “Nerd of the Night” prize is awarded to the presenter who receives the most votes.

Last Thursday, Gilbert Rahme’s presentation on his cancer research won the “Nerd of the Night” award. Congratulations, Gilbert! We hope you enjoy your brand new coffee mug.

The next Nerd Nights are scheduled for:
-Thursday, April 5th @ 7:00 PM in One Wheelock
-Thursday, May 3rd @ 7:00 PM in One Wheelock

Want to present at an upcoming Nerd Night? Email email Julia Bradley-Cook (Julia.I.Bradley-Cook.GR@Dartmouth.Edu) as soon as possible: spots are already filling up for April 5th.

If you’re interested in learning about the graduate research at Dartmouth, check out Nerd Nights! The event is open to the Dartmouth community, and is a fun way to meet graduate students.

For photos of the inaugural Nerd Night, check our Flicker account.

It’s now the end of February, and I’m sad to say as I write this article, it is a balmy 40°F outside. Let’s be honest—at this point, snow looks pretty hopeless. Though there’s a chance that old man winter still has a blizzard or two tucked up his sleeve, it might be time for the Upper Valley to get ready for mud season.

So, what’s there to do during the rest of this “miserable” (yes, some may disagree with this adjective) winter?

Well, here are this season’s “Top 10,” divided into two categories—snow-positive and snow-negative—so no matter how you feel about the cold, you can enjoy the rest of the winter!

Snow-positive:

1) Go for a hike

Wait, is this a repeat from this summer’s “Top 10”? Yes—but not really! With snow on the ground you can grab some cross-country skis or snow shoes and hit the trails. If you don’t own any but want to learn, visit the DOC house and rent some. If you’re not quite read to venture into the White Mountains, then try the friendly trails that wrap around the Hanover Country Club—they’re a great place to start!

2) Be a kid again!

Make snow angels, build a snow fort, go sledding, or get in a friendly snowball fight with your housemates. If you’re in the middle of studying for quals, or chipping away at your dissertation, be sure to get outside and do whatever made you happy as a child—or, in the case of many graduate students, what you missed out on during your warm-climate childhood.

3) Explore the world’s Polar Regions—from your favorite easy chair

In the final chapter of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein chases the monster he created across the sea ice that surrounds the North Pole. Want to experience the thrill of the Artic without hitching a team of Alaskan Malamutes to your favorite sled? Then, try reading a work of literature—like The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, the only full-length novel written by Edgar Allan Poe—that takes place in the world’s Polar Regions

Not into fiction? Then zip up your down jacket, walk over to the Rauner Special Collections Library, and take out a journal of Vilhjalmur Stefansson, one of the twentieth century’s leading Artic explores! Stefansson is credit for discovering a number of landmasses between Nunavut and Greenland, and carefully documented his adventures in a series of notebooks, most of which are held in Rauner.

4) Throw yourself down a hill at obscenely high speeds whilst keeping your feet on the ground
Well, at least that’s how I see skiing or snowboarding. Though, with modern snowmaking, you really you don’t need to wait for a Nor’ Easter to hit the slopes, it’s a bit more enjoyable with natural snow.

Don’t worry—if you’ve never skied or snowboarded before, there are plenty of experienced skiers on campus. If you’re intimidated by ski lifts and black diamonds, just ask one of your friends for an introduction to the sport!

5) Grab a warm cup of coffee, hot chocolate, or tea

So, it’s cold out, and you’re a graduate student. Chances are you already start your mornings—regardless if the season—with a warm beverage, and have enjoyed a cup-o-Joe while burning the midnight oil on more than one occasion.

In celebration of winter, everyone here at The Graduate Forum has decided to share his or her brew of choice in Hanover:

-Erin: Lou’s Brew coffee with cream from Lou’s Restaurant.
-Dan: Hot Chocolate from Morano’s Gelato.
-Wes: Dancing Goats coffee with milk and sugar from Rosey Jeeks.
-Tennile: Guatemala-Antigua Fair Trade Organic blend from Dirt Cowboy; it’s perfect with a little cream and sugar. I’m also a big fan of their Mocha Latte—both are delicious!

Snow-negative:

6) Enjoy a film with the Dartmouth Film Society (DFS)

Each term, the Dartmouth Film Society (DFS) hosts a themed film series that features a mix of older films, cult classics, and new blockbusters. Students and community member have the option of purchasing a “DFS Pass,” which is valid for all of that term’s movies, or single tickets.  This winter’s theme is “End of Times,” and includes movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Toy Story 3, and Children of Men. Each term, the theme is different, so be sure to check the DFS website to see what’s in store for Spring Term.

On Wednesday, March 7th, the Graduate Studies Activities Coordinator (Erin O’Flaherty) and the North Park GA (Regina Salvat) are also sponsoring a “Graduate Night at the HOP.”  The first 30 people to sign up here will have their tickets to the Oscar-winning film “The Iron Lady” paid for by the GSC.  After the film (and in honor of Ms. Thatcher herself), there will be a reception with proper English tea and crumpets at 14 North Park.  The reception is welcome to all North Park residents, graduate students, and their guests.

7) Check out “Science on Tap” at the Montshire Museum

Wait, isn’t the Montshire a kids’ thing? Well, yes—but each year the museum also plans events for adults. The “Science on Tap” program allows those of age to enjoy a local beer while experts in various academic fields present seminars on their research. Perhaps the best thing about “Science on Tap” is after the presentation, the museum is yours to explore and giddily enjoy; it’s really cool to see the exhibits during after hours, sans-children.

In addition to “Science on Tap,” the Montshire also offers advanced classes for adults: this winter, these courses include the history of English gardens as well as the ecology of wetlands.

8) Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group 

Your Farm carrots from Tuck-organized farm share package.

As March approaches, the farmers of Vermont and New Hampshire are starting to gear up for the coming growing season. Want access to fresh produce throughout the spring and summer? Then think about joining a Community Supported Agriculture group!

CSAs are structured to allow the consumer—in this case, a Dartmouth graduate student—access to fresh, local vegetable throughout the growing season. When joining a CSA, the consumer pays the farmer a sum of money—which varies depending upon the needs of the consumer—before the farmer plants the season’s crops. Then, throughout the year, the consumer then gets a share of the crops to take home. Usually, the consumer goes to the farm to pick up the crops, while in some cases, a box of produce is delivered to a predetermined place. Since you pay for your portion of the produce so far in advance, it feels like you’re getting free veggies throughout the growing season.

Right now is the time to sign up for CSAs! If you don’t have a car, or don’t want to make the weekly drive, Your Farm—a farm in Fairlee, VT which offers CSAs—delivers shares of produce to the Tuck School of Business on a weekly basis.

9) Play a game of pick-up hockey

If the ice is thick enough, gather up a group of friends, grab a few sticks, and play a game of pick-up hockey. The college maintains a skating rink on Occom pond, so if the conditions are safe, head over after you’re done in the lab, and pass the puck around.

If you think you’re ready for a little competition, then sign up for Dartmouth’s Graduate Student intermural hockey league, DartMoose. If you decide to play in one the club’s weekly scrimmages, make sure to fill out a waiver.

10)  Show some school spirit!

Ok, this one makes most of the “Top 10s,” but attending Big Green sporting events is one of the best things about being a Dartmouth student.

This winter, stay warm by attending an indoor sporting event like squash, basketball, hockey. Or, if you’re a snow sports are more your pace, get outside and cheer on one of Dartmouth’s ski teams.

Whatever sport is your cup of tea, make a point to get out of the laboratory or library and support your team!

GO BIG GREEN!

by Dan Osipovitch and Wesley Whitaker
color photo by Tennile Sunday
black and white photos by Wesley Whitaker 

Born in San Diego, CA, Justin Richardson is a first-year graduate student in Dartmouth’s Earth Sciences department. Describing himself as “the soil man,” Justin’s research examines how toxic metals are transported in upland forest soils. As an undergraduate at University of California, Riverside, Justin worked as a Soil Science Adviser at his campus’s organic community garden, and for the nine months that he has been a member of the Dartmouth graduate community, he has used his knowledge of soils to assist instructors with the educational courses held at the Dartmouth Organic Farm. At the community farm in Southern California and Dartmouth’s Organic Farm, Justin applied his knowledge of sustainable farming methods to control the nutrient levels in each farm’s soil.

Justin’s graduate research builds upon his deep-seated interest in soil science and environmental sustainability. As a graduate student, Justin is researching the ability of soils from different regions of the northeastern United States to retain mercury—a toxic metal released into the atmosphere during coal combustion—and lead—a heavy metal released by automobiles before leaded gasoline was phased out in the 1970s. The organic matter and mineral content present within soils creates a buffer that slows the leeching of these metals into the region’s subterranean aquifers; once in the aquifers, these metals gradually move up the food chain. Though research suggests the lead that enters our waterways is not absorbed by humans, it has been proven that humans absorb mercury through the consumption of predatory fish that feed in contaminated waters.

“Though mercury isn’t good for you, I still enjoy eating locally caught fish,” says Justin. “You just have to watch which species you consume.”

Currently, Justin is examining the heavy-metal retention properties of both the organic matter and mineral content of various soils, which differ greatly from region to region. Comprised primarily of decomposing plant matter, the organic structures of a forest’s floor determines how well it is able to retain metals: in evergreen forests, the carbon structures of the fallen pine needles are relatively stable and are able to hold metals for longer than the carbon structures of the downed leaves in deciduous forests, which fall from the hardwoods of New England each autumn.

The mineral content of a soil is the final buffer that slows the leaching of lead and mercury into the waterways of the Northeast. After passing through the forest floor, different minerals hold toxic metals before they move into the subsoil. Recent studies suggest that the greater the clay content of a soil, the better it is at retaining toxic metals. Currently, Justin is examining the ability of New England’s soils, which vary in their clay content, to retain lead and mercury.

“Although there aren’t that many coal-burning plants in New England, there is a major mercury problem in this area,” says Justin. “The mercury released by coal plants in the midwestern United States travels through the atmosphere, and ends up in our soils.”

This summer, Justin helped teach laboratory sections held at the Dartmouth Organic Farm to the school’s ecological agriculture class. Located three miles up river from Dartmouth’s campus, the Organic farm is an educational facility that teaches students methods for sustainable food production. Unlike the organic community garden Justin worked at as an undergraduate—which is divided into small land plots that students and community members manage independently—Dartmouth’s Organic Farm is not partitioned, which allows for greater control over both the nutrient levels in the soil and the prevention of parasitical crop damage through organic farming methods. Justin explains that this structural feature of Dartmouth’s Organic Farm makes the facility well suited for teaching.

“One thing that’s unique about Dartmouth’s Organic Farm is that the farm is built upon the official ‘Dartmouth series soil,’” explains Justin. “The official soil taxonomic name for many of the low lying areas along the Connecticut River Valley is named after our school, and I think that’s something that Dartmouth students should know.”

To become involved in Dartmouth’s farming community, drop by the organic farm anytime to learn about its seasonal happenings. In the summer, students run a farmstand outside of the Collis Center where they sell fresh produce to the community. If you’re new to horticulture, Dartmouth’s Organic Farm holds “work days” designed to teach students the basics of sustainable farming; the farm also hosts pot-luck dinners on a regular basis for everyone who helps out at the farm.

If you’d like to learn more about Dartmouth’s Organic Farm, or are interested in soil science, it’s easy to spot Justin in Hanover: his NH license plate is “SOILSCI.”

by Wesley Whitaker

On Thursday, Feb. 23 at 1:15 p.m., Dartmouth College with the support of the Town of Hanover will test its Outdoor Mass Notification System (OMNS). The OMNS is a commercially available warning system that has been customized for the Dartmouth College campus. The system contains both sirens and voice speakers and is capable of providing a loud and immediate warning to the Dartmouth campus and surrounding communities in case of an emergency.

For more information on the OMNS, read the article published by Dartmouth.

Today, The Graduate Forum celebrated its first birthday. Launched last year on February 9^th, The Graduate Forum is Dartmouth’s online graduate community newsletter. Read regularly by viewers on six continents, each month The Graduate Forum’s popularity continues to grow. In its first year, The Graduate Forum received 53 views for every graduate student currently enrolled at Dartmouth.

“It’s funny. Though we tend to think that we attract the same readers, over half of our site’s visits are generated by new readers,” says Tennile Sunday, The Graduate Forum’s chief editor.

While readers in the United States account for a large portion of The Graduate Forum’s viewership, the online newsletter is very popular in Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Germany, Nepal, China, the Philippines, and Brazil.

Grad Forum Writers

“I think people like the forum because of the variety of the newsletter’s content. In addition to department highlights and student spotlights, we publish lifestyle articles—like the ever-popular ‘Top 10’ of each season—and release videos featuring Dartmouth’s graduate students,” says Wesley Whitaker, one of the site’s writers and editors.

After a timely article is published on The Graduate Forum—like November’s GSC Holiday Food Drive announcement—it is then publicized through Dartmouth’s Arts & Sciences Graduate Program’s media streams, including Twitter and Facebook.

“Over the past year, we’ve really stepped up our use of social media,” says Erin O’Flaherty, the office’s social media expert. “In addition to publicizing both events and articles pertinent to Dartmouth’s graduate community, we’ve also facilitated several campus wide contests—like fall term’s Dream Team Trivia Challenge—using our social media streams. Each year, more and more students are using social media not only to learn about campus events, but also to communicate with one another professionally.”

The 193 articles published by The Graduate Forum during the 2011-12 academic year have covered topics including campus-research initiatives, graduate-student life, Dartmouth Strategic Planning, professional-development workshops, community-oriented articles, and the launch of the Graduate Studies’ Mobile Application. In the coming months, be sure to check The Graduate Forum for our “Graduate Student Spotlight” series, as well as press releases on Graduate Appreciation Week, 2012 Commencement, and campus events including the GSC’s Annual Winter Semi-Formal with Dartmouth Medical School (DMS).

In celebration of The Graduate Forum’s first birthday, the newsletter’s editors have each picked their favorite articles published this past year:

Tennile Sunday
- Surviving on an Icesheet
- Fall Top 10

Wesley Whitaker
-Summer Fun: The Top 10
-Review: Strategic Planning Open Forum

Erin O’Flaherty
-Alumni Award Winners (series: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

At this year’s Winter Carnival–beginning on Thursday, February 9th and running through Sunday, February 12th–Dartmouth’s graduate students are invited to participate in the “2012 Winter Carnival Snow Sculpture Contest!”

Dartmouth Students building the 2011 Winter Carnival Sculpture

Feel like participating in one of Dartmouth’s oldest traditions? Then assemble a team of builders from your department, register for the contest by Tuesday, February 7th, and bring your favorite snow shovel to the green on Thursday, February 9th and Friday, February, 10th!

Organized by the Collis Center for Student Involvement Office and Programing Board at Dartmouth, the theme for the 2012 Winter Carnival is “Carnival in Candyland.”

Here’s an outline of the event from 2012 Winter Carnival Snow Sculpture Contest’s offical website:

“Who: Any College-recognized organization (including living units, athletic teams, alumni groups, and academic and administrative departments).

What: A contest held on the Green to select the best sculpture representing this year’s Carnival theme.

When: Carnival is one of the busiest weekends at Dartmouth. In order to allow students and others to participate in all of the various activities, we have limited the hours of building. Starting at noon on Thursday, February 9, organizations may start building a sculpture. Building hours are from noon to 10 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday, February 10. Judging will take place between 3:30-5 p.m. on Friday, February 10. During the judging, the Green Key Society, Winter Carnival Council, and Collis will be giving out hot chocolate and snacks and welcoming the community.

Where: In order to participate in this contest, all sculptures must be built on the southwest quadrant of the Green (corner closest to Collis). Snow will be provided in a large pile on the Green. Large barrels and shovels will be provided to move snow. A hose will also be on-site to get water to wet-down your sculpture.

Why: Why not? Let’s revive a tradition!

How much: 1^st place: $500; 2^nd place: $300; 3^rd place: $200—transferred to your organizational account. The winning organization will also be provided a sculpture trophy for display.“

For more information on the event, including Safety Guidelines, please visit the contest’s website.

Andy Friedland, Professor in the Environmental Studies program at Dartmouth, recently sat down with arts and sciences graduate students to discuss the essential elements of putting together a successful science proposal.

Entitled “Science Proposal Writing,” the workshop session was the first in the several-part series, “Becoming a Faculty Member,” sponsored by the Graduate Office.  Based on his and Provost Carol Folt’s 2009 book, Writing Successful Science Proposals, Friedland’s talk related to the complicated process that nearly all academics must go through: crafting a research proposal.

According to Friedland, the first step to writing a successful proposal is fairly simply: write well.  While there are basic fundamental common factors in all proposals, Friedland stressed that it is essential to look at the specific vernacular unique to each individual scientific field.  This includes identifying and describing the conceptual framework of your project, as well as summarizing the relevant literature and targeting your proposal to your specific audience (i.e., NIH, NSF, EPA, NASA, etc).

Aside from the obvious plus of writing a successful proposal—funding—there is also the added bonus of being able to flesh out potential research topics.  “Writing a proposal forces you to put ideas on paper, formulate them, and let them grow,” Friedland told the crowd of PhD students in attendance, noting that scientists often make major advances while working on the proposals alone.

Noting the current trend towards scientific projects with an interdisciplinary focus, Friedland noted the importance of “thinking big” in the initial stages of working on a proposal.  “It’s important to avoid tunnel vision,” says Freidland.  “Think about how your work might apply to other fields.”

Targeted towards those arts and sciences graduate students who plan on continuing their careers in academia, the “Becoming a Faculty Member” series aims to help graduate students make the transition to professor while allowing Dartmouth faculty to share their strategies and tips for navigating the path to ‘becoming faculty.’  Those students who attend all of the workshops in the series will receive a certificate of completion.

The next session, “Finding Funding,” takes place Wednesday, January 18^th, at 12pm.  Hosted by Brian Pogue, Dean of Graduate Studies and Professor of Engineering at Thayer School, the session will highlight the various funding sources that graduate students, postdocs, and assistant professors can access at the beginning of their research careers.

The “Mentoring and Advising” session will take place on Wednesday, January 25^th, at 12 pm, and will feature Dartmouth faculty members who have won the Graduate Student Mentoring Award discussing their own unique approaches to mentorship.  To sign up for this session, click HERE.  To sign up for “Lab Management” on Monday, January 30th, at 12pm, sign up HERE.