Grad News Forum

In a recent editorial, the journal Nature stated that, when it comes to climate change research,“Scientists must acknowledge that they are in a street fight.” Is this true? Has public discourse about climate change become so heated that even a respected scientific journal calls it “a street fight”? As graduate students in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program here at Dartmouth, we have been fascinated by the disregard for science in shaping public policy in our federal government. We have often asked ourselves why this is the case, and quickly realized the complexities of this question. A few months ago we decided to formally address this question by organizing a multi-day series centered on the theme of how politics and rhetoric subvert science in shaping public policy, with climate change being the major case study.

The Communication Street Fight: Scientists, the Media, and Politicians in the Climate Change Debate

-Talk: Shawn Otto, April 30, 4 pm, Oopik Auditorium, Life Sciences Center
Free and open to the public

Otto is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter and filmmaker who advocates for “smarter politics” in our national discourse on scientific topics. Along with other advocates, he helped organize an online discussion on scientific questions between candidates Obama and McCain in the 2008 election. He has also written a book Fool Me Twice: Fighting the Assault on Science in America about how the American discourse on science has changed, and the impact that has on policymaking.

-Talk: Dr. Peter Frumhoff, May 10, 4 pm, Oopik Auditorium, Life Sciences Center
Free and open to the public

Dr. Frumhoff is the Director of Science and Policy, Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). This spring, the UCS will launch a national project on “Science and Democracy,” placing them in an ideal position to address this topic. Dr. Frumhoff is a global change ecologist, who has served diverse roles in the scientific and policy arenas. He was also a lead author in the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment.

-Film Screening: “Bidder 70”, May 14, time and location tbd
Free and open to the public

This event addresses the role of activism in the public discourse on climate change. Acclaimed author Terry Tempest Williams will lead a discussion following the film. On December 19, 2008, Tim DeChristopher, as Bidder #70, derailed a federal oil and gas lease auction, by bidding on and winning 22,000 acres of land with no intention to pay or drill, effectively safeguarding thousands of acres of federal land. DeChristopher’s disruption of the auction enabled the Obama Administration and Interior Secretary Salazar to invalidate the auction, citing inadequate analysis of the environmental effects on surrounding areas and failure to assess contributions to global climate change. For his disruption of the auction, DeChristopher was indicted and convicted on two federal charges.

Co-sponsored by Environmental Studies, the Department of Biological Sciences, and the Graduate Student Council

Contacts: Carissa Aoki — Carissa.F.Aoki.GR@dartmouth.edu, Jeff Lombardo –Jeffrey.A.Lombardo.GR@dartmouth.edu, Chelsea Vario -Chelsea.L.Vario.GR@dartmouth.edu

David Bucci, Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Science (PBS), discusses his approach to graduate mentoring at Dartmouth. Selected as one of recipients of the Faculty Mentor Award by Dartmouth’s Graduate Student Council (GSC) in 2009, Professor Bucci’s method of graduate mentorship provides his student’s with a balance between being supportive, and allowing them to develop as independent scientists.

by Kerry Landers

Award-winning writer Tobias Wolff, author of several short story collections including Our Story Begins and the memoirs This Boy’s Life and In Pharoah’s Army, is in residence at Dartmouth as a Montgomery Fellow this month.

Wolff, the Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Professor of English at Stanford University, will be on campus from Monday, April 23, to Friday, April 27. He will deliver a public lecture entitled, “Luck and Work: A Writer’s Life,” on Tuesday, April 24, at 4:30 p.m. in Filene Auditorium, located in Moore Hall.

There’s still room at this Wednesday’s lunch the Montgomery Fellow: sign up if you’d like to discuss writing with Tobias over lunch in the Montgomery House!

For more on Wolff, visit Dartmouth Now.

On Tuesday, May 1^st, eight new graduate students will be elected members of the Executive Board of the Graduate Student Council (GSC) for the 2012-13 academic year.

While the departmental representatives of the GSC have already nominated candidates who they feel would be appropriate to serve as year-long representatives of the graduate student body, elections are open to the general graduate student community. If you’d like to nominate a friend, or yourself, for an Executive Board position, please email the GSC by April 25th.

Though any student is eligible to run for an Executive Board position, only Departmental Representatives who have fulfilled attendance and volunteer requirements are eligible to vote in the election. If you’d like to run for a position, please email a two hundred word campaign summary to Graduate.Student.Council@dartmouth.edu — all submission will be published online by April 25th.

Elections will be held in Dartmouth Hall on Tuesday, May 1^st from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm.

The Executive Board positions are:

-President
-Vice President
-Finance Chair
-Activities Co-Chairs (x2)
-Academic Chair
-Student Life Chair
-Secretary

For more information on elections, and for the campaign summaries, please check the GSC website.

At the Graduate Poster Session on Tuesday, April 10^th, Dean of Graduate Studies, Brian Pogue, had the pleasure of presenting the Graduate Community Award to Chris Audu (Chemistry) and Marcella Lucas (Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine). Each year, the award is given to graduate student(s) who best exemplify a deep commitment to serving the Dartmouth community, and have contributed in diverse ways such as participating in student government, serving on campus-wide committees and in the development and promotion of programs that enhance the academic and social options of the entire community.

Congratulations Chris and Marcella! Dartmouth’s graduate community genuinely appreciates your many contributions to the campus.

Chris Audu

Marcella Lucas

Screenshot of the new GSC website

Each week, graduate student volunteers compile the GSC Gazetteer–a bulletin of events and opportunities for graduate students–and email it to the campus’s graduate community. While one of these bulletins was published on The Graduate Forum a week ago, at this April’s Graduate Student Council (GSC) meeting, the Departmental Representatives voted to publish the Gazetteer on the newly-redesigned GSC website each week, instead of The Graduate Forum.

Over the winter term the GSC website committee, chaired by Aarathi Prasad, redesigned the council’s website. The new WordPress-based website is easier to update, and features apps which integrate the new site with both the GSC’s Facebook group and the Flicker account maintained by the Graduate Studies Office. Be sure to check the website each week for the latest gazetteer, and for up-to-date information on GSC-sponsored campus events.

Remember, if your student group would like apply for GSC funding, or if you’d like to form a new student group, visit the GSC website for the appropriate forms.

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.

Get to know your GSC Execs! Throughout the year, The Graduate Forum will be highlighting each Executive Board member of the Graduate Student Council (GSC). Check back for more highlights as the weeks go by.

GSC Exec Board Academic Chair, Jeremy Fitzpatrick.

Prior to being elected Social Co-Chair last May, Jeremy Fitzpatrick—a 4^th year PhD candidate in the Chemistry Department—served as a Departmental Representative for two years. In his current role, Jeremy organizes social events with Ana Draghici, the other Activities Co-Chair. During his eight months as Social Co-Chair of the GSC, Jeremy helped plan the larger social events sponsored by the council—including BEMA and Halloween Party—as well as the smaller mixers held at the DOC house.

“I really enjoy throwing the smaller events at the DOC house. When it’s sunny, people go outside and mingle on the lawn. It’s very relaxing,” says Jeremy. “The larger events that we host are great, too. I think it’s fun to try and get as many people as I can out of the lab and library, and provide a safe setting for them to unwind.”

This year, the GSC’s two social chairs worked with Dartmouth Medical School (DMS) to cohost three mixers. At each of these events, student volunteers from each school’s student government worked with Dartmouth’s Department of Safety and Security to run the door, and to safety manage the event until the end of the night.

“I’m really thankful for all the help that our sober monitors provide,” says Jeremy. “Without them, it would be really hard for us to host safe events that can be enjoyed by all of Dartmouth’s graduate students.”

Raised in Hillsborough, North Carolina, Jeremy majored in chemistry at the University of North Carolina, Asheville, and is now a member of Dale Mierke’s lab. Currently, Jeremy working on designing inhibitors for the interaction of the c-terminus of Parathyroid Hormone Receptor 1 with the Sodium Hydrogen Exchange Regulatory Factor 1.

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.

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