Faculty sought to address water, sustainability, climate

PULLMAN, Wash. – A new Earth, Ecosystems and Society (EES) Fellows Program has been formed at Washington State University to develop interdisciplinary teams to work on complex, strategically selected environmental challenges.

 

The plan is to form teams of three-six members to work collaboratively for one-two years on particular themes. The EES is soliciting applications for the first theme – Water, Sustainability and Climate – timed to renegotiation of the Columbia River Treaty.

 

For more information and to apply, please go here.  Applications are due Dec. 5.

 

Fellows will work to generate new concepts and produce grant proposals addressing themes strategically chosen for their timeliness, funding prospects and connections to WSU’s mission, capacities and emphases.

 

A program of the Center for Environmental Research, Education and Outreach (CEREO), EES is centered on the earth, natural and managed ecosystems and the human dimensions of environmental change.

 

To gain and sustain success in the important granting arena of interdisciplinary research, team building and support must be set in motion in advance of the call for proposals. That’s the goal of the fellows program.

 

Teams will be selected from a broad range of disciplines and ranks across WSU, including faculty in the natural, physical, health and social sciences, humanities, education and business.

 

EES recognizes the “importance and benefit of looking at complex issues from an interdisciplinary perspective,” said Dawn Shinew, associate professor and chair in the Department of Teaching and Learning and CEREO interim co-director.

 

The theme Water, Sustainability and Climate was selected in response to the pending renegotiation of the Columbia River Treaty, which is on schedule for decision making in 2014.

 

As the United States and Canada renegotiate, various stakeholders are calling for an implementable and sustainable treaty that would extend beyond the current emphases on flood protection and hydropower generation.

 

“This theme naturally spans disciplines, encompasses other institutions in the region and has possibilities for basic and applied research,” said Kris Johnson, professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and CEREO interim co-director. “There are also opportunities to study the human dimensions related to water use decisions that involve citizens, stakeholder groups and policy makers.”

 

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Sources:
Kris Johnson, CEREO, johnsoka@wsu.edu
Dawn Shinew, CEREO, dshinew@wsu.edu
Nick Lovrich, CEREO, nlovrich@hotmail.com