Week of October 12, 2009

News from Across the USM Campuses

October 15^th - The Amazonian Aerosol Characterization Experiment (AMAZE - 08), Professor Scot T. Martin, Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Seminar is on Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Auditorium (Rm. 2400) on the second floor of the New Wing of the Computer and Space Science Building, on the University of Maryland, College Park campus. Coffee, tea and cookies are served in the adjoining Atrium at 3:00 p.m. For more information, contact Dan Kirk-Davidoff.  dankd@atmos.umd.edu.

If Oslo Then Copenhagen (By Donald F. Boesch, The Washington Post, 10/10/09) [Dr. Donald Boesch is the President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

Terps get greener? (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 10/7/09)

Scientists, triathletes insist bay safe for swimming (By James B. Hale, The Capital, 10/7/09) [Article quotes Heath Kelsey, of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

Master Gardeners make the rounds (By Annette Ipsan, The Herald-Mail, 10/5/09) [Article cites the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Program]

Too Big To Fail (By Donald F. Boesch, The Washington Post, 10/5/09) [Dr. Donald Boesch is the President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

M Square Approaches Critical Mass (By Len Lazarick, Corridor, Inc., October 2009 Print Edition) [M Square is a University of Maryland Research Park]

7th Annual U.S. EPA P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet This competition is focused on benefiting people, promoting prosperity, and protecting the planet through innovative designs to address challenges to sustainability in both the developed and developing world. Solicitations are accepted through January 5, 2010.

The University of Maryland, College Park has officially been selected to participate in the 2010 Walmart Better Living Business Plan Challenge!  The University of Maryland, College Park will be one of 64 schools to compete for a trip to Bentonville, Arkansas to present at Walmart headquarters, and a grand prize of $20,000. Currently Maryland has one team officially formed, but will need a few more school teams in order to participate.  If you would like to form or join a team, please email your interest or the names of your team members to Scott Zakheim at scott.zakheim@rhsmith.umd.edu ASAP.

USM Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiative

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Engaged University: Master Peace Community Farm Harvest Festival - October 17, 11am-2pm, 62nd and Sheridan St, Riverdale, MD [PDF]

Goats help planned rec center take a bite toward progress: Animals clear the weeds for planned recreation, environmental center in city's Druid Hill Park (By Meredith Cohn, The Baltimore Sun, 10/10/09)

Trade in your gas-powered lawnmower and save (The Baltimore Sun, 10/9/09)

Bay cleanup: the "hammer" and the helping hand (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 10/8/09)

Novel car-sharing biz sprouting here (By Time Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 10/7/09)

College Sustainability Report Card 2010 is Released (Sustainable Endowments Institute, 10/7/09)

Eating locally for a year: New Tripoli woman plans to avoid any food that comes from more than 125 miles from her home (By Diane Stoneback, The Baltimore Sun, 10/7/09) [Video and article]

"Green" Jobs Training Available (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 10/6/09)

Open water swims in Maryland - Polluted Chesapeake Bay safe to swim in (The Examiner, 10/6/09)

Places in the sun: Among the sites on B-More, B-Green's Solar Tour is a 3-car garage made of straw and a building at a winery (By Eileen Ambrose, The Baltimore Sun, 10/5/09)

National and International News

Clean Energy Splits France: It's Carbon vs. Countryside in Environmental Battle Over Plan for Windmills Near Coastal Shrine (By Edward Cody, The Washington Post, 10/11/09)

Chemicals From Former Missile Sites Pose Water Contamination Risk (By Mead Gruver, The Associated Press as reported by The Washington Post, 10/11/09)

All's Possible Under the Sun: Twenty student teams take over the Mall to show that solar-powered living is more than just a bright idea. (By Elizabeth Razzi, The Washington Post, 10/10/09)

China says rich countries undercut climate talks (By Reuters, 10/10/09)

Last Time Carbon Dioxide Levels Were This High: 15 Million Years Ago, Scientists Report (Science Daily, 10/9/09)

Reduce your pet's carbon footprint (By Morieka Johnson, McClatchy-Tribune as published in The Baltimore Sun, 10/8/09)

Warning over global oil 'decline' (By Sarah Mukherjee, BBC News, 10/8/09)

Despite Hard Times, Colleges Are Still Going Green (By Jack Kadden, The New York Times, 10/7/09)

EPA to re-evaluate health effects of popular farm weed killer found in drinking water supplies (By Dina Cappiello, The Associated Press, 10/7/09)

US threatens to derail climate talks by refusing to include Kyoto targets: Protocol seen as basis for Copenhagen negotiations but America refuses to be 'stuck with agreement 20 years old' (By John Vidal, The [UK] Guardian, 10/7/09)

Chemical linked to aggression in girls (By Sarah Avery, The News and Observer, 10/7/09)

Apple Leaves U.S. Chamber Over Its Climate Position (Bt David A. Fahrenthold, The Washington Post, 10/6/09)

New Report Details Costs of Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions (By Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post, 10/6/09)

‘Cleantech' could be economy's next boom: Momentum around clean energy reminds some of Internet's early days (By Jordan Robertson, The Associated Press as reported on MSNBC.com, 10/6/09)

Lower winter heating costs expected: Government report has good news for people who heat homes with gas (The Associated Press as reported on MSNBC.com, 10/6/09)

Obama orders federal government to cut emissions (By Reuters, as reported on Yahoo News, 10/5/09)

Mighty caribou herds dwindle, warming blamed  (By Charles J. Hanley, The Associated Press as reported by The Washington Post, 10/5/09)

Hurdles Remain on Climate Change Goals (By Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post, 10/5/09)

High Court Won't Review Oil Royalties Case (The Associated Press as reported by The Washington Post, 10/5/09)