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AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2005-9
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CONTENTS
1) GEOLOGIST-IN-THE-PARKS POSITIONS FOR 2005 - LAST CHANCE!
2) 2005 CANON NATIONAL PARKS SCIENCE SCHOLARS PROGRAM FOR
THE AMERICAS
3) AGI ACTION ALERT: OPPOSE LIMITATIONS ON NOAA
4) POSITION OPENING
2005-038 Wright University - Visiting Faculty, Geosciences
Education
5) CONTACT INFORMATION
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Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of E-mail News
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1) GEOLOGIST-IN-THE-PARKS POSITIONS FOR 2005 - LAST CHANCE!
The deadline for applications for 2005 GIP positions has been extended
to April 30th, 2005. Please see the AWG website
(http://www.awg.org/about/gip.html) for detailed position descriptions
and application information. Send all inquiries and applications to
office@awg.org.
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2) 2005 CANON NATIONAL PARKS SCIENCE SCHOLARS PROGRAM FOR THE AMERICAS
Applications are being accepted for the 2005 Canon National Parks
Science Scholars Program for the Americas. The program will be awarding
eight US$78,000 scholarships to PhD. students throughout the Americas to
conduct research critical to conserving the national parks of the
region.
Research projects in the biological, physical, social and cultural
sciences are eligible, as well as projects in a new category- technology
innovation in support of conservation science.
Applications must be received by 2 May 2005. For information about the
Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program and a copy of the
Application Guide, please visit the website at
www.nature.nps.gov/canonscholarships/ .
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3) AGI ACTION ALERT: OPPOSE LIMITATIONS ON NOAA
In A Nutshell: A bill, entitled "National Weather Services Duties Act
of 2005" (S.786) introduced by Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on April 14, 2005 would
limit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from
providing weather data, particularly through the National Weather
Service. The bill would expressly prohibit federal weather forecasters from
competing with commercial weather forecasters such as AccuWeather and
the Weather Channel. Critics say the wording of the bill is so vague
that it is not clear what data could or could not be provided by NOAA.
The bill might force the National Weather Service website to be removed
or to have much of its data removed. The National Weather Service would
only be allowed to "provide severe weather forecasts and warnings
designed for the protection of life and property of the general public."
According to a report in the Palm Beach Post, Barry Myers, the
executive vice president of AccuWeather, which is based in College Station PA,
stated that "The National Weather Service has not focused on what its
core mission should be, which is protecting other people's lives and
property,… It spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year, every day,
producing forecasts of 'warm and sunny'." Santorum made similar
arguments when introducing his bill. He also said expanded federal services
threaten the livelihoods of private weather companies. "It is not an
easy prospect for a business to attract advertisers, subscribers or
investors when the government is providing similar products and services for
free," Santorum said.
The problem between NOAA and commercial weather services has grown
since NOAA set aside a 1991 rule that prohibited the agency from providing
services that private companies could provide. The National Weather
Service website and other NOAA websites have provided more data, more
tools to explain the data and more analyses of the data. The information
has been used by a growing number of scientists, educators, students,
emergency managers, other professionals and amateurs who use weather
data for a bevy of different purposes, and the general public.
Limiting the data provided by the National Weather Service and NOAA
could be detrimental to their current users and the public. Taxpayers pay
for the data collected by NOAA and should have access to the data and
information about the data. Limiting the data may also delay severe
weather forecasts and warnings that are meant to protect life and property
if a special certification is required before data can be posted.
Please email or call your senators and ask them to oppose Senate bill
S.786, the "National Weather Services Duties Act of 2005". A list of
senators on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that must
consider the bill is given below. You may also contact the Committee
chairmen, Senator Ted Stevens and Senator Daniel Inouye through the
Committee's telephone 202-224-5115 or FAX 202-224-1259.
Palm Beach Post story:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/epaper/2005/04/21/m1a_wx_0421.html
Full text of Senate Bill S.786 is available at THOMAS:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c109:1:./temp/~c109rwEfh3::
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation: Ted Stevens -
Alaska (chairman) Hart 522 202-224-3004 John McCain - Arizona Russell
241 202-224-2235 Conrad Burns - Montana Dirksen 187 202-224-2644 Trent
Lott - Mississippi Russell 487 202-224-6253 Kay Bailey Hutchison - Texas
Russell 284 202-224-5922 Olympia Snowe - Maine Russell 154 202-224-5344
Gordon Smith - Oregon Russell 404 202-224-3753 John Ensign - Nevada
Russell 364 202-224-6244 George Allen - Virginia Russel 204 202-224-4024
John Sununu - New Hampshire Russell 111 202-224-2841 Jim DeMint - South
Carolina Hart 825 202-224-6121 David Vitter - Louisiana Hart 825A
202-224-4623 Daniel K. Inouye - Hawaii (co-chair) Hart 722 202-224-3934 John
D. Rockefeller IV - West Virginia Hart 531 202-224-6472 John F. Kerry -
Massachussetts Russell 304 202-224-2742 Byron L. Dorgan - North Dakota
Hart 322 202-224-2551 Barbara Boxer - California Hart 112 202-224-3553
Bill Nelson - Florida Hart 716 202-224-5274 Maria Cantwell - W
ashington Hart 717 202-224-3441 Frank Lautenberg - New Jersey Hart 324
202-224-3224 E. Benjamin Nelson - Nebraska Hart 720 202-224-6551 Mark
Pryor - Arkansas Russell 217 202-224-2353
1. Call your Senator's Washington, DC office.
You may obtain the phone number from their official website
(www.senate.gov) or you may call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121) and
ask to be connected to Senator [name] office [name-number]. NOTE: You
must know the name of your Senator prior to calling the switchboard;
they will not be able to tell you who your member of Congress is.
Ask to speak to the legislative assistant responsible for NOAA. When
connected: encourage the staffer to have Senator [name] oppose Senate
Bill S.786, the "National Weather Services Duties Act of 2005". Be
prepared to mention how important the National Weather Service website and
data is to your research, academic department/institution, as an
educational tool and/or your community. Legislative staff are busy, so you
may be asked if you would like to leave a voice mail - you do. Simply
convey the same information you would have if you spoke to the staffer in
person, but be sure to leave your contact information.
2. E-Mail or Fax your Senator
Your Senator's e-mail addresses and fax numbers are available on their
website at www.senate.gov.
Tips for an effective e-mail or fax message:
-Be sure that the subject line in your e-mail is clear: Please oppose
Senate Bill S.786, the "National Weather Services Duties Act of 2005"
-Be sure that you include your contact information at the top of the
e-mail/letter; this must include your name, mailing address, phone number
and e-mail address. NOTE: many offices will discard correspondence
that does not include contact information, or that comes from outside of
their district.
-In the opening paragraph of your message, clearly state that you are
writing to ask that your Senator to oppose Senate Bill S.786, the
"National Weather Services Duties Act of 2005". Tell them that the bill
would restrict access to useful data and may unintentionally hinder severe
weather warnings.
Please fax or e-mail a copy of your letter to AGI at Government Affairs
Program, 4220 King Street, Alexandria VA 22302-1502; fax 703-379-7563;
email govt@agiweb.org.
Many thanks for taking the time to be an active citizen-scientist!
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4) POSITION OPENING
2005-038
Wright University
Visiting Faculty, Geosciences Education
The Department of Geological Sciences invites applications for a
one-year visiting faculty position for an Assistant Professor specializing in
Geoscience Education to begin September, 2005. Teaching will include
undergraduate inquiry-based courses in Earth/Space Science for
pre-service K-12 teachers. Participation in a M.S. in Teaching program for
in-service teachers in the Department is expected. The individual selected
will work closely with the Department of Teacher Education. Teaching
experience involving K-12 teachers or K-12 teaching is highly desirable.
Experience in web-based instruction is a plus. The successful
applicant must have a Ph.D. with research experience in geosciences or a
closely related field. Applicants should submit a detailed resume by mail or
e-mail with a description of research and teaching interests, and the
names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three
references to Chair, Geoscience Education Search Committee, De
partment of Geological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
45435-0001. Review of applications will begin on May 15, 2005, and
continue until the position is filled. Questions may be addressed to
Chris Barton at chris.barton@wright.edu. A search for a tenure track
Assistant Professor position in Geoscience Education is anticipated in the
coming year. Wright State University is committed to a policy of equal
opportunity and affirmative action, and specially encourages
applications from members of underrepresented groups.
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5) CONTACT INFORMATION
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To submit advertising contact: ads@awg.org
To change your address or be removed from the list contact:
office@awg.org