Apr.
Events
1st
Wildlife Crime: A
Crime Like Any
Other?, Leeds
1st
Saving The
Future... with
sustainable
gardens, living
walls & green
roofs, Kent
1st-3rd
Hypothesis
VIII: Hydrogen
Systems &
Materials for
Sustainability,
Lisbon
2nd-3rd
Beyond the
Limits: From
Assessment
to Action,
Northampton-
shire
2nd-3rd
European
Forum on Eco-
Innovation,
Berlin
3rd
Crisis Forum:
Climate Change &
Violence
Workshop, Bath
6th
Stakeholder
Seminar:
Accounting &
modelling the
pollution content
of trade flows,
carbon footprints
& other indicators
of SD, Cardiff
7th
Official Opening
of the Bee Lab,
Sussex
13th-17th
EASY-ECO
Training on
Evaluation of
Sustainability,
Lund, Sweden
14th
The Climate
Change Threat
to Corals,
London
16th
Internationalising
Environmental
Solutions,
Duxford
17th
Thinking &
Acting
Sustainably: A
model of a
21st Century,
Swansea
21st
Anticipating
Tomorrow for
Change
Today, Bristol
22nd
The Green
Agenda: Are We
Engaging The
Consumer?,
Kingston
24th-25th
The Role of
Labour Standards
in Sustainable
Development:
Theory in
Practice, London
25th
Gwanwyn
Gwyrdd/
Sustainable
Spring,
Carmarthenshire
27th
The Language of
Sustainability:
Shouting but not
being heard,
London
28th
Teaching
sustainability by
learning from
laboratory practices
29th
Part 2A: Time
to Determine,
London
29th
Creativity in the
Sciences,
Glasgow
29th-30th
Water & the
Global
Environment,
London
30th
Thinking outside
the box:
Borderless
Strategies to
combat climate
change, London
30th
SciTech09, London
May
Events
5th-9th
The Gaian
Leadership
Course,
Herefordshire
7th
Earthwatch
Lecture -
Conserving
Biodiversity in the
Americas,
London
12th
Extinction Risk in
Common Species,
London
12th
European EMS Forum, Brussels
13th-15th
Sustainable
Development &
Planning,
Cyprus
18th
Cafe scientifique:
The Science of
Complexity,
London
-----
For further
details on
these and
other events,
see the
events page
of the IES
website. |
March 2009
IES News
Conference - The Language of Sustainability: Shouting but not being heard, 27th April, London
This one day conference focuses on the Language of Sustainability and features  some of the most prominent voices in the sector. During the morning session a panel of invited guests will articulate how their profession views and conveys sustainability. They include: Eric Bichard, author of Positively Responsible: How Business Can Save the Planet, for business; David Fell, Director of Brook Lyndhurst Ltd, for consultants; Mark Everard of the Environment Agency, with the scientific approach; and Joe Ravetz, a leading thinker on sustainability from the University of Manchester, publicising the populist style. The debate will be chaired by Arran Stibbe, a senior lecturer in linguistics at the University of Gloucestershire. The session will explore each groups’ language of sustainability and whether they are integrated and can be understood by one another.
In the afternoon delegates will form into groups to discuss the development of an ‘Esperanto of Sustainability’ which would break down the barriers between different sectors and be inspiring for all. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear some respected voices debate how we communicate about sustainability, arguably the foremost goal of society.
The event has been organised to celebrate the launch of Professional Associations Research Network’s (PARN) and Professional Partnerships for Sustainable Development (PP4SD) revamped online Special Interest Groups (SIGs). The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) invite you to attend this exciting, one-of workshop and contribute to developing the Language of Sustainability.
Download a flyer and a booking form.
Sponsorship Needed
Adam Donnan, our Project Officer, is running the London Marathon in aid of Asthma UK on April 26th. You can sponsor him here.
Burntwood Speaker Announced
 Dr Paul Leinster, CEO of the Environment Agency, has been announced as the guest speaker for this year's Burntwood Lecture. Having joined EA in 1998, after working for Smithkline Beecham, BP International and Schering Agrochemicals, Paul was first the Director of Environmental Protection, then Director of Operations before becoming Chief Executive in May last year. The Burntwood Lecture will be held on 11th November at the Royal Society in London.
Memories of former Chairman Lord Sandford
Lord Sandford, Chairman of the IES from 1977-1980, has died aged 88. After serving in the Royal Navy, during which time he was wounded and decorated several times, he became a junior Conservative minister in 1970 in the newly formed Department of the Environment. He spoke on several issues in the Lords including local government, water, forestry, transport, housing and conservation. Lord Sandford undertook numerous roles: importantly he was Chairman of the Sandford Group review of National Parks; Chairman of Community Task Force (1977-1982); Chairman of the Association of District Councils (1980-1986) and Chairman of South East Regional Planning Council (1980-86) amongst others. Out of office he founded the Heritage Foundation and WaterAid. He was made a Honorary Fellow of the Institution in 1982.
AGM Elections
The IES held its AGM on 24th March. The following people were elected to council: Professor Bernard Fisher, Dr David Muir, Professor Will Pope and Professor Jim Longhurst. Professor Stephen Martin retired from Council. Dr Heather Barrett-Mold was elected Vice-Chair of the Institution. Dr Mark Everard was elected Chair. An introductory article from the new Chair can be read below.
ES Links
Long Lost Research
Did you, or someone you know work on a research project that for some reason didn't get completed? Oakdene Hollins is offering £4000 in consultancy support for the best 'forgotten' idea that could prove beneficial to the environment. Previous results from the Government's Sustainable Technologies Initiative have included the 'rediscovery' of lime mortar in place of cement and fabrics made from nettles. This is a fantastic opportunity for an individual or group to receive a major boost to their work. For more information on the scheme visit the website.
Research Award
The BBVA Foundation, in collaboration with the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), have announced the second edition of the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards. These Awards recognise research and creative work of excellence, addressing the key issues of climate change and integrated development. There are several categories to apply for, including Biomedicine, Climate Change and Information Technologies, with winners receiving 400,000 Euros, a Diploma and a piece of commemorative artwork. You are invited to participate by nominating a candidate (or candidates) who are members of IES. Further information can be found on the Foundation website.
Awards Season in Full Swing
Are you passionate about science? Do you have a talent for engaging the public? How about winning £10,000? NESTA FameLab 2009 is a competition to find the UK’s best new science communicators. They are looking for scientists, mathematicians and engineers with a real passion for their subject and a talent for sharing it and engaging the public. Successful contestants receive professional communication training, TV spots, opportunities to launch their science communication careers and prize money for all finalists. You can enter by submitting a video online, or by auditioning at one of the regional heats. Full details on how to apply, including entry criteria are available on their website.
Environment Agency Releases Annual Review
1,387 hectares of contaminated land brought back into agricultural use last year; 3,622 businesses helped in implementing Environmental Management Systems (EMS); and 91% of rivers met standard water quality levels. These are other facts are available in the Environment Agency's Annual Review of 2008.
Newsflash: Signing petition may actually influence Government
In the December edition of EnviroSci News we asked you to sign a petition protesting against the Scottish Government's plan to sign over 25% of Scotland's publically owned forests to private investors. Ministers have now scrapped the plans.
Articles
Three years out of ten
Mark Everard
 We live, as the Chinese proverb goes, in interesting times.
There seems to be an archetypal human need for apocalyptic tales, morphing through the centuries to suit cultural mores. Our history is littered with fearful characterisations from the horsemen of the apocalypse to the ‘shadow of the bomb’, the groundless demonisation of races or religions, the nuclear winter and global warming, Satan and Voldemort, and so on and on. read more...
A Tale of Two Values
Stephen Powell
Continuing our look at the current issue in sustainability, Stephen Powell, director of the Gaia Coach Institute, a leadership organisation based in Wales, argues the case for looking at sustainability as a tale of two values.
 Much of the literature on environmental challenges can be seen as a series of attempts to answer the question “What’s the scope of the task?” Some answers to this question are extremely daunting! Take the views of Professor Jared Diamond. In his book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive, Diamond says the task of creating sustainable societies has 12 components - they range from preserving natural habits to controlling population – and if we tackle only 11 of these issues and neglect just one we’re still in trouble. read more....
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