Aug.
Events
16th- 22nd
World Water Week, Stockholm, Sweden
31st- 4th
ESERA 2009 Conference, Istanbul, Turkey
Sept.
Events
1st- 5th
2nd European Congress of Conservation Biology, Prague, Czech Rep.
3rd- 5th
CEST2009 - Environmental Science & Technology, Chania, Greece
7th- 11th
Renewable Energy in the Urban Environment, Berlin, Germany
9th- 13th
Europarc 2009, Kosterhavet, Sweden
10th- 11th
Education for Sustainable Development: Graduates as Global Citizens, Bournemouth
15th- 17th
All Our Futures 2: Getting real - investing in our future, Plymouth
15th- 17th
Recycling & Waste Management Exhibition (RWM) 2009, Birmingham
16th- 17th
The Future of Freshwaters, Warwick
21st- 22nd
Energy & Environment: Project Financing Workshop, Brokerage & Networking, St Julians Malta
21st- 25th
Solar Electricity Installation Course - Off-Grid Applications, Berlin, Germany
21st- 23rd
Environmental Health Risk 2009, New Forest, UK
23rd
Biomass & Air Quality: Measuring the Impacts, London, 9.30
24th
NO2: Are We Understanding the Problem? London
28th- 30th
Regional Airports Seminar 2009, New Forest
30th
Sustainable Procurement 2009, London
30th
EPUK South West Division, Air Quality Management, Bristol
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For further
details on
these &
other events,
see the
events page
of the IES
website. |
July 2009
IES News
 Latest Journal
The July edition of the Environmental Scientist, entitled 'The uptake of emerging science into strategic planning' should have arrived through the post to all professional members' this week. Student and Affiliate members will received an email with a link to an electronic copy next week. The journal is a joint publication by the IES, Environment Agency and SAMI Consulting and is essential reading for all environmental professionals thinking about long-term impacts.
Office Closing Times
The IES office will be closed from 30th July- 3rd August and 11th- 17th August due to staff annual leave. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Website Poll
Last month's website poll, in anticipation of our Olympics journal later in the year, asked "London is the latest host city to label its Olympics as 'green', but is the concept of a green Olympics an oxymoron'?" A resounding 74% of the 152 votes cast felt that it was. This month, in the run up to Copenhagen Climate talks the IES asks visitors to its website "Should the international community compensate developing countries for preserving their forests?" To vote, visit the IES homepage.
One in, one out
We would like to welcome Andrew Barrett-Mold as the most recent graduate to join the IES internship scheme. We also say farewell to Charlotte Cook who is starting a job at Exeter University researching the potential of algae as a biofuel. We wish her all the best for the future.
ES Links
Government Reveals Outline for Emission Reduction
This month the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) released two ambitious white papers; 'The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan,' which outlines how the UK will meet targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 34% on 1990 levels; and 'The UK Renewable Energy Strategy 2009,' which indicates how greener energy sources are to be promoted. The 34% cut in emissions was announced in the budget this year and the DECC has indicated that a 21% cut on 1990 emissions has already been achieved. Plans to reach the 34% target by 2020 include 1.2 million people in green jobs and 40% of energy from low carbon sources; that is renewable, nuclear and ‘clean’ coal.
Greater Food Security for a More Sustainable Economy
In the 31st Annual Campden Lecture, Jonathon Porrit points out that even the 34% reduction by 2020 may be inadequate in the long run. The title of the lecture was ‘Sustainability through food security’ and in it he argues for a greater usage of renewable energy on farms to increase the calorie efficiency and the re-localisation of food production to the UK, which would boost local economies and generate a more sustainable national food economy and greater food security.
Universities under Pressure to Cut Carbon
From 2011 universities’ funding may be partly linked to how they reduce their carbon emissions. Universities are being encouraged to reduce their emissions in targets that will be published this month. These targets may be similar to government goals of achieving an 80% reduction on 1990 levels by 2050. Iain Patton, executive director of the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges said; “If students leave with a degree but no grasp of the social, ethical and environmental context into which they will have to live and work, have we not failed them?” Meanwhile, this month People and Planet have released their Green League for 2009, which is published in the Times Higher Education Supplement.
Wetlands Survey Launched
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) has launched a survey to determine people's access to ponds and wetlands in their area; places like gardens, parks and schools. The survey will also help the trust to find out what people think about wetlands and how they manage water in their gardens. The results will be used to create new wetlands and manage current ones so that people can get the most out of them. To take part in the survey look here and there’s a £1000 cash prize for the best garden wildlife pond.
GEES Student Essay Competition 2009
This year the GEES Student Essay Competition asked the question “Why Study Geography, Earth or Environmental Sciences?” The GEES Subject Centre received a widespread selection of contributions from a range of different institutions from across the UK. The winning essay and four other excellent contributions are available for download from their website.
Shell Springboard
Small businesses with big ideas to tackle climate change are being urged to compete for awards of up to £40,000 each, as the Shell Springboard programme opens for its fifth year. Shell Springboard offers a financial boost for UK businesses with compelling ideas for tackling climate change. These must be ideas which: will lead to greenhouse gas reductions; are commercially viable; and are innovative. £320,000 is on offer in awards of £20,000 or £40,000. The deadline for 2009 entries is 6th November 2009.
Articles
John Fitzgerald - Bad Hare Days
Reviewed by Charlotte Cook
 Bad Hare Days is the autobiographical account of John Fitzgerald’s life as an anti-hare-coursing campaigner and whilst I am sympathetic to this cause, I did not enjoy reading this book.
It is safe to say that the book is successful in persuading the reader to feel revulsion at the whole set-up of hare-coursing in Ireland during the time period in which the book is set- the 1980s. There are scenes of young men being taught to dispatch hares, described in graphic detail that caused my head to swim, “Steeling himself, he gritted his teeth and swung the animal, smashing it against the wall of the church ruin. I heard a dull thud, followed by a loud cry that rose to a higher pitch as the boy back away from the still live hare that lay on the ground before him.” The cry that Fitzgerald refers to is a cry of distress from the hare, which he describes several times during the book. read more... |
