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The Director's Report, October 2007

School of Natural Resources
From Earth to Sky and Everything in Between

Introduction
by Donald A. Wilhite

September is always a busy month as the new academic year gets into full swing. For me, it has been another interesting and exciting month learning the new job and interacting with faculty, staff, students, and SNR’s stakeholders. The range of opportunities available to SNR to expand its programs and activities seem limitless. When I gave my presentation on SNR goals during the August combined faculty/staff meeting I used the title “Defining SNR’s Goals: To Infinity and Beyond” for good reason. SNR has a wealth of talented faculty, staff, and students and there are so many opportunities for the expansion of our teaching, research, and outreach programs.

Building a Relationship with Dean David Manderscheid

In early September, I met with Dean David Manderscheid, the new Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. David began his new position on August 1, so we have something in common. He came to the University of Nebraska from the University of Iowa where he was Chair of the Department of Mathematics. David and I had an excellent discussion and agreed on all points regarding the need for greater cooperation and collaboration between SNR and Arts & Sciences. A number of collaborative opportunities have already been identified. It would be premature to report on discussions at this point, but when more information is available, I will be discussing these opportunities with you. David will be attending our October faculty meeting to get better acquainted with SNR faculty and programs. One immediate success is the transfer of the home department for two Meteorology courses to SNR and the transfer of one Applied Climate Science course in SNR to Geosciences. These recommended actions are now before the CASNR and A&S Curriculum Committees for approval. I expect to see an increased level of integration between SNR’s Applied Climate Science Program and the Meteorology and Climatology Program in Geosciences over the next year.

Appointed to the Board on Natural Resources, NASULGC

Dr. John Owens, NU Vice President and IANR Harlan Vice Chancellor, has appointed me to be the Institutional Representative to the Board on Natural Resources, National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. I will be attending their annual meeting in New York City in mid-November and look forward to becoming involved in the activities of the Board and representing both UNL and the School of Natural Resources.

Corporacion Para Investigaciones Biologicas (CIB) in Medellin, Colombia

In September I mentioned the potential development of a collaborative program between IANR and the Corporacion Para Investigaciones Biologicas (CIB) in Medellin, Colombia. I have had four SNR faculty volunteer to participate in this scientific exchange, plus a faculty member in Entomology. The profiles for these faculty members were submitted to CIB last week by Dr. Susan Fritz, IANR Associate Vice-Chancellor. The expectation is that three faculty from this list will visit CIB in late October or early November. Dr. Gary L. Cunningham, Dean of the Agricultural Research Division, or Z.B. Mayo, Associate Dean, will accompany this group to Medellin to explore opportunities for scientific collaboration. Travel support will be provided by the Agricultural Research Division.

Interactions with Federal Agencies in Washington, D.C.

In September, I travelled to Washington, D.C. to explore collaborative opportunities between SNR and the Department of Interior (DOI), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Dr. Prem Paul, UNL Vice-Chancellor for Research, Dr. Michael J. Hayes, Director of the National Drought Mitigation Center, and I met with officials from DOI and NOAA to discuss their research priorities and how these intersected with UNL and SNR’s areas of expertise. Meetings were also arranged by Doug Sheldon (an international consultant working with Dr. Paul) with USAID for Mike Hayes and I to discuss how the expertise and experiences of the National Drought Mitigation Center and SNR could assist various programs within the agency. We met with four program areas within USAID, including the Africa Bureau, Famine Early Warning System, and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. With the assistance of Dr. Paul’s office, we will continue to nurture these relationships in the months ahead with the goal of establishing more international opportunities for SNR faculty and staff.

Potential Partnership with USGS

Dr. Prem Paul will be hosting a workshop with the U.S. Geological Survey, Partnerships in Climate Change Science: A Dynamic Systems Approach. To be held October 25 in Hardin Hall, the workshop has grown out of a visit to USGS last summer by Dr. Paul to discuss opportunities for collaboration between UNL and USGS. The final details are currently being worked out and an announcement will be forthcoming. SNR faculty and staff are invited to attend. The agenda will be available shortly.

SNR Grant Proposals Submitted and Awarded

SNR faculty and staff are continuing to aggressively pursue external funding for our research, outreach, and teaching programs. During September, grant proposals totaling more than $5.7 million were submitted to various federal and other agencies. SNR also received awards during September totaling nearly $500,000. Keep up the good work and let me know if the SNR Administrative Team can assist you in any way. Also, please take advantage of the proposal preparation services offered through the Office of Sponsored Programs in the Office of Research. That group is a real asset and can provide many services to help you be successful in the proposal submission process.

Strategy Planning and the Integration Advisory Team

In late September we had the first meeting of SNR’s Integration Advisory Team (IAT). The purpose of this first meeting was primarily organizational. In preparation for this meeting, I identified 11 current and emerging research issues that were relevant to SNR’s program areas. Members of IAT have been asked to edit, augment, or delete issues included in this list for our next meeting. We also decided to merge this strategic planning and integration activity with the planning activities associated with SNR’s five-year review. September 2009 is the date for our next review so the IAT discussions are quite timely as part of the preparation process for the review. The IAT intends to meet every two or three weeks over the next several months. As our work progresses, we will discuss specific ideas with faculty, staff, and students. We will also be organizing listening sessions and retreats as part of our planning calendar.

SNR Graduate Students Honored

Four SNR graduate students were honored at a special luncheon to recognize recipients of fellowships for the 2007-2008 academic year. Ty Matthews received the Widaman Trust Distinguished Graduate Assistant Award. Ty is co-advised by Drs. Larkin Powell and Andrew Tyre. Max Post van der Burg and Justin Hoffman received the Milton E. Mohr Fellowship. Max is advised by Dr. Andrew Tyre. Justin is advised by Dr. Patricia Freeman. Zhaoning Liang received the Shear-Miles Fellowship. Zhaoning is advised by Dr. Steve Hu. Congratulations to all of these recipients. SNR has many excellent graduate students, and it benefits us to take time to honor their accomplishments by nominating them for future fellowship awards. In 2008, the SNR administrative team will make an increased effort to nominate more students and we will assist SNR faculty in the nomination process.

SNR Lectures Increase Visibility

I’d like to remind everyone of upcoming lectures that are a great way to introduce the Lincoln community to what we do at the School of Natural Resources. Lectures are in the Hardin Hall Auditorium. Please consider attending and inviting family, friends and neighbors (see "Upcoming Events" for complete listing of SNR lectures).

In This Issue

Introduction

Building a Relationship with Dean David Mandersheid

Appointed to the Board on Natural Resources, NASULGC

Corporacion Para Investigaciones Biologicas (CIB) in Medellin, Colombia

Interactions with Federal Agencies in Washington, D.C.

Potential Partnership with USGS

SNR Grant Proposals Submitted and Awarded

Strategy Planning and the Integration Advisory Team

SNR Graduate Students Honored

SNR Lectures Increase Visibility

Upcoming Events

Oct. 3, 3-4 p.m.
"Monitor for Chronic Wasting Disease: Deer Movements, Density, and Potential Transmission at Wind Cave NP," Jonathan Jenks, South Dakota State University

Oct. 10, 3-4 p.m.
"Weathering Processes and Climate Different, but Convex Waterfall Morphology Similar in Basalt (Kauai) and Siltstone (Niobrara Tributaries, Nebraska)," Darryll Pederson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Oct. 12, 8:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
Water Colloquium

Oct. 16, 7-8 p.m.
Robert Kaul, author, will speak about his new book, The Flora of Nebraska.

Oct. 17, 3-4 p.m.
"Challenges in Development of Water Monitoring Plans for the National Park Service: Examples from the Northern Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network," Nels Troelstrup, South Dakota State University

Oct. 23, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
SNR Research Colloquium

Nov. 6, 7 p.m.
Dr. David A. Wedin and Dr. James B. Swinehart, “Stability of Nebraska’s Sand Hills – Insights from Ecology and Geology.”

See SNR October 2007 calendar.

Director's Upcoming Travel

Oct. 29-Nov. 1
Budapest, Hungary
Attending the European Regional Emergency Management and Response Conference. Sponsored by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

Nov. 12-15
New York
Representing SNR and UNL at the annual meeting of the Board on Natural Resources, National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.