The GCC Weekly | Apr 26, 2022

The GCC WEEKLY | 26 April 2022

A Celebration of Interdisciplinary Graduate Research and Earth Day at the 7th Annual Interfaces of Global Change Symposium

Interfaces of Global Change PhD Fellows and Global Change Center faculty affiliates gathered on Earth Day, April 22, 2022, to exchange research and ideas at the annual interdisciplinary symposium event. Fellows spanning 10 different departments across campus gave platform and poster presentations; three of whom received recognition for "best platform presentations". The celebration concluded with a keynote talk by Dwight Bigler, titled "Mosaic for Earth: Weaving together music, literature, visual arts, and science to motivate global change".

To view photos from the big event, click here

Calendar Corner

-GCC/MAOP Global Change Scholars Program for Undergraduate Research

Application deadline extended to Saturday April 30

Upcoming IGC Fellows' PhD defense seminars:

-Friday April 29, Meredith Semel (BIOL)

-Thursday May 5, Kerry Gendreau (BIOL)

-GCC Faculty Seed Grant Opportunity

Notice of intent to apply by Friday May 20

Application deadline is Friday June 17

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Funding Opportunity: NSF Convergence Accelerator for 2022

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Convergence Accelerator program addresses national-scale societal challenges through use-inspired convergence research. Using a convergence approach and innovation processes like human-centered design, user discovery, as well as team science and integration of multidisciplinary research, the Convergence Accelerator program seeks to transition basic research and discovery into practice – to solve high-impact societal challenges aligned with specific research themes. Submission process support available, contact VT Office of Research and Innovation.

Informational Webinar Wednesday May 4,

1-3 PM ET & Thursday May 5, 3-5 PM ET

Army Research Laboratory Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) invites exceptional young researchers to apply for an ARL Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship. This fellowship provides recipients the opportunity to pursue independent research while working alongside some of the nation's best scientists and engineers. Applicants must display extraordinary ability in scientific research and show clear promise of becoming outstanding leaders. Successful candidates will have already tackled a major scientific or engineering problem or will have provided a new approach or insight, evidenced by a recognized impact in their field.

Application deadline Wednesday June 15

Workshop: Karst Resources of the NRV Region of VA

Planners, resource managers, administrators, elected officials, and citizens are invited to attend a regional karst workshop hosted by the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation, the Cave Conservancy of the Virginias, and the New River Valley Regional Commission.

Classroom Session: Tuesday May 3, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Optional Field Trip: Wednesday May 4

Held at the Pulaski County Innovation Center in Fairlawn, VA

Workshop: Eco-theater with Superhero Clubhouse

Art for Environmental Justice at VT will host the Superhero Clubhouse theater organization for a free, 3-day creative workshop. Beginning with a presentation of research and culminating in short performances made by participants, the workshop is an accessible introduction to Superhero Clubhouse's eco-theater pedagogy, offering tools to explore the complexities of climate crisis and envision alternative futures through personal and collective expression.

Monday May 2 - Wednesday May 4, from 4 to 8 PM

Haymarket Theater, Squires

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LECTURES & SEMINARS

Invasive species in freshwater ecosystems

Science, Policy and Management of Biological Invasions Discussion Group

Robert Creed

Appalachian State University

Wednesday April 27

10:00-11:30 AM ET

Full Schedule and more info here

Zoom link here

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Biodiversity and the evolution of Darwin's finches

EEB Virtual Seminar

Peter and Rosemary Grant

Princeton University

Thursday April 28

3:30-4:30 PM ET

Alumni Assembly Hall in the Holtzman Alumni Center

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Integrative perspectives of wild and captive sifaka conservation

IGC Fellow PhD Defense Seminar

Meredith Semel

Virginia Tech Biological Sciences

Friday April 29

9:00-10:00 AM ET

Contact Meredith Semel to join

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The importance of context for understanding the function of hormonal signals

VTLSS Seminar

Catherine Marler

University of Wisconsin

Friday April 29

12:00-1:00 PM ET

Zoom link here

This Friday! PhD Defense Seminar by IGC Fellow Meredith Semel

Join us in supporting IGC Fellow Meredith Semel, Biological Sciences, for her dissertation seminar titled "Integrative Perspectives of Wild and Captive Sifaka Conservation".

Friday, April 29, 9:00 AM ET

Contact Meredith Semel to join

Renowned Evolutionary Biologists Speak this Thursday as Part of the Ecology, Evolution & Biology (EEB) Seminar Series

Rosemary and Peter Grant are legendary evolutionary biologists who have spent over four decades studying Darwin’s finches on the Galápagos Islands. Their work has revealed how quickly evolution can happen, including the origin of new species and the mechanisms by which genetic diversity is maintained.

Rosemary and Peter Grant hold the position of Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. They are Fellows of the Royal Society and recipients of the Balzan Award and the Kyoto Prize, two of the most prestigious international prizes in science.

Thursday April 28, 3:30-4:30 PM ET

Alumni Assembly Hall at the Holtzman Alumni Center

VT Alumnae & Trailblazers Honored at Anniversary Event

Celebrating VT's Sesquicentennial and the 100th Anniversary of Women in Student Affairs and at the University, a panel discussion will feature prominent alumnae and trailblazers: Dr. Sandra Sullivan ‘66 (Virginia Tech’s first female-identified Vice President for Student Affairs), Dr. Barbara Pendergrass ’87 (Virginia Tech’s first Black female-identified Dean of Students), and Denise Shuster Greenfield ’88 (Virginia Tech’s first female-identified Regimental Commander in the Corps of Cadets). Panelists will reflect on how Student Affairs and Virginia Tech impacted their own lives and influenced their personal and professional paths.

Thursday April 28, 4:00-5:00 PM ET

Squires Commonwealth Ballroom

Reception to follow

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New Species of Millipede, Nannaria swiftae, Named by IGC Alumni Dr. Derek Hennen Receives National News Attention

Entomologist and Interfaces of Global Change Fellow '20, Dr. Derek Hennen, recently published a paper in the journal ZooKeys describing 17 new species of twisted-claw millipedes from Appalachia. An avowed "Swiftie" himself, Hennen named one of the species after musician Taylor Swift - Nannaria swiftae. The Twitter buzz helped the news make the headlines of Rolling Stone Magazine, NPR, HuffPost and others! Hennen told the HuffPost: “I’m a big fan of Taylor’s music, and I listened to her music a lot during graduate school. It brought me joy and helped me through some difficult times, so I wanted to show my appreciation. Since this new species is from Tennessee and she lived in Tennessee for a while, I thought it was a nice fit.”

Read the Twitter Thread

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