NWRC Weekly Highlights 4/28/2011

Weekly Highlights

MEMORANDUM

From: Gabrielle Boudreaux Bodin
Subject: Weekly Highlights, USGS National Wetlands Research Center, April 28, 2011

Departmental/Bureau News - Current

NWRC Research Ecologist Appointed to the U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Committee: USGS National Wetlands Research Center Research Ecologist Beth Middleton will serve on the U.S. Forest Service Shawnee Central Hardwood Climate Change Committee. (Beth Middleton; Lafayette, La.; 337-266-8618)
NWRC Geographers Provide Expertise to Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative: USGS National Wetlands Research Center geographers Larry Handley and Stephen Hartley participated in a geospatial workshop on April 26 – 27, 2011, hosted by the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GCPO LCC) in Little Rock, Ark. NWRC is integrally involved with the GCPO LCC including recently hiring a new landscape ecologist to support this long-term effort. John Tirpak of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with Handley and Hartley, presented demonstrations of the initial feature identification, habitat mapping, and prioritization tools being developed by USGS. (Scott Wilson, Lafayette, La.; 337-266-8644)
USGS Long-term Estuary Assessment Group Meet with NWRC Ecosystem Team for Technical Exchange: USGS National Wetlands Research Center Director Phil Turnipseed and Wetland and Forest Ecosystem Branch Chief Thomas Doyle hosted a technical exchange with Tulane University scientists from the Center for Bioenvironmental Research involved in the USGS Long-term Estuary Assessment Group (LEAG) program on April 28, 2011. Scientists from both organizations exchanged presentations on research activities in Louisiana’s estuaries, had a working lunch in the NWRC conference room, and discussed ideas for future collaboration in the LEAG program. (Thomas Doyle; Lafayette, La.; 337-266-8647)
NWRC Scientists Host USGS Research Group Meeting: USGS National Wetlands Research Center scientists Jim Grace and Karen McKee hosted a meeting of a USGS research group working on "Improving understanding and prediction of coastal response to sea-level rise and climate change." Other investigators participating include Glenn Guntenspergen, Don Cahoon, and Matt Kirwan of the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Julia Cherry from the University of Alabama, and Pat Megonigal from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. The planning meeting was held April 28 – 29, 2011. (Jim Grace; Lafayette, La.; 337-266-8632)
USGS Associate Director for Climate and Land Use Change To Visit NWRC: The USGS National Wetlands Research Center will host Matthew Larsen, USGS Associate Director for Climate and Land Use Change, on May 2 – 3, 2011. NWRC Deputy Director Matthew Andersen, USGS Chief Scientist for Global Change Research Virginia Burkett, and NWRC climate scientists Jim Grace, Karen McKee, Ken Krauss and others will review ongoing and upcoming climate-related work with Larsen. (Matthew Andersen; Lafayette, La.; 337-266-8501)
Friends Five-O Group To Tour NWRC: Thirty-two members of Natchez Community Hospital’s Friends Five-O Organization will tour the USGS National Wetlands Research Center in celebration of American Wetlands Month on May 3, 2011, to learn about the center’s research. The organization of 1300 members is for people 50 and older and is designed to encourage and promote the best in health through access to quality medical services, education, exciting activities and travel opportunity. (Gabrielle Bodin; Lafayette, La.; 337-266-8655)
NWRC Attends Rollout of the DOI Southeast Climate Science Center at LSU: USGS National Wetlands Research Center Deputy Director Matthew Andersen and Forest and Wetlands Ecosystem Branch Chief Tom Doyle will attend the Department of the Interior Southeast Climate Science Center (SE CSC) rollout at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., on May 4, 2011. The meeting is intended to provide an opportunity for partners to learn about the SE CSC, the work being planned, and how partners can participate or use the information that will be produced from this exciting new DOI opportunity. Registration, hotel, and a draft agenda are available at http://www.theglobalchangeforum.org/?p=636. Andersen and Doyle, along with USGS Chief Scientist for Global Change Research Virginia Burkett, and other USGS, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists from the Lafayette area will attend the CSC meeting. (Matthew Andersen; Lafayette, La.; 337-266-8501)
Judice Middle School To Visit NWRC: One hundred students from Judice Middle School (Judice, La.) will visit the USGS National Wetlands Research Center on May 4, 2011, in celebration of American Wetlands Month. The students will view a presentation about Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and tour the center to see scientists at work. They will also learn about training and job skills needed to perform scientific work. (Gabrielle Bodin; Lafayette, La.; 337-266-8655)

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