Forest Stewardship Online Modules
WSU Extension has launched a suite of online classes for small forest landowners in Washington. These online classes utilize the Adobe Connect platform that Extension has been working with for several years now via the Technology to Teach program. There are currently 21 different classes to choose from, with more in the works. The online classes were developed by WSU Extension faculty from several different disciplines, along with specialists from the Washington Department of Natural Resources and other partnering agencies. Topics include tree identification, silviculture, forest health, managing noxious weeds, insects and diseases, and understanding regulations, among many others.
This new online initiative offers landowners access to WSU Extension forestry workshops at any time and from anywhere, which greatly expands our reach in the community. The classes are available at http://bit.ly/yfdwE4. Modules may be purchased individually or in packages. Please contact Kevin Zobrist if you have any questions.
Kudos
Audra Weber (neé Durfey), a graduate of the Agricultural Technology and Production Management program, has been promoted to a lead position with John Deere. Audra has been with John Deere since 2005. She started as an intern in Reno, Nevada and has rapidly worked her way up the ladder as a trainer and supervisor. Audra, her husband Ryan and their daughter Keira will be calling Thibodaux, La. home as Audra takes on the implementation of order fulfillment strategy for John Deere.
The team of WSU economists who wrote the USDA/Department of Transportation Study of Rural Transportation Issues have won a Superior Service Award from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Ken Casavant, director of the Freight Policy Transportation Institute, was the study leader for Washington State University. He was lead author on five of the fifteen chapters and co-author on four more. Other members and chapter authors of the award-winning WSU team were Vicki McCracken, Eric Jessup, and Hayk Khachatryan.
Rochelle Holm, a Ph.D. student in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences at WSU Tri-Cities, was recently awarded the David S. Miller Young Scientist Scholarship at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco. Holm’s research is based on a survey of water quality in northern Malawi and human health risk. Her research results will be presented in journal articles but the most significant presentation of water quality results will be effective education of village water committees for the protection of human health and conservation of groundwater resources.
Dr. Barry Moore, limnologist and associate professor of the Department of Natural Resource Sciences, was honored with the Technical Merit Successful Projects Award from the National Association of Lakes Management Society (NALMS), which presented it to him at the yearly NALMS conference. In accepting the award, Dr. Moore spoke about how he credits the success of the lake restoration work to the team efforts of the many graduate students he has worked with throughout the years, as well as the Newman Lake community members. Working closely with the Newman Lake community, Dr. Moore has provided productive management advice and facilitated cost effective and efficient restoration activities, which have dramatically improved Newman Lake water quality. Dr. Moore has been instrumental in implementing restoration programs for Newman Lake since the 1980’s. He was active in the implementation and installation of the hypolimnetic oxygenation system and the microfloc alum system currently being used to improve water quality there, and has also been proactive in working with the community during the research process as he believes community involvement is the key to success for these projects. Dr. Moore also developed and continues work on a long-term monitoring plan to see how these systems impact the lake throughout the years. Newman Lake has made great improvements in the last 20 years thanks to his continued dedication to the restoration projects.
Three of the four 2011-12 Sahlin Award winners are CAHNRS faculty members. Congratulations to Lori M. Carris (plant pathology), who won for Excellence of Instruction; Robert Rosenman (economics), who won for Excellence in Leadership; and Gary Grove (plant pathology; WSU Extension), who won for Excellence in Outreach and Engagement. Learn more about all four winners at http://bit.ly/y1cmHb. The awards will be presented March 30 at Showcase 2012, WSU’s annual celebration of excellence. Learn more about Showcase at http://showcase.wsu.edu/.
Dr. Joe Poovaiah, regents professor in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, has been selected to deliver this year’s Distinguished Faculty Address as part of the Academic Showcase on March 30. This event celebrates the achievements of WSU faculty, staff, emeriti and students. His presentation is set for 2 p.m. in Todd Hall 276. A reception follows after the presentation.
Recent News Releases
02/08 WSU President Celebrates $7.4 Million Commitment with Wine Grape Growers
02/08 Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Altria Invest in WSU Wine Science
02/06 2011 Weather Ran Late, Blew Hot and Cold
02/02 WSU Study Examines Forest Fire Suppression Effects on Bighorn Sheep Habitat
01/30 WSU Plant Pathology Professor to Lead Center for Clean Plants
01/30 WSU Extension Launches Irrigated Agriculture Information Service
01/27 Face in the Mirror: WSU Professor to Study Body Image Issues for Post-Bariatric Surgery Patients
All our news releases are archived at http://cahnrsnews.wsu.edu/news-archive/.
New in CAHNRS e-Newsletters
The Feb. issue of Green Times includes articles on a soil microbiology project led by Ann-Marie Fortuna in collaboration with Craig Cogger and Doug Collins; the new irrigation info system; an alumni profile of Heath and Tish Barnes; Ken Eastwell’s appointment as director of the Clean Plant Center of the Northwest, plus an events calendar. http://bit.ly/xMGDn2 Items for the events calendar, as well as story ideas, should be sent to the editor at bcclark@wsu.edu.
The Feb. 1 issue of On Solid Ground includes stories on metabolic engineering in aid of the U.S. mint industry and featuring the work of IBC scientist Mark Lange; the new DNA sequencer; and the new irrigation information system. http://bit.ly/zs3f8c