Ph D scholarship available in Climate change

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 2009/2010
The PhD Programme in Science and Management of Climate Change was established in 2007, through an agreement between the Universita’ Foscari in Venice (Unive) and the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (CMCC), a consortium comprising several Italian public and private Research institutions.
Objectives of the PhD

Unive and CMCC joined their efforts to launch a joint PhD Programme in order to provide the job market with experts with a broad, in-depth, scientific and socio-economic background, as well as with a sound and innovative research experience focusing on the dynamics of climate change and the methodologies and techniques for evaluation and management, in terms of mitigation and adaptation measures and policies.
The Programme is organised in two Streams:
Dynamic Climatology, at CMCC in Bologna
Climate change impact and management, at the Department of Economics of the University Ca Foscari in Venice
Twelve 5-credit courses are planned for the first academic year, in order to provide students with the state of the art of the scientific findings related to the two disciplinary streams. These also foresee common activities with the objective of offering tools to build a sound scientific, managerial and economic base for the general comprehension of the broader theme of climate change, with the opportunity for in depth studies of specific issues and for experiencing a multidisciplinary approach. The second year is aimed at providing the PhD candidates with an experience of research in a foreign institution, while the third year is mainly devoted to the preparation of the thesis.
Application information and forms

There are 6 places in total with 3 scholarships - funded by CMCC - available for the successful candidates.The deadline for the applications is 23rd June 2009. For further information please visit: http://venus.unive.it/phd-climate-change/
– PhD on Science and Management of Climate Change Secretariat
===Università Ca’ Foscari, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche Fondamenta San Giobbe, Cannaregio 873, 30123 Venezia

e-mail: phd-climate-change@unive.it

tel. +39 041 2349125 or +39 041 2711463 [NEW!] (Martina Gambaro)

tel. +39 041 2349126 (prof. Carlo Giupponi - Coordinator)

fax +39 041 2349176

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LIGNA, the Largest World Fair for Forestry and Forest Products !

Hanging wooden jackets ! Do you want to wear it ?

The wooden tie ! Lovely to see and wear however it is litle expensive, 30€ per tie !

Me Punk ! I am a role model for several youngsters . Plenty of youngs could be seen with this hair style on the streets.

Wooden chair in the model of two faced Cheetah !

Skidder !

Electronic Xray machine for the log. It diagnoses the external materials, rots and decays !

Saw machine!

Modern circular saw !

The interior decoration of a restaurant made of debarked logs !
These are some photos from the largest exhibition about wood and wooden technology in the world. It used to held regularly in every 2 years at Hannover Messe, Germany.

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Volunteer who served in Nepal gets Carter award

REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, May 25:

More than a decade ago, inspired by the example of Lillian Carter, the mother of the 39th president, Dr Catherine Taylor Foster joined the Peace Corps at age 59 and spent two years aiding the poor in Nepal. On May 13, the Orland Park resident stood in front of a crowd of more than 400 at the Carter Center in Atlanta and accepted an award named after the source of her inspiration from Jimmy Carter himself.Nathaniel Zimmer writes for southtownstar.com that Foster, a retired Army Reserve colonel with a doctorate in rehabilitative nursing, is 72.But she laughs when asked if she´s slowed down in the years since she got back from Nepal."Oh God, no," said Foster, who does volunteer work for the Hines Veterans Administration Hospital, Orland Grasslands Project, American Legion and Orland Park Public Library. "You should see my calendar for the next two weeks."A "stubborn, independent person" who freely admits "patience is not one of my virtues," Foster said she´s just not cut out for a leisurely retirement.If she has her way, she´ll be heading to Africa sometime soon with a group made up of former Peace Corps volunteers. On dozens of occasions throughout the years, she´s traveled oversees to assist teams of volunteer surgeons in Honduras, Romania, Mexico and India.Leprosy, snake bites, feverIn Nepal, Foster lived mainly in Bardiya district in the western part of the country, an impoverished agricultural area where there were "no cars, no phones, no nothing" and fields were plowed using water buffalo, she said.Foster worked in the district´s health center, venturing out into the countryside to provide supplies and advice in the company of a leprosy inspector.Sometimes reaching her destination involved a six-hour bicycle ride.There were outbreaks of measles and encephalitis, and in the monsoon season, she said, "the rain came down, and the cobras came up." Two people died from snake bites one day.People always ask her if she made a difference, Foster said.Her answer: "I know there are sick babies and children who lived through epidemics ... because I was in Nepal."She recalled one case, a toddler with a severe fever whom she was able to save with the simplest of techniques, a sponge bath. So primitive were the conditions in which she found herself that day that Foster could not find so much as a rag to wet, until the baby´s mother offered her a wool shawl. The garment was so dirty, Foster said, it instantly blackened the water into which she dipped it. ´Look up, not down´But as impoverished as the region was, it "had its own beauty." There were fields of rice, wheat and mustard. In the wind the rice plants "rippled like waves in an ocean."Traveling on a road between mustard fields, Foster would see "nothing but orange flowers" all around her.At night, the stars were undimmed by light or pollution."Look up, not down," was one piece of advice she gave the audience in Atlanta, which included her daughter and her son -- who lives in Orland Park with his wife and three children -- after receiving the Lillian Carter Award. The award is set aside for Peace Corps volunteers who, like Lillian Carter, serve after the age of 50 and continue volunteering once they return home. About one in 20 Peace Corps volunteers is older than 50.Foster has no reservations about recommending the Peace Corps to anyone facing retirement and searching for a new way to put their skills to use. "I´d say do it," she said.According to a citation on peacecorp.gov, Dr Foster became a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal (1996-1998) at the age of 59, building upon a lifetime of serving others. She´s a decorated Army nurse, a global humanitarian, foundation trustee, Fulbright Senior Scholar, and World Health Organization consultant."The greatest gift I could give to the Nepalese people was the benefit of my years of health and nursing experience," Dr Foster was quoted as saying. She worked alongside and educated local health staff and volunteers in treating and supporting patients, setting up clinics, and coordinating immunizations. "I became very attached to the country and the people and, in fact, returned to teach at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu," she said.Foster accepted an invitation to serve as a community health Volunteer after nearly 40 years in nursing and climbing to the status of colonel in the Army Nurse Corps, US Army Reserve.She has given numerous presentations about her Peace Corps experience and serves as a member of several Peace Corps and Nepali groups in the US. Dr Foster continues her goodwill at the age of 72, volunteering in her community of Orland Park, Illinois, and throughout the world. "Helping those in need has no age limits and no borders. Whether age 60 or 16, we have the power to make a difference, both near and far," she said.

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Sincere thanks to all of you !

All Dear Friends,
As I got an opportunity to be in famous Aula yesterday, I would like to share some photos to all of you as my token of for your continuous encouragement, appreciation and support.
Before, the event I didnot know anything about the system and events there, therefore even my wife also couldnot follow me for this grand celebration. I knew only about official handing over of academic certificate but not my selection for "One of the best student" among the students from all M.Sc. programme of Department of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology. The whole programme was in Deutsche, so I couldnot understnad most of the things, when they announced my name to come up and get the prize and bunches of flower, I was little surprised (I am saying it truly !). I couldnot take the photo of this memorable event (these few photos are taken from movie clips !) due to some understandable reason ! I hope, it would be posted later in the website of our faculty because they have taken these photos with their professional photographer !
Anyway, I am very thankful to all of you for your support throughout our stay in Goettingen. Lots of people living in Nepal, Goettingen and other parts of world would deserve thanks from the bottom of heart. Specially I would like to convey my deepest gratitude to my parents, Aasha, Netrajee, Sarita DD, Usha madam, Dev raj jee and all the previous and current members of our GöNeS. Also, my sincere thanks go to Birgitt Skailes, DAAD and Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation / Nepal. Thank you all ! Read more...

Beloved Friend Rajendra Gets Award for his Outstanding Performance

Perhaps, you already guess by seeing the topics. Today, Mr Rajendra KC along with other three students got awards and appreciation for the excellent and outstanding performance on MSc degree in Forest Science and Forest Ecology from University of Goettingen. This is the very pleasant moment for all members of Nepalese Society in Goettingen. Importantly, it is the matter of pride and prestige for every Nepali who are either in aboard or in Nepal. In Goettingen, Rajendra has specialized his Master degree in Forest Genetics.

He is very diligent, self-esteemed and profound Forest Officer in Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation in Nepal. He always demonstrated both academic and professional career with outstanding performances. In Nepal, he has already won a lot of prestigious medals and awards for securing very good scores and grades amongst the different campuses across the country. In addition, he has extra-ordinarily managed his significant time in extra-curricular activities. This 'Blog' is one of the exemplary and innovative efforts. With the help of this blog, we are enjoying an opportunity to share our feelings, experiences and set of activities to our family, friends and many more well wishers.

Please let me join your big hands to congratulate Rajendrajee, Asha Bhauju and childrens in this happiest moment and to wish every success on his professional and academic career. Read more...

Participation in graduate celebration of Forestry Faculty

The faculty of Forest Science and Forest Ecology is going to organise the "Batch ending" ceremony. This is the ceremony to honour and officially hand over the certificate to all the students who has passed their graduation. Prof. Dr. Ursula Kües (Dean) and Prof. Dr. Dohren Busch (Academic Dean) and the Minister of Environment of Lower Saxony Dr. Christian Eberl, would be chief guest to give their respective speeches.
The programme will start from 1:30 pm today (15 May) and followed by lots of musical events and lunch. The place for the programme is the Famous AULA, where generally Ph.D. graduation ceremony used to take place.
The detail about programme is as follows:
Venue : AULA, Wilhemplatz-1, Goettingen,
Time: 1:30 pm
Date: 15/05/2009 (Friday)

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The positive sides of Nepal among many challenges

Dr. Hari Datta Bhattarai, today provoked a presentation about the positive sides of Nepal. In the presentation, he covered different positive aspects of Nepal along with major progress made so far in the recent decades. He also presented many facts and figures on different sectors like road and infrastructure, education, health, economy, tourism etc. Despite the many problems and challenges, our country possesses diverse set of resources and committed people. If we could optimally used these resources and opportunities, definitely Nepal will be recognized as economically prosperous and peaceful country among the other countries in the world. The interaction cum presentaion program was moderated by Mr. Jitendra Mahat.

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Funny Street Artist !

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Presentation by Dr. Bhattarai on positive aspects of Nepal

Dr. Hari Datta Bhattarai, the member of GöNeS (Goettingeli Nepalese Society) in Germany is going to give a thought provoking presentation about positive aspects and enthusiastic progress in Nepal. During the present period of growing negativism, and blaming others for all the evils, everything is KHATTAM (the Worst), Dr. Bhattarai will presents lots of positive things and progress that occurs or has been occured only in Nepal in the world. He will cover the major positive things and progress that Nepal has made in recent years. His presentation will certainly give the morale boost and tremendous enthusiasm among Nepalese to work for the sake of motherland.

Dr. Bhattarai has completed his doctorate in biological chemistry. He has extensively visited many parts of world for his scientific research. He has worked in Antarctica and found a very rare constituents in a kind of mosses there. He has patented his finding "Ramelin" in his name. He owns many articles in international journal of high impact factor.

Recently, he was awarded Humbold fellowship to continue his research career in Goettingen. The humbold fellowship is one of the highly reputed fellowship in the world among young scientist.
He has been living in Goettingen with his betterhalf Dr. Babita Paudel, who is also the scientist of organic chemistry by profession.
We will invite all Nepalese and well wisher of Nepal to participate in the talk programme organised by GöNeS at following time and venue.
Venue: Albrecht Thaer Weg 24D/11
Time: exactly 15:00
Date: 09.05.2009 (Saturday)
Everybody is invited to join the presentation cum talk programme. The participation is offcourse free of cost. The participant coming out of Goettingen is offered free accomodation and light meal. Further information can be obtained from 05512019218 (rajendra).

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Gurkhas hail UK govt routing in House

KATHMANDU POST REPORT
KATHMANDU, April 30 - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's surprise defeat in the parliament on Wednesday comes as a pleasant breeze for Gurkha soldiers, who have been seeking the right to settle in Britain.
The Brown government for the first time suffered a huge defeat as a majority of lawmakers voted in favour of an opposition-introduced motion to give all the Gurkha veterans equal right to settle in Britain.
Krishna Kumar Rai, acting president of Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Association (GAESO), said, “It's GAESO's victory. We would like to extend our thanks to the British people, the lawmakers who voted on our behalf and the media for their support.”
According to the British Home Office's new policy, no more than 4,300 ex-Gurkhas were to have the right to settle in Britain and had claimed it would benefit 10,000 Gurkhas with their spouse and children though the High Court had, on September 2008, ruled that all Gurkha soldiers should be given equal right to settle in Britain.
“The House of Commons voted in favour of a motion to allow equal rights of residency in Britain for all Gurkhas. It is a humiliating defeat for the British government with regards to his policy on Gurkha veterans. It puts more pressure on the government to give further concessions to veterans,” Alex McPherson, a British solicitor for GAESO, told the Post.
Urging the British government to extend its debt of honour to all Gurkhas, McPherson said, “If someone is prepared to die for Britain, they deserve the right to live in Britain. The vote in the British parliament is a major victory for the Gurkhas.”
Rai added that the new policy unveiled on Friday had not only humiliated the court but also all the Gurkhas who had put their lives in stake to serve the British. “The Brown government was bound to face such a humiliating fate in the parliament for not upholding the court decision and aspirations of thousands of Gurkha soldiers.”
In the motion, which was introduced by the opposition Liberal Democrats to give rights to all Gurkhas to settle in Britain, 267 lawmakers had voted for the motion while 246 voted against. Surprisingly, 27 MPs from Brown's Labor party voted in favor of the motion.
Posted on: 2009-04-30 19:52:12 (Server Time) Read more...