The Chicago area, despite its urban character, is home to significant biodiversity. Situated at the intersection of the northern boreal forest, prairie, savanna, and dune environments, Chicago is a crossroads for more than just our own species. Here the great eastern tallgrass prairies met oak-hickory woodlands as well as wetlands, savannas, swamps, and other associations, forming a complex mosaic of environments. The long history of human habitation in this region has significantly transformed local environments, but not all pre-contact environments have vanished and local efforts at restoration and conservation have begun to make a significant difference in the extent and health of indigenous plants and animals. Our logo is derived from the Hickory (Carya); local oak-hickory forests are dominated by Shagbark Hickory (C. ovata) and Bitternut Hickory (C. cordiformis).Dr. Sabina Shaikh seeks a research assistant for an economic valuation project to be conducted in conjunction with Dr. Justin Borevitz's research on prairie grass lands. The research is intended to measure and estimate the economic value of myriad ecological services provided by prairie grass ecosystems, including bio-energy production, carbon sequestration, water retention/purification, open space and habitat restoration. The project will explore economic models for outdoor recreation, conservation, energy markets and land and property valuation.
The student responsibilities will include comprehensive searches of economic databases, including energy forecasts, conservation bank transactions and carbon trading markets, synthesis of economic research and results, and economic and econometric analysis. Results will be presented in a workshop and as a paper.
This opportunity is open to Environmental Studies majors and minors. Qualified students will have taken environmental economics, either ENST 218 or ECON 265. Additional economics courses and prairie ecosystems (ENST 131) are also strongly preferred. The student should have significant experience with data and literature searches, including the use of Econ Lit, as well as a solid working understanding of statistics and data analysis.
Students interested in pursuing BA research on this or related topics are encouraged to apply.
This project may fulfill the Environmental Studies internship requirement.
Please submit resume, transcript and letter of interest to:
Dean Clason, Program Administrator
Program on the Global Environment
University of Chicago
Pick 118
5828 S. University Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-1673
clason@uchicago.edu
The application deadline for the PGE Internship Grant is April 6. Awards will be announced April 28th.
The US Department of Energy states that "if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGYSTAR(Fluorescent) qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars."
Although the fraction of light bulb sales attributed to fluorescent light bulbs has increased from less than 1% in2001 to over 20% in 2007, the adoption rate in the U.S. lags behind other countries. We are currently working on a research project to understand why consumers refrain from adopting fluorescent light bulbs and are looking for an undergraduate that majors or minors in Environmental Studies to help. The qualified student would gain valuable research experience. An ideal candidate would also have an interest in economics, have experience in a leadership role, and be available throughout the summer.
This opportunity may fulfill the Environmental Studies internship requirement.
Please contact David Herberich (David.Herberich@chicagobooth.edu) for more information.
