blog posts

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  NRES and ACES launches Coursera course on wetlands

  Sep 12, 2024 2:15 pm42 views

  NRES and ACES has launched the first of six Coursera courses on wetlands! Explore the materials for free or earn the Coursera credential for $49. Students wanting to earn academic credit can enroll in NRES 417, which begins October 21st. If they then complete NRES 517 (January-March 2025) and NRES 527 (March-May 2025), they will earn a University of Illinois certificate in Wetland Science and Conservation. These academic credit courses CAN count toward the M.S. in NRES.

• USDA NRCS 12 Student Trainee Positions (beginning summer 2024), (various locations; due Feb. 20)

  Feb 7, 2024 9:45 am2 views

  The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced 12 new student trainee positions in various locations around the U.S. These positions are available under the Pathways Student Internship Authority, which provides paid work opportunities in federal agencies while in school (including grduate students) and the possibility for conversion to a full-time, permanent employee after graduation. 

• Online Info Session with Forest Service

  Aug 31, 2023 10:30 am7 views

  USDA Forest Service Recruiter Visit

  Monday, September 25th
  12:00-1:30 pm
  Log into Zoom with your Illinois email
  Meeting ID: 878 7584 4240    Password: 691230

  
  

• Summer Courses Starting June 12th!

  Jun 2, 2023 2:00 pm14 views

  Three summer courses begin June 12th!

  • NRES 409 Fishery Ecology and Conservation 
  • NRES 499 Principles of Applied Environmental Science
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  Wild Things on February 25th

  Feb 16, 2023 5:00 pm2 views

  If you are at Wild Things on Saturday, February 25th, stop by the NRES booth. We'd love to see you!

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (summer) 2023 Directorate Fellows Program (remote or in person; due Jan. 13)

  Jan 5, 2023 4:00 pm11 views

  Not only is this program a great way for undergraduate and graduate students to "try on" federal service through a paid internship, it comes with a direct hire benefit. Once students complete their degree program, they are eligible for direct conversion to a permanent federal position. 

  The variety of projects is pretty spectacular: from grizzly bear education/outreach to monitoring herbicide effects on threatened butterflies to integrating traditional ecological knowledge in developing habitat restoration models to mapping and developing resources related to post-Civil War African American tenant farming on a National Wildlife Refuge.

• Knauss Fellowship Opportunity Now Open

  Nov 14, 2022 7:15 pm2 views

  The 2024 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship application is now open. The fellowship provides a one-year, paid experience for highly qualified early career professionals to work on issues related to coastal, marine and Great Lakes science and policy in offices within the executive or legislative branch of government in Washington, D.C. The application deadline is February 16, 2023. 

• Chicago Wilderness Alliance Congress November 3rd

  Oct 25, 2022 9:15 am7 views

  It's time to bring together colleagues from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin to celebrate conservation in all its forms!  Join the excitement as Chicago Wilderness Alliance partners launch a Green Vision to help our region ensure there are healthy lands, waters, people, and planet so we can all thrive.  Panels and presentations will touch on community engagement, ecological restoration, climate equity, science communications, conservation career development, and more. There will be plenty of space for networking, learning, and enjoying each other's company in person!  The Congress 2022 Keynote speaker is Debra Shore, regional administrator for U.S. EPA Region 5.

  Congress will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2022, from 1:00 pm to 6:30 pm CST at the UIC Forum Pavilion 725 W. Roosevelt Road,  Chicago, IL.  This is an in-person event.

  Ticket are $25 and include access to all events plus snacks and beverages.  Chicago Wilderness Alliance offers a limited number of no-questions-asked scholarships for people who face a challenge in attending the Congress because of the registration fee.  The scholarship application form can be found on the website.

  Learn more including the full schedule by visiting the Congress 2022 Website.   

• Ready to take the Final Written Exam?

  Sep 23, 2022 1:00 pm5 views

  If you have completed your core area courses, you are eligible to take the Written Final Examination required for graduating with the NRES Non-Thesis M.S. The next opportunity to submit will be January, but you must register. Exam information will be distributed October 3, 2022, and the deadline for submitting your complete exam is January 3, 2023. It is important to register immediately (and should take less than two minutes) to ensure you receive the exam information on October 3rd. The link to registration is https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1203697201.

• Still Room in Summer Field Course

  May 11, 2022 8:00 am55 views

  Amazing professional development opportunity, especially for students with limited field experience!

  • Interact with leading land managers, watershed stewards, and restoration ecologists in Northeast Illinois
  • Gain hands on experience conducting numerous environmental quality assessments
  • Build your professional network

• Capstone Presentation by Joe Krischon: Effects of Mycorrhizal Inoculations on Rare Prairie Plant Establishment

  Apr 13, 2022 12:15 am46 views

  Capstone Presentation by Joe Krischon

  Effects of Mycorrhizal Inoculations on Rare Prairie Plant Establishment

  Advisors: Dr. Brenda Molano-Flores, Dr. Anthony Yannarell, and Piper Hodson

  April 20, 2022,  3:00 pm CT

  Click through for Zoom information

• Grant Writing Panel April 12th at 3pm

  Apr 8, 2022 4:15 pm1 views

  Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is hosting a virtual panel on grant writing on Tuesday, April 12th at 3:00 pm (central). Click through for more information and registration link.

• Reminder Capstone Presentation Today at 1:00 pm

  Apr 8, 2022 11:15 am5 views

  Capstone Oral Presentation by Melissa Clelland

  Personality and values: How do they influence environmental concern in Alaska

  Advisors: Dr. Carena van Riper, Dr. Adam Landon, Dr. Riley Andrade, and Piper Hodson

  April 8, 2022, 1:00 PM CST

  Click through for Zoom information.

• Capstone Presentation by Remic Ensweiler: College of DuPage Natural Areas Land Management Plan

  Apr 4, 2022 10:45 am71 views

  Capstone Presentation by Remic Ensweiler

  College of DuPage Natural Areas Land Management Plan

  Advisors: Dr. Greg Spyreas, Dr. David Zaya, and Piper Hodson

  April 22, 2022, 2:00 PM CST

  Click through for Zoom information.

• Capstone Presentation by Melissa Clelland: Personality and values: How do they influence environmental concern in Alaska

  Apr 4, 2022 8:30 am6 views

  Capstone Oral Presentation by Melissa Clelland

  Personality and values: How do they influence environmental concern in Alaska

  Advisors: Dr. Carena van Riper, Dr. Adam Landon, Dr. Riley Andrade, and Piper Hodson

  April 8, 2022, 1:00 PM CST

  Click through for Zoom information.

• Karen Kase selected President of the APWA Fox Valley Branch

  Jan 13, 2022 1:45 pm2 views

  Karen Kase, who earned her M.S. in NRES through the online program in 2014, was recently name President of the Fox Valley Branch of the American Public Works Association. Karen is Natural Resource Manager for Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc (HLR), "an employee-owned corporation and a leading provider of quality transportation engineering, environmental, and surveying services." Read More

• Two Job Postings of Interest

  Dec 6, 2021 2:30 pm38 views

  Positions at US EPA (closes December 8th) and University of Illinois Extension (closes January 16th) posted recently. Read the rest of this article for details.

• Water and Environment: Fundamental Aspects of Water Quality, Quantity and Contaminants

  Nov 30, 2021 3:15 pm2 views

  This seminar, sponsored by the Illinois Mexican & Mexican-American Students Initiative, is a Zoom meeting December 9th from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. It will include speakers and breakout rooms to engage in discussion on water and the environment; the schedule of speakers is available here. Register at https://illinois.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYlf-6qqDspEtd1b61PTPhgbMUWwf5BbDJk. 

• Spring 2022 Online Courses Available for Enrollment

  Nov 18, 2021 10:45 pm57 views

  Classes begin January 18th! Please share with anyone you think might be interested.

• Capstone Presentation by Matthew Drabik: Effects of Wastewater Effluent on Macroinvertebrate Communities

  Aug 17, 2021 9:00 am21 views

  Effects of Wastewater Effluent on Macroinvertebrate Communities

  Matthew Drabik

  Friday, August 27, 2021
  3:00 pm Central Time

  Join Zoom Meeting
  https://illinois.zoom.us/j/86579890904?pwd=bjVlM2FiYkh6SjJDalJPc002S1kzUT09

  Meeting ID: 865 7989 0904
  Password: 328073

  To call in for audio, find your local number: https://illinois.zoom.us/u/kemcj1sSRx

  You must be logged into your Zoom account (the standard free account) to access this session.

• Capstone Presentation by Soledad Maristany: Evaluation of Virtual Environmental Education Programs at the Forest Preserves of Cook County

  Jul 20, 2021 9:30 pm87 views

  Evaluation of Virtual Environmental Education Programs at the Forest Preserves of Cook County

  Soledad Maristany

  Friday, July 23, 2021
  3:00 pm Central Time

  Join Zoom Meeting
  https://illinois.zoom.us/j/82194554464?pwd=cHVHOENOcGNseGlLUWNFdmtic0QvUT09

  Meeting ID: 821 9455 4464
  Password: NRESonline

  You must be logged into your Zoom account (the standard free account) to access this session.

• Capstone Presentation by Connie Allard: Recommendations for enhancing volunteer retention for the Missouri Stream Team

  Jul 7, 2021 9:00 am23 views

  Recommendations for enhancing volunteer retention for the Missouri Stream TeamConnie AllardWednesday, July 14, 20211:00 pm Central TimeJoin Zoom Meeting
  https://illinois.zoom.us/j/88423578269?pwd=cGxKblpENXd6UHFGVWVoWEQrWnhNUT09

  Meeting ID: 884 2357 8269
  Password: NRESonline

  You must be logged into your Zoom account (the standard free account) to access this session.

• Capstone Presentation by Francis Paulino: Mapping biodiversity conservation finance in Zambia to determine if spatial patterns in funding align with the country’s biodiversity priorities and conservation needs

  Apr 16, 2021 9:00 am13 views

  Mapping biodiversity conservation finance in Zambia to determine if spatial patterns in funding align with the country’s biodiversity priorities and conservation needsFrancis PaulinoMonday, April 19, 20211:00 pm Central TimeJoin Zoom Meetinghttps://illinois.zoom.us/j/83558066981?pwd=ZERPUCtZY1hORFFjb3lWc0ZaSjRXQT09Meeting ID: 835 5806 6981Password: NRESonline
  You must be logged into your Zoom account (the standard free account) to access this session.

• Capstone Presentation by Thomas Ward: Evaluating Tree Risk Assessment Protocols in a Medium-Sized City

  Apr 16, 2021 9:00 am35 views

  Evaluating Tree Risk Assessment Protocols in a Medium-Sized City

  Thomas WardFriday, July 16, 20211:00 pm Central TimeJoin Zoom Meeting

  https://illinois.zoom.us/j/83857748716?pwd=aytTY290bHM1VytJTmRhTFFKNUlNdz09

  Meeting ID: 838 5774 8716Password: NRESonline
  You must be logged into your Zoom account (the standard free account) to access this session.

• Register to Attend the NRES Research Symposium

  Apr 6, 2021 4:30 pm79 views

  The NRES Virtual Research Symposium will occur Saturday, April 17th, 9:15-5:00 (central time) using Gather.Town. Register at https://linktr.ee/UofI_NRES to receive the link to attend. It is important to register ASAP to ensure that NRES has purchased adequate capacity for those wanting to attend.

• Capstone Presentation by Kelly Hennessey: Influencing Pro-Environmental Behaviors through Online Resources

  Apr 2, 2021 4:15 pm24 views

  Influencing Pro-Environmental Behaviors through Online Resources: An Internship with Sandia National LaboratoriesKelly HennesseyFriday, April 16, 20211:00 pmhttps://illinois.zoom.us/j/81797484987?pwd=OXN3Q0RtUHMxTlAzci9hKzlPN2x1QT09
  You must be logged into your Zoom account (the standard free account) to access this session.
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  Diversity Ed presents - Food Insecurity in a University Campus Community

  Mar 29, 2021 11:30 am10 views

• Still Time to Submit for NRES Research Symposium

  Mar 8, 2021 2:00 pm52 views

  The deadline has been extended to Friday, March 12th, for those wishing to submit an abstract for the NRES Research Symposium. Submit at t.ly/OZgP.

  NRES Research Symposium--April 17th, 2021 on Gater.town

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  Visit Us at Wild Things This Weekend

  Feb 19, 2021 9:00 am12 views

  If you're attending Wild Things (https://www.wildthingscommunity.org/) this weekend (or next), be sure to visit the NRES virtual exhibit booth. Come talk to us, hang out, maybe even answer a question or two from people seeking information about the program. Here's when we'll be live this weekend:

  Friday, February 19

  • 9:00-10:00 am12:00-2:00 pm
  • 4:15-5:00 pm  In Session: Environmental Careers
  • 5:00-6:00 pm

  Saturday, February 20

  • 8:00-8:30 am
  • 12:00-1:00 pm
  • 5:15-6:00 pm  In Session: Navigating Grad School Applications 

  Sunday, February 21

  • 12:00-1:00 pm
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  The Wildlife Society: Black-footed ferret COVID-19 vaccination seems to be working

  Feb 18, 2021 3:45 pm20 views

  "Two-thirds of captive-bred black-footed ferrets have been vaccinated for the novel coronavirus, and not a single one of the endangered mustelids is known so far to have contracted the disease".

  Joshua Rapp Learn is a science writer at The Wildlife Society

• Professional Development During Covid

  Jan 8, 2021 9:45 am16 views

  Check out my recent article offering ideas for how to advance your professional skills and network when you can't go anywhere.

• Illinois Graduate College - Career Development Workshops

  Jan 5, 2021 11:15 am18 views
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  Last Chance!

  Dec 24, 2020 9:45 am71 views

  In case you missed these in your Illinois email:

  If you are planning to take the final written exam in January but haven’t yet signed up, you must sign up no later than 11:59 pm Sunday, December 27th at https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1974440237.

  If you would like to join a capstone writing group over break (regardless of where you are in the process), complete the poll at https://doodle.com/poll/bgugt4qkec7ysysy?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link. Instructions:
  I'm planning to choose two times per week to offer group writing sessions (December 26-January 24th). I will use the results of this poll to select the two times per week. Please indicate the times that will work for you most weeks (click once for yes, twice for if-need-be, and three times if you need to remove the time as one of your possibilities). All times are central time zone. Deadline to influence the time selection is 7pm Saturday, December 26th.

• Introducing: Illinois Remote Website

  Dec 7, 2020 10:45 am30 views

• Time to Register for Spring 2021

  Dec 7, 2020 9:30 am19 views

  If you are a current student in the M.S. program, please check your Illinois.edu email account for full information. If you are a non-degree seeking student, you can find the Spring 2021 course flyer (which includes links to non-degree registration and other resources) here.

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  The Wildlife Society - Wildlife Vocalizations: Emily Thoroski

  Nov 13, 2020 2:30 pm29 views

• Reminder: Capstone Presentation Tomorrow

  Nov 9, 2020 9:30 am5 views

  Children as Environmental Stewards: Addressing the Need to Provide Innovative Low-Cost Professional Development Providing Teachers with Strategies to Assist Disadvantaged and English as a Second Language Students in Environmental Science Classroom

  Kerry Martens

  Tuesday, November 10, 2020

  5:30 pm

  https://illinois.zoom.us/j/86907543762?pwd=WmdocHEyaWtJQUxFVzJCaVFLcVZqUT09

• Spring 2021 Updates

  Oct 28, 2020 12:30 pm46 views

  The University has finalized changes to the Spring 2021 schedule and registration:

  • The spring semester will begin on Monday, January 25th (instead of the 19th).
  • There will NOT be spring break this year. Instead, there will be three non-instruction days (February 17, March 24, and April 13). Because NRES online graduate courses are almost exclusively one night a week, courses that meet on Tuesday or Wednesday will have asynchronous material and assignments in weeks of non-instruction days or will have an additional meeting day added.
  • The class schedule goes live on November 6th. There may be courses showing on the online.illinois.edu site before that, but it can't be considered final until November 6th. The schedule of NRES Online Graduate Courses will be posted on this blog as soon as it's complete.
  • Degree seeking students' registration time tickets will allow registration beginning at 11:20 am on December 2nd (log into Self-Service after November 16th to see your earliest registration time). Registration for non-degree seeking students begins December 14th.

• Illinois Extension Forestry - Upcoming Events

  Oct 19, 2020 11:30 am30 views

• ILMA-Lakes Scholarships

  Oct 14, 2020 6:45 pm3 views

  The Illinois Lakes Management Association (ILMA-Lakes) is offering two scholarship opportunities for which graduate students are eligible.  The application deadline is December 31, 2020. Full eligibility and application information is available at https://ilma-lakes.org/scholarship.

  Illinois Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarship ($1,000): Full time undergraduate or graduate students who have a college or university cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on an undergraduate 4.0 scale and 3.0 on a graduate 4.0 scale, enrolled in a natural resource discipline related to lake and/or watershed management. Eligible applicants include Illinois residents enrolled in accredited colleges and universities within the above listed six states and/ or students enrolled in an accredited Illinois college or university. Emphasis will be placed on scholarship money going towards work or project related expenses in a lake / watershed area.

  Robert Esser Student Achievement Scholarship ($500): Illinois resident attending an Illinois accredited college or university. A full time junior or senior undergraduate student or graduate student is preferred. Attendance at the Annual Meeting of the Illinois Lake Management Association (ILMA) is strongly encouraged. Student must be enrolled in a lake-related curriculum with clearly articulated personal goals and objectives geared toward Illinois lakes. Emphasis will be placed on volunteer experiences.

• Capstone Presentation by Kerry Martens: Children as Environmental Stewards

  Oct 14, 2020 12:15 pm13 views

  Children as Environmental Stewards: Addressing the Need to Provide Innovative Low-Cost Professional Development Providing Teachers with Strategies to Assist Disadvantaged and English as a Second Language Students in Environmental Science Classroom

  Kerry Martens

  Tuesday, November 10, 2020

  5:30 pm

  https://illinois.zoom.us/j/86907543762?pwd=WmdocHEyaWtJQUxFVzJCaVFLcVZqUT09

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  Wired Digital Magazine: Can a Genetically Modified Bug Combat a Global Farm Plague?

  Sep 25, 2020 4:00 pm19 views

• More Useful Info than Ever

  Sep 3, 2020 8:15 am13 views

  During semester you are degree-seeking grad student registered for at least one class, you will receive the weekly "Grad Links" from the Graduate College. Now that most workshops and sessions are online, there are many more opportunities for YOU! Click on this article to see the announcements from this week's Grad Links relevant to degree-seeking students in the NRES Online M.S. Program. If you don't receive Grad Links on Sundays, you can subscribe at https://emails.illinois.edu/subscribe?emailId=1735847690. 

• Capstone Presentation by John Grant: Comlara Forest Rehabilitation and Autumn Olive Removal

  Aug 26, 2020 8:30 pm30 views

  M.S. Capstone Presentation John Grant Comlara Forest Rehabilitation and Autumn Olive RemovalFriday, August 28th at 2:00 pmhttps://illinois.zoom.us/j/94179639941?pwd=YXBwTHZJRVF0cE5yU2V6dFNxOURUUT09
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  USDA NRCS: Introduction to High Tunnels in Organic Systems

  Aug 25, 2020 1:15 pm19 views
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  How's My Waterway - Watershed Academy Webinar

  Aug 10, 2020 11:30 am51 views

• Writers Workshop - Graduate Writing Productivity Groups

  Aug 4, 2020 11:15 am18 views
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  Wired Digital Magazine: How to Stay Productive When the World Is on Fire

  Jul 23, 2020 4:30 pm15 views
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  Illinois Extension: Summer Plant ID Walk & Talk Webinar

  Jul 14, 2020 1:00 pm63 views

• Two Capstone Presentations on Friday, July 10th

  Jul 3, 2020 3:45 pm8 views

  Minimum Sampling Effort to Detect Bat Species Richness in Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey
  Jennifer Bonta
  Friday, July 10th at 10:30 am

   

  Understanding the Effects of Land Features on Avian Mortality Incidents at Electric Power Lines and PolesSamantha DaviesFriday, July 10th at 3:00 pm