1. LAST MUGS EVENT OF 2013!
   
2. Sustainability Friday!
   
3. Publish your work in The Prognosis: McGill's Student Global Health Journal!
   
4. Funded MA and PhD opportunity at UBC!
   
5. Applied Environmental Policy Course in Costa Rica May 2014
   
6. Aga Khan Foundation 2014-2015 Fellowship Program
   
7. Graduate students required to work on funded research project
   

Well Geographers, it's been a blast. Chilli was eaten, apartments were crawled to, and we all complained about homework and midterms. It happens. Now we're heading off into finals and some people are graduating and many of us are staying on for the semester coming up in 2014, including Yours Truly. I loved writing these listservs and I can't wait to write more in the New Year!

 

Side note: Happy Hannukah and American Thanksgiving! Enjoy eating weird amounts of food, no matter what you celebrate. I dig it.

 

LAST MUGS EVENT OF 2013!

Come to the geography lounge on the last day of classes, Tuesday December 3^rd, for some cookies, hot chocolate, and warm fuzzy feelings before you go off and study for finals! Festivities will begin at 4pm.

Sustainability Friday!

 

Come share a drink, a snack, and a conversation with other McGill professors, students, and staff interested in sustainability.

 

Sustainability Fridays, back by popular demand this year, are coordinated by MOOS (McGill Office of Sustainability) and supported by generous partners. This month's event is hosted by the McGill Libraries.

 

Please invite your friends and colleagues to join you at the Faculty Club (2^nd floor) next Friday, November 29, 4-6 pm.

 

http://www.mcgill.ca/sustainability/channels/event/sustainability-fridays-231540

 

Publish your work in The Prognosis: McGill's Student Global Health Journal!

 

Interested in public health? Have you written a related paper? Here's your chance to get published! 

 

The Prognosis: McGill's Student Global Health Journal is currently looking for submissions for this year's edition. The deadline is January 13^th, at 11:59 PM EST.

 

The Prognosis is an annual publication that features student research and articles on topics at the intersection of social, biomedical, environmental, global, and local perspectives on health. For more information on the journal and submission criteria, please consult our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ThePrognosisMcGill. Submissions can be sent to theprognosis.mcgill@gmail.com 

Criteria

• Maximum 12 pages (double spaced)
• Citations should preferably be done in APA format
• Class work must have received an A/A- grade
• Original research outside of the classroom environment (ie. summer internships or graduate studies) can also be submitted
• Acceptable formats: .docx or .pdf

 

 

Funded MA and PhD opportunity at UBC!

Funded MA and PhD opportunities with the Program on Water Governance/ Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability under the supervision of Dr. Leila Harris.  Please see the attached announcement and visit www.edges.ubc.ca.

Applied Environmental Policy Course in Costa Rica May 2014

A Professor from Queen's is teaching 3-credit Applied Environmental Policy course in Costa Rica in May 2014. The course is open to upper-year university and college students in Canada (including graduate students with course modifications) and credit can apply to your home university or to Queen's.
Applied Environmental Policy (http://qbw.ca/programs/programs-by-location/costa-rica/)

May 10-31, 2014 in Costa Rica. Send indications of interest (no obligation) or administrative questions to tom.gallini@queensu.ca by December 10.

Financial Aid may be available  (http://qbw.ca/apply/financial-aid/)

Application Deadline is February 15th, 2014.

Registration (http://qbw.ca/apply/)

Deadline is April 1, enrollment is limited

Aga Khan Foundation 2014-2015 Fellowship Program

 I am writing on behalf of Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) to inform you that recruitment for the 2014-2015 International Fellowship Program is now open. The International Fellowship Program offers an extraordinary training program and an eight-month overseas placement to recent university graduates and young professionals between the ages of 18 and 30.

The AKFC Fellowship Program includes three streams: International Development Management (IDM), International Microfinance and Microenterprise (IMM) and Young Professionals in Media (YPM). With Fellowship positions in fields as diverse as early childhood education, enterprise development, and media, the Fellowship Program is an exceptional opportunity for students from a variety disciplines.

Your assistance in promoting this program to eligible candidates is greatly appreciated. We have attached posters we hope you will display in your student career centre or resource centre. For more information on this program, please visit our website at http://www.akfc.ca/international-development.html. Please feel free to share this link with your students through a listserv or mailing list.

Please contact Ezmina Nazarali with any questions about the Program or to request hard copies of the attached materials at ezmina@akfc.ca or 613-237-2532 x. 102

Graduate students required to work on funded research project

The McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics and the Cross Border Institute at the University of Windsor  invite applications for talented graduate students (at both the Master's and Doctoral levels) to participate in a five year research program covering a wide spectrum of issues related to the Social Costs and Benefits of Electric Mobility in Canada. 

This important research is supported by Automotive Partnership Canada and funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.  Key industry and government partners for the project include the Ford Motor Company of Canada, the Canadian Automobile Association, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Burlington Hydro Inc. and Electric Mobility Canada.  A much wider range of groups will be involved as project stakeholders.

The overall project objective is to develop a clear understanding of the wide range of economic, social and environmental costs and benefits associated with the emergence of electric mobility in Canada.  Specific electric mobility research themes will include:  consumer preferences, commercial and government fleets, public transit, economic impact analysis, geodemographics of electric mobility adoption, issues for utilities, location of charging infrastructure and environmental and health outcomes.  Taken as a whole, this research will help prepare the automotive sector, electric utilities, government and other stakeholders for the future before it unfolds.  

Students with a strong record of academic achievement are encouraged to apply.  There are nine modules associated with this project and thus a mix of people and skills are required.  For most modules an understanding of policy analysis and quantitative methods as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills are definite assets.  

Graduate applicants with requests for early start dates in January 2014 and May 2014 are encouraged.  

For more information about this research, please contact Dr. Pavlos Kanaroglou (pavlos@mcmaster.ca) or (905)525-9140 x23525

Cool Thing of the Week

Thanks to Kevin Drouin-Leger for these great suggestions! Here is an online shark tracker:

http://www.ocearch.org/

And here's the new Google and Parks Canada initiative to launch virtual online tours of parks and historic sites across Canada. This is Lake Louise. 

https://www.google.ca/maps/preview#!data=!1m7!1m3!1d3!2d-116.2168713!3d51.4165054!2m1!2f90!4f75!2m9!1e4!2m3!1s1233341837466108331!2e3!7e9!5m3!1s1233341837466108331!2e3!3e9&fid=6

--
MUGS
Dept. of Geography
McGill University
Burnside Hall, Rm 305
805 Sherbrooke West
Montreal, QC

1. GIS Day
   
2. GeoSpectives
   
3. Student Philanthropy Council – Panel on Social Justice
   
4. Funded MA Opportunity at the University of Guelph: Volunteer Tourism and Marine Conservation
   
5. Cool thing of the week

Wow everyone, that apartment crawl was a blast! I loved all the costumes, the great decorations, and the creative punch bowls at each place. If you didn't show up, I hope you also had a great weekend and did not have to nurse a hangover while wearing a hippie costume in Canadian Tire the next morning. The next upcoming event is GIS DAY TOMORROW! What a veritable melange of geography-related fun!

GIS Day

GIS day is TOMORROOOOOOOW! What an exciting time for all geographers! Come to the GIC (burnside 5^th floor) around 12:30 to experience some great fun! Also MUGS will be having an event.  Last year I got a free notebook (of the paper variety) when I attended. What will you win??

GeoSpectives

The penultimate GeoSpectives lecture will be on Monday, November 25, 2013 at the usual place and time (Burnside 426, 4 PM). This will be of particular interest to students interested in inequality, health and urban geography, or who like to eat.

'Food Deserts' and 'Food Swamps' in Ontario? Examining Local Food Environments for Planning Healthy Communities
Prof. Jason Gilliland
Director, Urban Development Program
Western University

We've all heard the old adage "you are what you eat", signifying that our diets have a direct impact on our health.  But only recently have public health professionals begun to acknowledge that "you are where you live", in that what you eat and your diet-related health outcomes are significantly influenced by characteristics of your local food environments.  My presentation will highlight some of the geographical approaches my team is using to examine local food environments in communities throughout Southwestern Ontario.  I will present some of our findings on the importance of geographic access to (un)healthy food on population health and local economic development.  To conclude, I will discuss some of the strategies and policy recommendations we have presented to public health units and municipal policymakers for planning healthy and vibrant communities.

Student Philanthropy Council – Panel on Social Justice

The Student Philanthropy Council would like to welcome all students to a Panel on Social Justice on Wednesday, November 20th 2013 from 6 to 830pm. This speaker series will focus on how to enter into a career of social justice.  One of our guest panel speakers is Kevin Manaugh, who is a prof in urban systems. Speakers will be activists with varying backgrounds of social justice such as the environment, anti-ageism, gender equality, equality for sexual orientation, and anti-racism. The evening will begin with a panel discussion, followed by a reception where you'll have the opportunity to meet the panelists."
The link to registering for the event: https://www.alumni.mcgill.ca/aoc/events-travel/EventDetails.php?id=MjA5OTY%3D

Funded MA Opportunity at the University of Guelph: Volunteer Tourism and Marine Conservation

I seek a MA student to join a SSHRC-funded project examining volunteer tourism and marine conservation in Belize. I am looking for applicants with an interest in: political ecology, neoliberal conservation, and/or the politics of knowledge. Applicants should have strong oral and written communication skills and hold (or be near completing) an undergraduate degree in Geography or a related social science (Anthropology, Environmental Studies, etc). Students with a background in biological aspects of marine conservation will also be considered, if they show potential and interest in developing a social science project. Experience living, working, or studying in a cross-cultural context would be an asset, as would scuba certification.

Students will receive full financial support for two years (five semesters), following the policy in the Department of Geography at the University of Guelph.  Additional funding is also available to cover research expenses.

For more information on the MA program at the University of Guelph (including application details) please see: http://www.uoguelph.ca/geography/grad/index.shtml

For more information about this MA opportunity please contact Dr. Noella Gray at grayn@uoguelph.ca, ideally before submitting a formal application.

Cool thing of the week

Here is a video submitted by Professor Forest of a time lapse of every nuclear explosion on earth. It's very cool! Though I admit that after the 3^rd minute you kind of get the idea, you can skip ahead to a certain year to watch any nuclear explosion that is close to your heart.

http://memolition.com/2013/10/16/time-lapse-map-of-every-nuclear-explosion-ever-on-earth/

 

--
MUGS
Dept. of Geography
McGill University
Burnside Hall, Rm 305
805 Sherbrooke West
Montreal, QC

1. Apartment Crawl
   
2. GIS Day
   
3. McGill Farmer's Market CSA sign-up
   
4. MSURJ Call for Submissions
   
5. Launch of McGill's Living Lab Wikisite!
   
6. Funded MA opportunity in consumption and development geographies at the University of Guelph
   

 

Hey there geographers! HOW STOKED ARE YOU FOR THE APARTMENT CRAWL?? The only answer I should be hearing from you is "WOOOOO" which is not really an answer to the question but proves to me that YES YOU ARE STOKED. Come buy tickets in the MUGS lounge from 1-2 pm every day and then we will party it up on FRIDAY NIGHT!

In other news it is very cold and I hope that everyone is wearing their hats, scarves, and gloves.

Apartment Crawl

BACK TO THE CITIES: APARTMENT CRAWL is here! The theme is Great American Cities Through Time! Each apartment on the crawl will feature a different city in a different decade. Come dressed as a as a prohibiton-era bootlegger, a Mad Man, a hippie, a classic Hollywood star, or even just a time travelling tourist! Be creative! Tickets are $10 for geographers and $15 for non-geographers. Space is limited so act fast! We will meet in the MUGS lounge at 8pm to kick off the event.

GIS Day

Hey all! GIS day is in a week (November 20^th)! Don't forget to check out the library on the 5^th floor of Burnside all that day to check out all the cool activities going on, including something run by MUGS! #gisday

McGill Farmer's Market CSA sign-up

Do you like delicious veggies? Are you interested in becoming more connected to your local food system? The McGill Farmer's Market is now taking sign-ups for their CSA (community supported agriculture) program. The CSA program partners with local farms to offer a basket of organic produce for eight weeks in summer and fall 2014. For more information, visit the 'CSA Registration' page on our website (http://mcgillfarmersmarket.blogspot.ca/) or email us atmcgillfarmersmarket@gmail.com 

As a side note, I participated in the CSA box last fall and had a total blast trying out new vegetables like kohlrabi. If you like food adventures, this is something you don't want to miss!

 MSURJ Call for Submissions

Submit your research paper to the McGill Science Undergraduate Research Journal (MSURJ) by January 6th, 2014 and GET PUBLISHED! 

MSURJ is a peer-reviewed annual publication that features original research, review articles, and interest pieces written by undergraduate students. To find out more about us or to submit a manuscript, please consult our website at msurj.mcgill.ca. 

Launch of McGill's Living Lab Wikisite!

Have you ever wanted to do a project that makes a difference? Or research that teaches you how to work with many partners and implement change? Do you want to apply your coursework on campus? Visit McGill's Living Lab Wiki to learn how to start a project of your own, find interested professors, or find courses that are sustainability-related and have applied research opportunities. Students, faculty, and staff can use this site to learn about using the McGill campus as a Living Lab to create a better world.

http://wikisites2.mcgill.ca/livinglaboratory

Funded MA opportunity in consumption and development geographies at the University of Guelph

A professor is actively seeking a research assistant for fall 2014! Applicants with an interest in: ethical consumption, feminist theory, critical development studies, and/or the politics of philanthropy are encouraged to apply.

Students will receive financial support following the policy in the Department of Geography.  Research expenses will also be covered.

Funded student research projects may include:

(i)             Investigating how ethical consumption campaigns (e.g. Product RED, Toms Shoes) play out on the ground through international development projects

(ii)            Analyzing the use of social media by corporations and NGOs to share stories of 'development' with North American audiences

(iii)           Researching the gendered dynamics of sustainable consumption decisions

For more information on the MA program at the University of Guelph (including application details) please see: http://www.uoguelph.ca/geography/grad/index.shtml 

For more information about this MA opportunity please contact: Dr. Roberta Hawkins at rhawkins@uoguelph.ca

Cool Thing of the Week

Here is a video about pizza. It is 30 seconds long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak-uvzI7Azg

THIS JUST IN will Apple Maps have the last laugh over Google Maps? Who knows? Who cares? Read this article! http://techland.time.com/2013/11/12/failing-up-apple-maps-takes-a-bite-out-of-google/

--
MUGS
Dept. of Geography
McGill University
Burnside Hall, Rm 305
805 Sherbrooke West
Montreal, QC

1. Geography apartment Crawl Ticket Sales
   
2. GeoSpectives Update
   
3. Call for participants in a Geography Study
   
4. Vielfalt German Studies Journal call for submissions
   
5. Funded MA or PhD Research Positions in Cultural and Political Geography with a focus on BORDERS IN GLOBALIZATION in Canada
   
6. Graduate student position at the University of Colorado and the University of New Hampshire for research project in Oregon
   
7. Upcoming Trip to the Gurdwara with Champlaincy McGill
   
8. LAW, RIGHTS, AND PUBLIC SPACES
   

Hey Geographers! I hope you are all fully recovered from Halloween's shenanigans. I had a super fun time at the Redpath Museum Flashlight Tours on Saturday night! Thank you to all the members of the Redpath Museum club for doing such a good job. We have lots of cool things coming up, with the apartment crawl on the way and lots of upcoming GeoSpectives talks. There are also, for some reason, a lot of paid research positions being advertised this week. Read on!

Geography apartment Crawl Ticket Sales

The apartment crawl is finally here! The theme of the crawl is GREAT AMERICAN CITIES THROUGH TIME. Come dressed as a prohibiton-era bootlegger, a Mad Man, or even Samuel Adams!

Tickets are $10 for Geographers and $15 for non-Geographers, and include alcohol and snacks for the whole night (Also Fairmount bagels, hummus, and cream cheese!). You can buy them any day from 1-2 pm this coming week starting Wednesday and you can also buy them from Monday through Friday next week. The crawl itself takes place on Friday, November 15^th. Be there!

Also we are still looking for a final apartment to fill our roster. If you are interested please email mcgillgeography@gmail.com and you will get a free ticket to the crawl in exchange.

GeoSpectives Update

We have a great line up of five GeoSpectives talks in November and December (schedule attached), starting November 4 with Prof. Mark Wilson (University of Michigan) addressing the use of spatial analysis in the study of infectious diseases. 

Also, thanks and kudos to Geography minor and recent graduate Zachary Kay for winning the GeoSpectives logo contest! The series now has a terrific logo for use on posters, presentations, and websites.

Call for participants in a Geography Study

Students in GEOG 494 in conjunction with the McGill Office of Sustainability and Office of Campus and Space Planning are conducting a study to understand what prevents members of the McGill community from cycling to campus.

This research group is looking for students, administrative staff and faculty members who frequently commute between home and McGill campus (current cyclists) and those who currently do not cycle but are interested in cycling between home and McGill campus (potential cyclists).

Please come share your thoughts with the research group to help us understand how to improve the experience of cycling at McGill:

 1. Potential Cyclists (Students Only) - Thursday, Nov 7^th, 12:00PM or 5:00PM

 2. Potential Cyclists (Faculty and Staff Only) – Friday, Nov 8^th, 12:00PM or 6:00PM

 3. Current Cyclists – Monday, Nov 11^th 12:00PM or 6:00PM

Please email cycling.mcgill@gmail.com with the time you plan to come. Locations of the study will be shared with respondents.

Refreshments and/or snacks will be provided.

Vielfalt German Studies Journal call for submissions

Vielfalt, the interdisciplinary undergraduate journal from the department of German Studies, is looking for submissions for its fourth volume. We're looking for academic papers, translations, and experimental or creative work on German language, history, culture, geography and thought, in addition to visual artwork. Previously unpublished work in German, English, or French is accepted, and all graded work must have received at least an A-. The deadlines for submissions is December 15. Check out our previous issues at issuu.com/vielfalt, and send submissions and any questions to vielfalt.journal@gmail.com. We want your work! 

Funded MA or PhD Research Positions in Cultural and Political Geography with a focus on BORDERS IN GLOBALIZATION in Canada (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University)

Dr. Victor Konrad (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University) is recruiting MA and PhD students beginning September 2014 to work on research related to Canada's borders. The research will be part of an extensive SSHRC Partnership Grant entitled "Borders in Globalization" (BIG). BIG is an international partnership project to enhance understanding of borders and borderlands in globalization, and to develop more effective border management policies for Canada with its primary neighbor the United States, and the circumpolar countries. The overall project encompasses themes of culture, flows (people and goods), governance, history, security and sustainability as they relate to borders. The project will offer approximately 100 graduate research assistantships across Canada and in selected border research centers overseas. Carleton will offer about 20 research assistantships in the social sciences with funding available from one to four semesters to work on contemporary and historical border topics in borderlands culture, migration across borders, trade flows, border environments, border management and governance, security, and technology and borders. The project offers travel support for research and conferences, and provides opportunities for joint publication.

Applicants must have an appropriate background in human geography or a related field. Research experience in border studies will be an asset but it is not required. The funded research will, in most cases, lead to or be a part of a Masters or PhD degree. The funded research will be prepared as a thesis under the direction of a faculty supervisor, and also as a paper for the BIG project.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest and a current CV by email to Dr. Victor Konrad, (Victor.Konrad@carleton.ca <mailto:Victor.Konrad@carleton.ca>). The Department of Geography and 
Environmental Studies continues to accept applications for admission from qualified students to our graduate programs. More information may be found at: http://www.carleton.ca/geography/geography/graduate/

Graduate student position at the University of Colorado and the University of New Hampshire for research project in Oregon

There are two funded graduate student positions for an interdisciplinary project conducted through the University of Colorado and the University of New Hampshire.  These two positions (one at UNH and one at CU Boulder) will support ongoing research efforts in eastern Oregon for the Communities and Forests in Oregon (CAFOR) Project.  You can find more information in the attached PDF. If you have any questions or if you are interested, please contact the CU lead (joel.hartter@unh.edu) or Mark Ducey, the UNH lead (mark.ducey@unh.edu). 

Upcoming Trip to the Gurdwara with Champlaincy McGill

Please find attached the poster for an upcoming event, a trip to the Gurdwara (Sikh) – part of our year-long "My Neighbour's Faith" series – on Friday, November 15^th, 2013. The event is free, but please RSVP at chaplaincy@mcgill.ca if you plan to attend.

LAW, RIGHTS, AND PUBLIC SPACES

November 12, 2013 | 1pm-4pm, Stephen Scott Seminar Room 16, New Chancellor Day Hall, 3660 Peel Street, Montreal QC

1:00 PM: Nicholas Blomley, Professor and Chair, Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University | "Law and Geography: Origins and Destinations"

2:00 PM: Marie-Eve Sylvestre, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, and Celine Bellot, Professor, École de service social, Université de Montréal | "Toward Court Geographies: Spatial Restriction Orders and Marginalized People's Rights in Canada"

3:15 PM: William Damon, MA Candidate, Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University | "Spatial Tactics and Criminal Courts: Legal Geographies of Risk in Contemporary Criminal Justice"

Discussant: Véronique Fortin, PhD Candidate, University of California Irvine

Please RSVP to chrlp.law@mcgill.ca by November 6, 2013.

Cool Thing of the Week

Submit your homemade Halloween costume and you have the possibility of winning a bike! However this bike is way too nice to have. It will probably get stolen within two weeks of its arrival in Montreal. But at least you can say you won something!

 http://inhabitat.com/win-a-kilo-glow-in-the-dark-bike-worth-399-in-inhabitats-green-halloween-costume-contest/

Here's an interested recycled wood structure that an artist made that is intertwined with a building. How cool!

http://inhabitat.com/bizarre-casa-dos-leoes-in-brazil-grows-recycled-wooden-tumors/henrique-oliveira-recycled-wood-tumor-casa-dos-leoes-1-2/?extend=1

Have a great week everyone!

--
MUGS
Dept. of Geography
McGill University
Burnside Hall, Rm 305
805 Sherbrooke West
Montreal, QC