SGSUP's On the Map for January 17, 2020

January 17, 2020

Research reveals impact of corrupt and illicit activity on land change

Researchers have long understood that corruption and illicit activity play a role in global environmental and sustainability change, but due to its hidden and dangerous nature, quantifying the activities and incorporating them into land change analyses have largely been elusive — until now.

New research led by Arizona State University PhD in geography alumna Elizabeth Tellman quantifies the phenomena and makes a case to the sustainability science and land change community how the data can be incorporated into future land-use models and why research in this field should be further explored.

In her paper, “Understanding the role of illicit transactions in land-change dynamics” published in Nature Sustainability, Tellman presents a conceptual framework of illicit land transactions and a two-pronged approach using remotely sensed data to spatially link illicit activities to land use.

“Understanding where, why and how land-use changes are essential to addressing global sustainability,” said Tellman, who graduated in May 2019 from ASU’s School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning and now serves as a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University. “Never has the vast impact of illicit activity on environmental land systems been quantified on a large scale.”

Read more

ASU students go to town on sustainability

Maggie Dellow, a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning student, wasn’t sure what to do for her capstone project. She decided to attend a Project Cities information session, where she heard about opportunities to work with Apache Junction on various issues. In particular, the mobile home and RV parks project piqued her curiosity because of her interest in affordable housing.

“I see planning as a tool to address the major defining societal issues of our time,” Dellow said. “Working on affordable housing and homelessness issues presents opportunities to address the consequences of past decisions and shape policy and development for a brighter, more equitable future for everyone.”

To start the project, Dellow researched existing literature on mobile home communities and affordable housing. Guided by city officials and her faculty advisers, she then documented existing conditions and characteristics of 28 nonconforming, high-priority mobile home and RV parks in Apache Junction. To include local perspectives, she interviewed Apache Junction park owners and professionals in affordable housing development.

Ultimately, Dellow created a 235-page final report (condensed to 100 pages by Project Cities) for Apache Junction laying out the complexity of the issue, describing research findings and recommending strategies the city could adopt to improve mobile home parks and affordable housing.

You're Invited: Census Matters to Arizona

The 2020 decennial census is just around the corner! The once-a-decade population count affects our representation in government, determines how much funding our communities receives and provides data that drives policies that affect our daily lives.

ASU Knowledge Exchange for Resilience, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, and Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication along with the US Census Bureau are hosting a Census Matters to Arizona event to discuss the importance of the census and how it affects our daily lives.

Participants will hear directly from Deirdre Dalpiaz Bishop, Chief of the Geography Division of the US Census Bureau, as well as panel discussions focused on how different industries depend on census data to do their work, including the media, policymakers and community organizations.

Event details
Date: Thursday, January 30
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location: ASU Downtown - Beus Center for Law and Society
More info and RSVP

Call for abstracts: UCRC poster event

Calling all ASU colleagues working in the field of urban climate! The Urban Climate Research Center is excited to announce the call for abstracts for the UCRC Annual Poster Competition on Wednesday, March 26, 2020, at the Memorial Union, Alumni Lounge, Room #202.

The intent of this poster competition is to showcase the breadth of work around issues of urban climate at ASU. This includes all social and physical science aspects of urban climate and its interaction with society and infrastructure.

Eligible participants: The poster session is intended to highlight urban climate research from undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. Completed research is preferred. Posters outlining research not yet conducted must provide sufficient details on research design.

Abstract requirements: Maximum 250 words

Important dates:

Abstract submission deadline: Monday, February 10, 2020
Notification of acceptance: Monday, February 17, 2020
Electronic poster submission and printing deadline: Monday, March 16, 2020

Follow this link to submit your Poster Abstract: Submit your Abstract

Printing: We will be able to print your poster for you (at no charge) if you submit by Monday, March 16, 2020

Prizes: Monetary prizes will be awarded in multiple categories. Details to follow. See https://sustainability.asu.edu/urban-climate/events/ for examples of winning posters from last year.

Importance of concise and coherent language in scientific communication

May R. Berenbaum, editor-in-chief of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, recently published an editorial regarding the importance of having clear, concise and coherent language used in scientific communications, including journal articles.

"'Communication' remains in the vocabulary of scientific publishing—for example, as a category of manuscript ('Rapid Communications') and as an element of a journal name (Nature Communications)—not as a vestigial remnant but as a vital part of the enterprise. The goal of communicating effectively is also why grammar, with its arcane, baffling, or even irritating 'rules,' continues to matter," she writes.

Professor Billie L. Turner asked for the article to be shared, stating it is a useful read, especially for graduate students.

Read the article

In the News

David Hondula - Heat deaths continue to rise, as federal disaster relief continues to lag, Cronkite News

SGSUP Events
Interested in keeping up-to-date on events taking place at SGSUP? Not only can you manage your calendar here in our newsletter, but be sure to bookmark our event calendar on our website: https://sgsup.asu.edu/events. It is where you can also find an archive of our past events.

Drop-In Career Advising in Coor Hall – Mon Jan 27, 3-5 pm, Coor 5501
A special advising session for both undergrads and grads. Drop in to gain information on how to polish your professional documents and develop your online brand, or to discuss how to leverage your degree. Hosted by Jenna Figaro, our ASU Career and Professional Development Services Liaison. More info

Greenprint Training – Feb 6, 3:00 p.m., Coor 5505
The Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA) Greenprint is a natural infrastructure viewer that we designed to assist decision-makers, researchers, and members of the public in visualizing and planning around the natural resources of our county. CAZCA collaborated with Arizona Game and Fish, the Nature Conservancy, and the Trust for Public Land to create the Greenprint. Throughout this process, there has been a focus on providing data to support decisions that protect water resources, ensure habitat integrity, and mitigate heat risk through nature-based solutions, among several other tools, and many layers of contextual data. More info and RSVP

Meet Handshake – your one-stop tool for everything careers

Are you about to graduate and gearing up for a job search? Thinking about an internship? Wanting to find out what jobs are out there that might interest you? As Step 1, log in to Handshake, ASU's career portal. In Handshake you'll be able to apply for jobs specifically for ASU students, schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor, receive emails about upcoming career workshops and more. Check it out! More info

YouthMappersASU – Build mapping skills and support humanitarian efforts!

YouthMappers is an international university consortium -- a global community of learners, researchers, educators, and scholars who create and use open geographic data that directly address locally defined development challenges worldwide. YouthMappersASU offers opportunities for on-campus and online students to broaden GIS and spatial analysis experiences while making an impact through mapping. Follow the group on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook; learn more; or join the chapter.

Study Abroad – Antarctica: The Frozen Continent 2020!

Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore and experience first-hand the physical, ecological, social, and political landscape of Antarctica. Starting from Ushuaia, Argentina, you’ll be accompanied by scientists and naturalists as you cross the famous Drake Passage on your voyage to the frozen continent. Once there, you'll explore the human and natural environment up-close, from icebergs and penguins to old research and whaling buildings. You may even spot whales! The preceding fall semester will be spent meeting once a week learning more about the history, climate, and environment of Antarctica that will prepare us for our two-week (December 17 through December 29, 2020) trip to the continent itself.

For more information please visit our website or contact Dr. Andrew Maynard at amaynar2@asu.edu.

Study abroad this summer in Finland!

Find out why the Finnish educational system produces the smartest kids in the world by visiting one the most beautiful Nordic cities on a two-week adventure to Helsinki. In addition, visit the country of Estonia and its medieval city of Tallinn and take a day-trip to Finland’s original capital--the 13th-century city of Turku. Take a deep dive exploration into K-12 schooling outside of the United States, and experience first-hand the educational system of Finland, a known leader in education. More info

Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs Scholarship

This scholarship offers financial aid to promote study in environmental realms. Applicants should have a major and career goal related to gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design or horticulture, and have at least a 3.25 GPA. Undergraduates and Masters’ level students are eligible. Nationally, 41 $4000 scholarships are available. Apply by Jan. 31. More info

Architectural League American Roundtable

The Architectural League, one of the country’s leading cultural organizations devoted to architecture and the designed world, is launching American Roundtable, a new initiative that will bring together on-the-ground perspectives on the condition of American communities and what they need to thrive going forward. The Architectural League will commission up to ten editorial teams to produce reports featuring diverse voices, expressed through diverse media, creating portraits and agendas for places they know well. The initiative focuses on small cities and towns and rural areas. Commissioned teams will be awarded $10,000 to support their work, which will be published digitally on archleague.org and in a series of print publications.

For more information, including the full Call for Proposals and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), visit archleague.org/americanroundtableCFP.

(Summer 2020) HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) – Washington DC and nationwide
HACU's National Internship Program offers paid internships at federal agencies and corporations across the country. There are opportunities to work in areas of environmental management, and GIS skills are especially sought after by the partner organizations. Apply by 2/14. More info

(Summer 2020) GIS Intern - Central Arizona Project (CAP), Phoenix, AZ
This is a 12-week, full-time position. The intern will work collaboratively with the CAP GIS Coordinator to gain hands-on experience in various aspects of GIS that CAP utilizes to support its complex water delivery system. Open to current students. Applicants should be at junior or higher level; possess some ArcGIS experience, clear communication skills and excellent problem-solving abilities. $17/hr. Apply by 2/9. More info

(Summer 2020) Undergraduate Research: Interdisciplinary Geospatial Approaches to Watershed Science – University of Iowa
Students participating in this 10-week program will engage in research focused on the sustainable provision of clean water and food in a Midwest agricultural watershed. Students will use team-based approaches to build on this ongoing research to examine issues critical to societies across the nation. Benefits: $6000 stipend, housing, travel, meal allowance, opportunity present your research. Apply by 2/20/2020. More info

More internship/part-time job opportunities

0-2 Years of experience
Planner Associate, Maricopa County Flood Control District – Phoenix, AZ (Apply by 1/21/2020)
Entry-level GIS Analyst / Programmer, Recruitment by RW Staffing Solutions LLC – Phoenix, AZ
US Federal Program Opportunities in Disaster Response, Environment, Urban and Rural Planning (virtual info session; available thru 1/31/2021)
Assistant Planner, Walla Walla Valley MPO, WA (Review begins 2/10/2020)
Physical Science Technician, GIS (GIS- and Drone-based precision agriculture, computer coding, data base management, and satellite-based remote sensing), US Dept of Agriculture - Temple, TX (Apply by 1/20/2020)
Conservation Interns and Fellows, Montana Conservation Corps (term 5/2020-8/2021, apply by 2/9/2020)

2+ Years of experience
GIS Specialist, Friends of the Gila River - Cottonwood, AZ

More full-time employment opportunities

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