Re: [ECOLOG-L] Open Access References Re: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED piece about public access to research publications

[malcolm McCallum]

Commercial journals and prestigious journals are not inclusive of one another.

Commercial journals use a number of strategies to inflate their
initial impact ratings.
These strategies are not available to most non-commercial outlets.
For example,
most societies publish 1-2 journals.  Most commercial outlets publish
many, many more journals.  A commercial outlet can "encourage" folks
to cite articles from other related journals in their fold.  IF a
commercial outlet had 10 journals, and it gets one author in each
journal to cite a paper from the new #11 journal, it will greatly
inflate the impact rating of the new journal.  However, if a society
pub that is not commercially run tries this, it only has one other
journal to cite it.  THis is important because JCR has guidelines that
can exclude a journal for over 10% (at least that is what the number
was a couple years ago) self citation rate.  By self citation rate, we
are talking articles published in Journal A that are also cited in
Journal A.

Are commercial outlets convenient for socieities? Yes.
Are they necessary? No.

I am one of the co-founders of Herpetological Conservation and
Biology. It is an international journal.  The journal will get its
first impact rating this summer after six years of operations.  We
have no commercial publisher, no fees, no costs to authors.  How do we
do this? Because we are running the journal as a service to society
rather than as an income generating venue.  The out-of-pocket cost is
around $150/yr and all page layouts, designs, webpages, etc are
handled by editorial staff.  Herpetology Notes, is another journal
along this same thread.  It is now in its 5th year of operations and
accepts a wide range of articles from notes to monographs. (HCB
however does not accept notes).  Herpetology Notes is published on the
SEH's website.

Web publishing is not exactly rocket science, it is not all that
difficult and frankly it is not that much more work than a normal
editorial activity.  We could transfer page layouts to the author, but
have not done that so far.  It should also be noted that online open
access and quality are not exclusive of one another.  The first Impact
rating will probably be lower than we would like (less than 1),
because the journal is growing so rapidly (we recently changed from a
single editor to 5 editor system to handle volume!  Despite this, we
maintain reasonable standards, not excessively selective (as we don't
have to be without major printing costs), but we don't publish junk.
I also contend that our editorial process is more "effective' than
many others because of our philosophy that we have a lot of editors
handling a few papers rather than few editors handling a ton of papers
and getting stressed out or overlooking the obvious.  I will not
pretend we have not made mistakes, sure we have!  Why more of these
outlets have not appeared is subject to conjecture.  We have been
successful enough to attract the attention of the staff at the
Chronicle of Higher Education last year.

My only real point to all of this is that this unusual way of
publishing requires some dedication from the community, but it is not
especially hard.If a group is unhappy with the current publication
process in their discipline, then do something to fix it rather than
just complaining about it.  This was how HCB came to be.  We saw a
problem, and sought to fix it, and our activities did elicit change to
many areas in several of the herp society publications, websites, and
general activities.  Anytime you do something, you are more likely to
be successful than if you just talk about it.



On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 11:54 PM, Wayne Tyson  wrote:
> Honorable Forum:
>
>> From
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/opinion/research-bought-then-paid-for.html?_r=1
>
> "Researchers should cut off commercial journals' supply of papers by
> publishing exclusively in one of the many "open-access" journals that are
> perfectly capable of managing peer review . . ."
>
> That is, AVOID the "prestigious" journals and concentrate on the work rather
> than the buck. Be on the leading edge of advancing science in all directions
> rather than depriving the "lay" public of the fruits of your talent and
> effort.
>
> WT
>
> - Original Message - From: "David Inouye" 
> To: 
> Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 3:32 PM
> Subject: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED piece about public access to research
> publications
>
>
>>
>> http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/opinion/research-bought-then-paid-for.html
>>
>>
>> -
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4136 - Release Date: 01/11/12
>>
>



-- 
Malcolm L. McCallum
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
School of Biological Sciences
University of Missouri at Kansas City

Managing Editor,
Herpetological Conservation and Biology

"Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" -
Allan Nation

1880's: "Th

[ECOLOG-L] postdoc: NRC, with EPA, Corvallis

[David Inouye]

National Research Council Post-doctoral position with the US
Environmental Protection Agency in Corvallis, Oregon
Nitrogen sources and impacts in the US: Foundation for life cycle
assessment

Inputs of reactive nitrogen (N) to the terrestrial biosphere have
increased by nearly five-fold under human influence in the conterminous
US due to activities associated with food, fiber, energy production, and
transportation. While much of this N is used to benefit people, some is
unintentionally released of to the environment where it impacts to human
health, air, land, streams, lakes and coastal ecosystem services. The
EPA is engaged in a research effort to inform sustainable management of
nitrogen within the US. EPA’s Science Advisory Board recently
recommended that nitrogen inputs to the US could be reduced by 25% by a
combination of best management practices. We seek a post-doc to conduct
life cycle assessments to examine the social, environmental and economic
implications of different options or interventions in the N cycle
designed to achieve these reductions in N inputs.

Related prior work has focused on the spatial and temporal patterns of N
input to the landscape and N transfer from land to water, and
complementary efforts to model N inputs to surface waters using SPARROW,
NEWS, and other models. In combination with this basic biogeochemical N
inventory and tracking, EPA researchers have been collecting information
on ecosystem service response functions and the environmental impacts of
nitrogen. We seek a post-doc to combine this information with the N
source data to conduct life cycle assessments of nitrogen use and
options for reducing N inputs at national or large regional scales. The
post-doc would contribute to and maintain a recently developed database
of ecosystem service response functions related to nitrogen loads.
Analyses are expected to focus on spatially explicit data sets (both
existing and emerging) to enhance understanding of spatial and temporal
dynamics of N impacts on ecosystem services. Life cycle assessments
could be targeted to address agricultural N management, grey and green
infrastructure, or options for reducing N emissions to air.

Candidates are expected to have experience and interest in
biogeochemistry, and experience with large data sets. GIS skills and
experience with life cycle assessment are requested. The primary duty
station will be the Freshwater Ecology Branch of the Western Ecology
Division (WED) located in Corvallis, Oregon. The Associate will work
closely with EPA scientists and scientists at other agencies as part of
a national EPA program examining the impacts of nitrogen within EPA’s
Ecosystem Services Research Program. Please pass this information to
those who might be interested.

Closing date is February 1, 2012, with supporting materials due February
15. For more information see the NRC website:
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/RAP/PGA_046398

Contact EPA adviser: Jana Compton compton.j...@epa.gov 541-754-4620 

[ECOLOG-L] Research Associate Position at the Environmental Law Institute

[wetlandswawards]

Research Associate

The Environmental Law Institute (ELI), a non-profit organization located
in Washington, DC, is a leading center of environmental research, policy
analysis, and training in the United States. Founded at the beginning of
the modern environmental era four decades ago, ELI has played a pivotal
role in the evolution of environmental law. Today, ELI is an
internationally-recognized independent research and education
organization whose interdisciplinary staff of lawyers and scientists
works to develop creative solutions to critical problems in
environmental law, policy, and management worldwide. Support for the
Institute's research comes from a mix of private foundations and state
and federal government agencies.

ELI periodically hires recent college graduates to serve as Research
Associates. Research Associates work directly with the 15-20 lawyers and
scientists in the Research and Policy Division on projects addressing
environmental and natural resource protection and pollution prevention.
A typical workload combines research and administration.

The Research and Policy Division publishes research studies and conducts
a variety of training courses and workshops. Specific subject areas
include: air and water quality, hazardous waste and brownfields,
international environmental policy, sustainable land use, biodiversity
conservation, freshwater and ocean policy, wetlands management, public
health, environmental enforcement, and mining law.

In addition to researching and writing for some of these studies,
Research Associates also help coordinate and plan various events at ELI,
including seminars, conferences, training courses, and workshops. Other
administrative work may include creating and updating ELI web pages (no
previous experience required), communications, and managing interns.

ELI is accepting applications for Research Associate positions that
begin in the summer of 2012. The Institute is also accepting
applications for other positions throughout its departments. Please see
our website (http://www.eli.org/About/employment.cfm
 ) for more information.

Qualifications: (1) superior research, writing, and interpersonal
communication skills, and (2) strong desire to gain knowledge in the
environmental field. A background in environmental issues is preferred
but not required. Research Associates are asked to stay for a minimum of
two years. This entry-level position is designed for recent college
graduates. Previous Research Associates have gone on to law school,
graduate school, and other positions in the environmental field.

Salary: $28,750, with excellent benefits.

ELI is strongly committed to providing equal opportunity and to
achieving an inclusive, diverse workforce that values every individual.
Minority candidates are encouraged to apply.

Application Process and Deadlines: Interested candidates must submit:

Application (download from http://www.eli.org/About/employment.cfm
 , job reference #08)

Cover letter

Resume (must include overall undergraduate GPA)

Analytical writing sample (preferably not scientific or narrative) of
3-5 pages in length

Applications are due January 31, 2012.

Completed applications may be emailed to: rasea...@eli.org
  (subject line: RA Search #08).

No phone calls, please.

 

[ECOLOG-L] 2 Job Announcements at UAA - Asst. Professor of Environmental Science and Asst. Professor Landscape Ecology

[David Inouye]

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the 
University of Alaska Anchorage, together with the Alaska Natural 
Heritage Program is recruiting for two full time, tenure track 
positions beginning August 2012.


Assistant Professor of Environmental Science

This position will teach 2-3 courses per semester, advise 
undergraduate students, conduct research leading to publication, and 
participate in university service.


The candidate must have a record of successful teaching and 
scholarship commensurate with academic experience; demonstrated 
ability to teach undergraduate environmental science courses and 
labs, ability and willingness to provide effective advising to 
students in an interdisciplinary degree program, and the ability and 
knowledge to conduct research in environmental science and working 
across disciplines to address environmental problems. Experience with 
ArcGIS or other spatial mapping software is required.


Candidates for this position must hold a Ph.D. in environmental 
science, ecology, conservation biology, physical geography, or 
closely-related field. ABD with expected completion by August 2012 
will be considered.


To apply for this position (PCN 304072), go to: 
www.uakjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=76102


For further information about this position:

Prof. Dorn Van Dommelen, Chair

University of Alaska Anchorage

Department of Geography & Environmental Studies

a...@uaa.alaska.edu

Assistant Professor of Landscape Ecology / Physical Geography

This position will include a joint appointment and primary research 
with the Alaska Natural Heritage Program. We expect the successful 
applicant to establish a strong research program, and obtain external 
funding to address conservation biology concerns in Alaska. 
Development of the research program will be supported initially by 
existing research grants. The position will also teach 1-2 courses 
per year within the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies 
and coordinate the GES spatial analysis lab.


The successful candidate must have previous experience in spatial 
modeling and quantitative, raster-based GIS analysis. A background in 
either conservation biology, botany, ecology, or zoology is also required.


Candidates for this position must have a Ph.D. in landscape ecology, 
spatial analysis, physical geography or relevant scientific field. 
ABD with expected completion by August 2012 will be considered.


To apply for this position (PCN 301305) go to: 
www.uakjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=76025


For further information about this position:

Keith Boggs, Director

Alaska Natural Heritage Program

University of Alaska Anchorage

an...@uaa.alaska.edu

[ECOLOG-L] Photos wanted for textbook

[David Inouye]

GREAT PHOTOS NEEDED

Dear Colleagues,January 11, 2012

I am writing to ask your help locating great photos for use in the
Primer of Conservation Biology, 5th edition, a widely used
undergraduate textbook. If you have any great color photos of the
following subjects, please send them (just the best ones!) one at a
time via email to: richardprim...@gmail.com

I am interested in both vertical and horizontal images.

Sinauer Associates and I are on a tight production schedule; so the
sooner you can send these photos the better. Or if you have some of
these topics on a website, please let me know where to find them.

Please pass this message on to anyone else who you think might have
some great photos.

Thanks in advance for your help.


Sincerely,

Richard B. Primack
Boston University


Subjects needed:

Many species together; fish, insects, fungi, etc. illustrating the rich
diversity of life; either in nature or a collecting situation.

People collecting plants or animals specimens, or working with
specimens in a museum; perhaps someone putting plants in a plant press.

Attaching tags or radio transmitter to an animal.

Managing a habitat in some way, such as burning, building trails,
reducing poaching, patrolling against illegal fishing, etc.

Traditional people doing something on their land, such as catching
fish, practicing shifting cultivation, etc.

Pictures of Kuna people fishing in Panama.

Scientists carrying out a field study, such as censusing fish or coral
populations, catching animals for a field study, etc.

An iconic national park, Ramsar site, or World Heritage Site, with
recognizable scenery and perhaps some animals and/or people.

Tourists on foot, in a vehicle, or on a boat looking at wildlife,
perhaps with binoculars or cameras.

Bushmeat, with a hunter or in a market.

People practicing traditional medicine.

Rainforest logging, perhaps with logging vehicles or people with chain saws.

Wildlife disease; perhaps white-nose syndrome in bats.

People carrying out a restoration project; perhaps a before and after picture.

A public aquarium with people looking at fish or marine mammals.

Ecosystem services; something to illustrate this concept.

Conservation education in practice. 

[ECOLOG-L] BLAST VS EMBL-EBI

[Cyd E. Hamilton]

Hello,

Any opinions about using NCBI BLAST versus EMBL-EBI.  I just ran a series of 
fungal sequences and received different identifications.  I'm interested in 
other's experiences, opinions, and suggestions.

CEH

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Open Access References Re: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED piece about public access to research publications

[David L. McNeely]

 Nicholas Rosenstock  wrote: 
> A simple question that after 8 -10 years in science I still don't really
> get:
> 
> Where does the money go?

So far as ESA is concerned, _The Annual Report_ is published, duh, annually for 
anyone who wants to know:  http://www.esa.org/aboutesa/docs/annualreport2010.pdf

> 
> We often pay to publish. Most journals don't actually print anything
> anymore (or very little and only at an extra charge). 

On the contrary, print journals are still produced.  I receive my copies of 
_Ecology_, _Copeia_, _Science_, _SWN_   regularly, though I have recently asked 
ASIH to convert my life subscription to online only to save money for the 
society, and am dropping _Ecology_ for the same reason.  I can go to the 
library, or find other ways to get the papers I want.  Unlike some I suppose, I 
am still encouraging libraries to subscribe to both print and online versions 
(or the databases that supply them).

mcneely

mcneely

[ECOLOG-L] Conservation or Sustainability related Jobs in Costa Rica?

[Rachel Ford]

Dear Ecolog:

Greetings!

I'm reaching out to this wonderful network of many minds in hopes of having
a little luck and that one of you (or many!) have connections in Costa Rica
and wouldn't mind helping a young aspiring conservationist. So firstly,
thank you for taking the time to read this and not filter it out with the
other Ecolog e-mails that don't apply to you!

I am a native Costa Rican, born to a Costa Rican mother and an American
father. I speak English and Spanish fluently, and also can write well in
Spanish. I've lived in the U.S. most of my life and completed my B.Sc
Biology degree with a concentration in Marine and Freshwater Biology from
George Mason University. I also completed a minor in Applied Conservation
Studies through a joint program with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology
Institute. (I also completed a minor in Dance Appreciation from George
Mason, though I don't imagine this will take me anywhere professionally!)

Since my parents have moved back to Costa Rica and I have almost no family
in the US, I feel the need to move back there as well, but have been
advised against doing so without first having a job lined up. So, I've been
looking a bit on craigslist and the classifieds sections of TicoTimes and
La Nacion, and most of what I see is for teaching English, retail jobs,
sales, call centers, etc. and not much in any sort of conservation-related
job at all.

Do any of you know any organizations that might be a good idea for me to
check out? Or any helpful hints or ideas?

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this and offer any advice
you may have! I am generally quite independent minded and a bit shy with
reaching out to strangers (especially ones on Ecolog who I'd rather be
trying to impress or contributing intellectually to conversations with) for
help, and I am definitely stepping out of my comfort zone a bit on this
one, so I really from the bottom of my heart thank you!

Pura vida!

Sincerely yours,

Rachel E. Ford Melendez

PS - Since I have just a B.Sc and not an advanced degree, I understand that
a job as a researcher or something like that is probably out of the
question. I would love to eventually get an advanced degree, but I have a
lot of interests and a broad range of skills, so for now I really want to
just explore my interests and earn enough money to have my own place and a
little extra so I can learn to scuba dive. I am open to a variety of
different types of jobs, as long as at the end of the day I feel like I am
contributing towards a 'greater good' in some way. Ideally, I'd like to be
working with a conservation organization, but again I am open to various
opportunities such as working with a (legitimate) eco-tourist organization.
Something like an entry-level biological technician job would be ideal -
where I am serving to help carry gear and other practical things that
someone with "just a B.Sc" can do, but still contributing concretely
towards conservation or sustainability. My hope is that I could be uniquely
important in such a position because I can help translate English/Spanish
or Spanish/English, and also have the technical training to do things like
report writing, macroinvertebrate sampling, mist-netting, or water
chemistry testing. :-)

[ECOLOG-L] SER Seeks New Executive Director

[Sasha Alexander]

Dear All

We are actively looking for a new full-time ED that would work out of our 
DC office. If you know of anyone with fundraising and executive admin 
experience that would excel in a position like this, please forward to 
them this announcement. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate 
to contact me. best sasha

https://www.ser.org/pdf/ED_job_announcement_11_28_2011.pdf

[ECOLOG-L] Paid Internship: Explore the Ocean Layer, Google Earth

[Emy Rodriguez]

Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), a partner
organization working with Explore the Ocean in Google Earth, is seeking an
intern with good written bilingual language skills in Spanish and English
to assist on a content development project.

The intern will have the opportunity to gain professional experience and
contribute to the research and creation of content for Google Earth’s,
Explore the Ocean layer.

The internship will be based in the New York City office, and will be
supervised by GFDD’s Environmental Projects Manager.

The intern will be work primarily on gathering information on the marine
environment from partners in the Dominican Republic and using content
presented within the Dominican Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Environment
in creating ocean education posts for the Explore the Ocean layer.


Roles & Responsibilities include:

-Conduct online research and compile information on the Dominican Republic
related to marine ecosystems on diverse areas such as aquatic habitats,
coastal marine zones, marine protected areas, biodiversity, and pollution.

-Work with local partners in the Dominican Republic to obtain usage
rights for videos, pictures, reports, links, and relevant information that
can used in the creation of ocean education posts

-Writing of education posts in Spanish and English.

-Incorporate material and content from the Dominican Encyclopedic
Dictionary of the Environment


Requirements to Apply:

-Fluency in Spanish and English. Fluency in Portuguese also highly
desirable.

-Excellent research and writing skills

-Advanced knowledge in marine sciences highly desired. Applicants must
have a BA in biology, ecology, marine science, or other natural science
degree program

-Computer literacy a must (MS Office suite and internet applications)

-Experience with Google Earth, GIS. Experience with video editing would be
a plus, but not essential.

-Excellent phone and interpersonal skills

-Self starter, with ability to conduct independent research, work
independently with little or no supervision and as part of a team for
extended periods of time.

The length of appointment will be for approximately 3 months, starting in
early February 2012, and will be done on a part-time and paid basis. The
intern can expect to work approximately 30 hours per week.

Interested applicants should send (1) cover letter, including period of
availability, (2) CV including GPA and relevant coursework, and (3)
contact information for at least two references, to Charlotte Vick
 by Tuesday, January 31st, 2012.

[ECOLOG-L] PhD Assistantship: Plant-Insect Interactions

[Ian Kaplan]

I have funding to support a PhD student in the Department of Entomology at
Purdue University to work on tri-trophic interactions involving solanaceous
plants, the hornworm Manduca sexta, and their parasitoid wasp Cotesia
congregata. Specific research directions for this project are flexible, but
will likely involve an exploration of plant defenses and insect immunology.

Ideal students should be highly enthusiastic and interested in working at
the interface of ecology and entomology. Position comes with an annual
stipend of $18,500, full tuition waiver, and benefits package including
health insurance. Preferred start date is Summer 2012, although this may be
flexible depending on the circumstances.

For additional information visit the following websites:
Kaplan Lab: http://www.entm.purdue.edu/ecolab
Purdue Entomology: http://www.entm.purdue.edu

Interested individuals should contact me directly via email
(ikap...@purdue.edu) to discuss their background, qualifications, and
research interests. Please provide a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts
and GRE scores (unofficial are fine), and contact information for at least 3
references.

--
Ian Kaplan
Assistant Professor
Purdue University
Department of Entomology
West Lafayette, IN

[ECOLOG-L] Likelihood Methods in Ecology - Course Announcement

[Charles Canham]

COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT

Likelihood Methods in Ecology

April 2 - 6, 2012

Instructor:  Dr. Charles Canham

The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies will offer an intensive one-week course 
in the use of likelihood methods in ecology from April 2nd - 6th, 2012.   The 
methods provide a powerful tool for linking models and data, and provide a 
flexible alternative to traditional, parametric statistical analyses.  Labs 
will be based on use of the R statistical computing package.

LOCATION AND FEES: The course will be taught on the campus of the Cary 
Institute, in Millbrook, New York (roughly 90 miles north of New York City).  
The $900 course fee includes housing during the course in single rooms in 
Institute housing.  Students will be responsible for their travel expenses and 
meals.  Course fees must be submitted by March 1, 2012.   Details on how to 
submit the fees will be sent after initial registration.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The goal of the course is to introduce students 
to the concepts and methods of use of likelihood and information theory in data 
analysis and statistical modeling.  The labs will focus on the use of software 
tools in R that allow the students to construct their own analyses and models.  
Most of the examples used in the course will be drawn from forest ecology.

COURSE WEBSITE:
More information can be found at http://www.sortie-nd.org/lme/lme.html

TARGET AUDIENCE AND PREREQUISITES:  The course is intended for 
graduate students, post-docs, and practicing scientists.  An undergraduate or 
graduate level background in statistics is desired, but the course will teach 
the basic principles of probability theory required for the methods.  Students 
will need to be familiar with R.For novices, we will post a set of 
tutorials to provide a basic introduction to R - these should be completed 
before the start of the class.

REGISTRATION AND CLASS SIZE:  Class size will be limited to 16 
students.  To register, send an e-mail to Charles Canham at 
canh...@caryinstitute.org containing your 
name, mailing address, e-mail address, phone number and a brief statement of 
your research interests.  Please put "2012 Likelihood Course Registration" in 
the subject line of the message.


Dr. Charles D. Canham, Senior Scientist
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545

canh...@caryinstitute.org
(845) 677-5343
(845) 677-7600 ext. 139 (direct line)
http://www.caryinstitute.org/people_sci_canham.html

[ECOLOG-L] Research positions available: Agricultural Land Management in Prairie Landscapes

[Helen Baulch]

Research positions available:  Agricultural Land Management in Prairie 
Landscapes 

The Global Institute for Water Security (www.usask.ca/water) is launching a 
field and model-based program to address issues of agricultural land management 
in prairie landscapes.  The goal of this research program is to develop 
hydrological and process-based biogeochemical models suited to prairie 
environments.  We will then use these models to develop monitoring programs to 
characterize the effects of agricultural beneficial management practices on 
hydrology, biogeochemistry, and indicators of ecosystem health. 

We are seeking 3 masters students, 1 PhD student and 1 postdoctoral fellow to 
be a part of a project team, led by Drs. Howard Wheater, John Pomeroy, 
Cherie Westbrook and Helen Baulch.  This project will provide excellent 
opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers in both 
academia, and government, and will build upon existing, long-term monitoring 
programs at two prairie research sites.  Applicants should have a background in 
a relevant science or engineering discipline. 

To apply, please send a cover letter outlining your background and 
interests (including which position you are applying for), your CV, and a list 
of three references (with their contact information) to 
water.secur...@usask.ca.  Review of applications will begin January 16,
2012.  The anticipated start date is May or Sept 2012.  Informal inquiries 
are welcome – please contact Helen Baulch (helen.bau...@usask.ca) for 
additional information regarding all positions listed. 

Positions Available: 
>Hydrological and biogeochemical modelling positions:  
Postdoctoral fellow  - with Dr. John Pomeroy/Dr. Howard Wheater (3 years 
funding available)
We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow with strong programming and numerical 
modelling skills and experience in water quality modelling or hydrological 
modelling. 

PhD student – with Dr. Howard Wheater/ Dr. John Pomeroy (3 years funding 
available)
The PhD student should have strong numerical modelling and programming skills, 
and ideally will have some experience in water quality or hydrological 
modelling.
*Successful students will require admission through the School of 
Environment and Sustainability (http://www.usask.ca/sens/) or the College of 
Engineering (http://www.engr.usask.ca/). Please review eligibility criteria.

1 Masters student  - with Dr. Cherie Westbrook and Dr. John Pomeroy (2 years 
funding available)
The masters student will be responsible for setting up and running 
hydrological models, and should have strong quantitative skills, ideally with 
some experience in programming. *Successful students will require admission 
through the Department of Geography and Planning, College of Arts and Science 
(http://www.arts.usask.ca/geography/). Please review eligibility criteria.

>Biogeochemistry & aquatic ecosystem health positions – with Dr. Helen Baulch
We are seeking two enthusiastic masters students interested in stream 
biogeochemistry, and indicators of aquatic ecosystem health.  Students will 
gain a strong understanding of stream biogeochemistry, experience in several 
laboratory techniques, as well as expertise in the use of aquatic sensors.  
Applicants should have strong field and laboratory skills.  Two years of 
funding is available. *Successful students will require admission through the 
School of Environment and Sustainability (http://www.usask.ca/sens/). Please 
review eligibility criteria. 

[ECOLOG-L] Invitation to join a biodiversity expedition in Argentina in February or March

[Peter Morrison]

This is a special invitation to join Pacific Biodiversity Institute on an
expedition to explore the tremendous biodiversity and beautiful landscapes
of some of the biggest wildland areas left on Earth.  Pacific Biodiversity
Institute is engaged in a project to map, explore, document and work with
conservation partners on protection measures for the vast remaining
wildlands of South America.  You can read more about  this project by
following this link (and other links on that page):

http://www.pacificbio.org/initiatives/wildlands_south_america.html
 
We have 4 expeditions during February and March this year.  You are invited
to participate as a volunteer in any or all of them.  Space is limited and
participants will be carefully selected.  I guarantee that you will have the
time of your life  -  and you will have a chance to make a big contribution
to the protection of some of the most important wildland and biodiversity
resources left on the planet.  The conservation opportunities contained in
these wildlands are incredible.  Here, we still have the chance of
protecting unfragmented wildlands that are millions of acres in size.  And
participation in these expeditions is a chance to experience these areas in
an intimate way.  These are the "map's void spaces" - the white places on
the map that are off the radar screen of the tourist guides, the ecotourism
trips, etc.  The areas that we will be exploring are some of the most
magnificent places in South America, yet few people know about them.  That's
why they are still intact.  Yet the race is on - the mining companies, road
builders, loggers, and other developers are rushing to explore and exploit
these areas too.  But you have a chance to see them before they are
destroyed. And you have a chance to help with the first step of protecting
them for future generations to enjoy.  
 
You can read more about this opportunity by checking out the first news item
on the Pacific Biodiversity website:  
http://www.pacificbio.org/news.html and following the link to a detailed
description of the first expedition, which runs from February 1-15.   Three
other expeditions are planned for the last part of February and March.   If
you can not participate in on any of these, but are interested in future
expeditions, let me know and we will tell you about other opportunities in
the future.
 
Thank you for all you do to help conserve the rich natural heritage that we
all enjoy.
 
Cheers,
 
Peter Morrison
Executive Director
Pacific Biodiversity Institute
PO Box 298
Winthrop, WA 98862
p...@pacificbio.org
www.pacificbio.org  
 

[ECOLOG-L] Announcing new fast-track section in the journal Biogeochemistry

[Matthew Wallenstein]

We are excited to announce the launch of a new section in the journal
Biogeochemistry, and remind you that we are interested in novel
syntheses and reviews:

Biogeochemistry Letters

A new fast-track review process is available for high-profile
manuscripts that present results that substantially advance the field
or challenge entrenched ideas.  Letters are expected to present new
information in a concise format and appeal to a broad audience.  We
expect these papers to broaden our readership and solidify the
journal’s reputation for publishing cutting-edge research in the field
of Biogeochemistry.

The review process for submissions to this category will be expedited.
 After an initial screening by the section editor, Matthew
Wallenstein, they will be reviewed by our editorial review board
members who have agreed to review manuscripts within 21 days.  We aim
for an initial editorial decision within 30 days of submission, and a
rapid editorial and publication process thereafter. As an added
incentive for authors to cast their submissions in the concise Letters
format, all papers in this category will receive free color printed
figures.

In order to assure rapid publication, papers must conform to a strict
page limit and format. Submissions may contain up to 5000 words in the
main body (not including abstract, references, acknowledgements, or
captions), six display items (figures or tables), and 50 references.

Synthesis and Emerging Ideas

Biogeochemistry also publishes papers that are theoretical,
hypothetical, and/or synthetic in nature. If you have an idea for a
paper that you think will advance the concepts in the field of
biogeochemistry, that will challenge and expand people’s thinking, or
ultimately stimulate the development of new tools and information, we
invite submissions under the heading, Synthesis and Emerging Ideas (S
& EI).

We are always willing to consider traditional, potentially high-impact
review papers that summarize existing knowledge through S & EI, but we
are especially interested in papers that synthesize existing
information and/or data to generate new questions, ideas, theories,
and most importantly, stimulate thought and discussion. We would
especially welcome your papers that tackle emerging, unresolved or
controversial ideas head-on.  Synthesis and Emerging Ideas papers
should be prepared – and will be reviewed – with the same intellectual
rigor as other papers published in Biogeochemistry.

However, the review and acceptance processes will focus less on the
"rightness" of the paper and more on the rigor, impact, and potential
value of the ideas presented. When reviewing and selecting papers, one
key question we will ask is, Will this work advance biogeochemical
thinking and research?

If you have an idea for a Synthesis and Emerging Ideas paper that you
think meets that standard, please contact Cory Cleveland (the S & EI
section editor) directly before preparing and submitting your paper.
For more information, see the S & EI link under “For Authors and
Editors” on the right-hand side of this page. As an added incentive
for authors to submit novel reviews to this journal, all papers in
this category will receive free color printed figures.

-Kate Lajtha and Matt Wallenstein
-- 


Matthew Wallenstein

Assistant Professor
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1499

Wallenstein Lab Website
http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/~mawallen



PI, Enzymes in the Environment Research Coordination Network

http://enzymes.nrel.colostate.edu

[ECOLOG-L] BIA Fellowship opportunity: field research funding + public science engagement at a botanic garden

[Molly Steinwald]

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Pittsburgh, PA) is currently
accepting proposals for its 2012 Botany in Action Fellowship program, which
fosters the development of a next generation of plant-based scientists who
are committed both to excellent research and educational outreach.

Open to PhD students enrolled at US graduate institutions and conducting
plant-based scientific field research, the BIA program provides each Fellow
with:
1) $3,000 for use towards field research and related expenses at sites in
the US or abroad (including expenses for travel, food, housing, laboratory
supplies, and to return research findings to the research host community),
2) an all-expenses paid trip to Phipps in Pittsburgh, PA, to engage in
science outreach training and opportunities to translate and communicate his
or her research to non-scientific, public audiences through written, visual,
oral and/or multimedia means, and
3) subsequent opportunities to communicate his or her research to public
audiences through Phipps' classes, programs, newsletters, exhibits onsite
and online, and other outreach venues.

BIA Fellowship research priorities (listed in no particular order):*
- Ethnobotany, with special interest in medicinal plants; 
- Diversity and conservation, particularly in regional (southwest
Pennsylvania and tri-state area) and tropical forests; 
- Landscape and brownfield restoration, particularly in plant-based
ecosystem services; 
- Sustainable landscapes.
 
*For 2012, special consideration will be given to research in the following
areas (listed in no particular order):
- Medicinal plants;
- Plant-based ecosystem services for landscape and brownfield restoration;
- Sustainable landscapes in the US, particularly applicable to the southwest
Pennsylvania and tri- state area.

Learn more about Phipps, the BIA Fellowship program, and how to apply at: 
http://www.phipps.conservatory.org/project-green-heart/botany-in-action and
http://www.PhippsBotanyinAction.org

FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE: Jan 20, 2012, 11:59 pm.


---
Molly Steinwald, MS, PhD candidate
Director of Science Education
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
1 Schenley Park
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-441-4442 ext 3804
msteinw...@phipps.conservatory.org
http://www.phipps.conservatory.org

Phipps' mission is to inspire and educate visitors with the beauty and
importance of plants, to advance sustainability and worldwide diversity
through action and research, and to celebrate its historic glasshouse.

Watch "The Evolving Green Story of Phipps" at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG1srhdIZHk

[ECOLOG-L] Habitat Improvement Project Lead

[Bridget Walden]

Restoration and Adaptive Management 
Habitat Improvement Project Lead

Position Objectives: 
In cooperation with the Nevada Division of Wildlife (NDOW), The Great Basin
Institute is recruiting an experienced individual to serve as a Habitat
Improvement Project lead. The overall objective of this habitat improvement
effort is to perform the restoration of cavity-nesting songbird habitats by
removing mining claim posts throughout the state of Nevada. Removing the
abandoned posts will protect wildlife from mortality and injury, and will
restore nesting, foraging and migratory habitat for dozens of native
wildlife species throughout the state.

Duties: 
General field duties include walking long distances over uneven terrain,
following and collecting GPS points, observing and monitoring wildlife,
identifying vegetative demographics and distribution, and taking
photo-points. The Project Lead will also coordinate with GBI Staff and the
NDOW Lead for project planning, equipment organization and maintenance,
vehicle coordination, field protocol and data QA/QC, and team deployment and
supervision. The successful applicants must have strong communication skills
(both verbal and written) and exhibit strong leadership and organization
skills. Office tasks may include data organization, processing and QA/QC;
and post-processing GPS points. This position will require travel to and
from field sites and back-country camping during the field season and may
require long hours including early mornings and weekends.

The project team will include three international volunteers, rotating every
6-12 weeks. A program of the Great Basin Institute (GBI), the International
Conservation Volunteer Exchange (ICVE) is a volunteer program for
international participants who wish to collaborate with American
environmental professionals on natural resource projects on public lands
throughout the American West. ICVE is based on the philosophy that
international understanding and goodwill can be achieved through cooperating
on the shared goal of improving the environment. By attracting a corps of
conservation-minded volunteers, ICVE contributes to the breakdown of
cultural barriers while advancing ecological awareness on a global scale.
 
Contract length: February 22, 2012 – December 21, 2012

Rate of Pay: $13 - $16/hour DOE + medical and dental benefits + field per diem

Location:
The position will be based out of GBI’s Reno, NV office. Field site
locations are located throughout Nevada, and may require several hours of
travel time to access. Terrain is typical of the Great Basin and Mojave with
wide long valleys bordered by mountain ranges. Field conditions include hot,
arid days with high exposure to the sun. Resources include big game habitat,
Wilderness Study Areas, active grazing allotments, abandoned mine lands,
historic and prehistoric cultural sites, and wild horse management areas. 

Qualifications:
•   Bachelor’s degree in one of the major natural sciences – applicants with
advanced degrees encouraged to apply;
•   Understanding of basic principles related to the fields of soil science,
wildlife biology, geology, and/or hydrology;
•   Applicants should possess relevant or related field experience – 
knowledge
of and/or experience working in high desert ecology, preferable;
•   Ability to navigate and set a bearing using a compass and to read a
topographical map;
•   Ability to collect, QA/QC, and post-process data using handheld GPS 
units,
required;
•   Possess a clear understanding of GIS theory and applications, including
experience with ArcGIS 9.x to create maps, manipulate and analyze data, and
generate reports; 
•   Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a
diverse audience; 
•   Physically fit to work outdoors, carry personal and field equipment, and
withstand working and camping in inclement weather during spring and summer
weather in northern Nevada; 
•   Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license and the ability to
operate a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads; and
•   Pass FBI criminal and National Sex Offender Public Registry background 
checks.

How to Apply:
Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their
résumé, and a list of three professional references to Bridget Walden, at
bwal...@thegreatbasininstitute.org. Please include where you found this
position posted. Application deadline us January 29, 2012.

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national
origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or
religion. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

[ECOLOG-L] wetland ecologist position

[John J. Mack]

Cleveland Metroparks is a large metropolitan park district consisting of
over 21,000 acres and located in five counties in Northeast Ohio.  We are
seeking a wetland ecologist to join our expanding natural resource
management program.  The Wetland Ecologist will develop and implement
ecosystem assessment, natural recovery, and habitat restoration projects in
wetlands and other aquatic resources of Cleveland Metroparks and northeast
Ohio.  Job duties will include developing conceptual and final wetland
habitat restoration plans, budgeting, scheduling, agency and staff
coordination, restoration construction management, long-term monitoring,
wetland delineations, plant and aquatic community surveys, and regulatory
permitting.  To see the posting, go to 
http://www.clemetparks.com/aboutus/employment/hr_fulltime.asp

To Apply:  E-Mail résumé to resu...@clevelandmetroparks.com

For additional information you may contact John Mack, Chief of Natural
Resources, at 440-331-8569, or j...@clevelandmetroparks.com

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Open Access References Re: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED piece about public access to research publications

[Wayne Tyson]

There are two kinds of professional; one puts the buck first, the other the 
work.


The unanswered question remains the fundamental one of policy, not the 
specifics in cases. The test for the consistency of an action with a policy 
is whether or not the objectives of the organization are best served by said 
policy. Does a given [publications] policy tend to advance the purposes of 
the organization or retard those purposes.


WT


- Original Message - 
From: "David L. McNeely" 

To: 
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 6:33 AM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Open Access References Re: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED 
piece about public access to research publications



All of us know who the real buck chasing publishers are, and they are not 
the scholarly organizations like ESA.  Elsevier Press comes to mind.  I'm 
not sure what Wayne means when he says, "Concentrate on the work rather 
than the buck."  One certainly doesn't get any bucks for publishing in a 
traditional journal.  One does get some degree of recognition, depending 
on the paper and how successful one is in getting multiple papers 
published.  But by and large, there is no profit in it for authors.  For 
Elsevier, there is profit.  For ESA, ASLO, ASIH .., h... .


If science wants to turn from traditional, peer reviewed publication to a 
free for all, well, it will do so.  But we need to be very careful about 
doing away with our scholarly organizations.  Whether we own up to it or 
not, that is what is being proposed.


mcneely

 Wayne Tyson  wrote:

Honorable Forum:

>From
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/opinion/research-bought-then-paid-for.html?_r=1

"Researchers should cut off commercial journals' supply of papers by
publishing exclusively in one of the many "open-access" journals that are
perfectly capable of managing peer review . . ."

That is, AVOID the "prestigious" journals and concentrate on the work 
rather
than the buck. Be on the leading edge of advancing science in all 
directions

rather than depriving the "lay" public of the fruits of your talent and
effort.

WT

- Original Message - 
From: "David Inouye" 

To: 
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 3:32 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED piece about public access to research
publications


> http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/opinion/research-bought-then-paid-for.html
>
>
> -
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4136 - Release Date: 01/11/12
>


--
David McNeely


-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4138 - Release Date: 01/12/12

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Open Access References Re: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED piece about public access to research publications

[Nicholas Rosenstock]

A simple question that after 8 -10 years in science I still don't really
get:

Where does the money go?

We often pay to publish. Most journals don't actually print anything
anymore (or very little and only at an extra charge). Reviewing is free
(and in my opinion should stay so).

So that leaves:
Editors
Layout artists
Website development and IT
But they can do a lot of work, and it seems to me the subscription fees are
too high to cover them, and that the submission fees should cover them.

Does anyone have a breakdown of where the money goes? (how much goes to
what?)

The companies we love to hate, are still only slightly profitable (ie. less
than 50% profit, often much less) which means that most of what we spend
for access goes to their costs, so what is the breakdown of these costs?
Anyone know?

What's the difference in accounting for open access journals? How do they
pay for Editors, Layout artists, Website development and IT?

Curious, thanks

-Nick



On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 3:33 PM, David L. McNeely  wrote:

> All of us know who the real buck chasing publishers are, and they are not
> the scholarly organizations like ESA.  Elsevier Press comes to mind.  I'm
> not sure what Wayne means when he says, "Concentrate on the work rather
> than the buck."  One certainly doesn't get any bucks for publishing in a
> traditional journal.  One does get some degree of recognition, depending on
> the paper and how successful one is in getting multiple papers published.
>  But by and large, there is no profit in it for authors.  For Elsevier,
> there is profit.  For ESA, ASLO, ASIH .., h... .
>
> If science wants to turn from traditional, peer reviewed publication to a
> free for all, well, it will do so.  But we need to be very careful about
> doing away with our scholarly organizations.  Whether we own up to it or
> not, that is what is being proposed.
>
> mcneely
>
>  Wayne Tyson  wrote:
> > Honorable Forum:
> >
> > >From
> >
> http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/opinion/research-bought-then-paid-for.html?_r=1
> >
> > "Researchers should cut off commercial journals' supply of papers by
> > publishing exclusively in one of the many "open-access" journals that are
> > perfectly capable of managing peer review . . ."
> >
> > That is, AVOID the "prestigious" journals and concentrate on the work
> rather
> > than the buck. Be on the leading edge of advancing science in all
> directions
> > rather than depriving the "lay" public of the fruits of your talent and
> > effort.
> >
> > WT
> >
> > - Original Message -
> > From: "David Inouye" 
> > To: 
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 3:32 PM
> > Subject: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED piece about public access to research
> > publications
> >
> >
> > >
> http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/opinion/research-bought-then-paid-for.html
> > >
> > >
> > > -
> > > No virus found in this message.
> > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > > Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4136 - Release Date: 01/11/12
> > >
>
> --
> David McNeely
>



-- 

Post-doctoral Researcher: Wallander and Tunlid Labs
Microbial Ecology
Department of Ecology
Lund University
Ekologihuset, SE-223 62, Lund
Sweden

[ECOLOG-L] Wanted: Ecology Field Research Assistants in Wooster, Ohio

[Ben Phillips]

*Position Description:*

The Agricultural Landscape Ecology (ALE) Lab studies working landscapes,
which are modified by humans to provide shelter, food, fiber, and fuel. Our
research examines how disturbances within these landscapes such as the
invasion of exotic species, land use changes, or agricultural management
practices influence insect communities. We are especially interested in the
conservation of beneficial organisms such as parasitoids, predators and
pollinators that provide vital agroecosystem services such as pollination
and herbivore suppression. These are positions intended for students
looking to gain field and research experience. Successful applicants will
have the opportunity to work closely with an MS or PhD student to carry out
large research projects. Our lab is part of the Ohio State University’s
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) located in
Wooster, Ohio.



*Qualifications:*

Ability to work in the field under summer conditions (heat, rain, sun,
biting/stinging insects), long drives, possible overnights, early mornings,
and a background in biology and/or ecology. Previous experience in, or a
strong interest in learning, insect and spider identification. Plant
identification and GIS experience a plus. Applicants must be a current
undergraduate student or recent graduate (less than 6 months). A valid
driver’s license is required.



*Length of Season: *Flexible start dates beginning in May or June running
until August or later (see descriptions below).



*Pay Rates: *

Pay rate $8.50/hr for approximately 40 hrs/wk (can change weekly depending
upon necessary field work).



*Housing and Area Information: *Applicants would need to arrange lodging
for themselves. Fully furnished and flexible living opportunities are only
a short walk away from campus (http://www.docsier.com/) or within a short
commute (
http://www.epmapartments.com/apartmentsearch.aspx?state=Ohio&building=6641).
Wooster is a town of approximately 26,000 located 50 mi south of Cleveland
and 35 mi southwest of Akron. Medical and dental services, shopping, and a
variety of restaurants are located downtown or just north of town. There
are also many recreational parks in the area.

* *

*APPLY BY: *February 29, 2012



*1. Pumpkins and floral resource strips:*

Disturbances that accompany the production of agricultural crops can
negatively impact beneficial arthropod communities and the
arthropod-mediated ecosystem services they support. However, the
introduction of floral resources to provide habitat and alternative food
and prey for beneficial insects has been shown to increase their diversity
and abundance. This project will investigate how the addition of a
perennial floral strip consisting of native Ohio forbs and grasses and an
annual floral strip of sweet alyssum will influence both beneficial insect
communities and the biocontrol and pollination services they supply within
pumpkin agroecosystems. Desired dates: June – August, with potential to
work part-time into the fall. Please send cover letter with a description
of interests and skills along with a CV/resume (with references) to Ben
Phillips (phillips.1030"at"osu.edu).



*2. Urban land use change and the influence on arthropod communities*:

Many urban areas experiencing economic decline, such as Cleveland, Ohio,
contain large areas of vacant land under consideration for environmental
restoration or redesign. Spiders are important natural enemies within these
greenspaces and may serve as a model system for understanding how urban
land use changes influence animal communities and the ecosystem services
they provide. This research measures the composition of spider communities
and their potential prey within maintained vacant lots and also those
repurposed as community gardens and grasslands for biodiversity refugia.



Field season runs from early June until mid-August. Provides opportunities
to meet people working in urban gardens and urban ecology. Field work takes
place within the metropolitan Cleveland area and Metroparks; early morning
starts, no overnights. Lab work includes sorting samples using a microscope
and patience. Please contact Caitlin Burkman (burkman.7"at"osu.edu) with a
short description of interest and skills and a CV/resume (including
references) or any questions.



*3. Pesticide exposure of pollinators:*

Pesticide use is often cited as a potential factor leading to decline among
beneficial arthropods; however it is difficult to determine the actual
environmental exposure of an organism within its foraging range. Our goal
is to understand how landscapes influence exposure of bee species to
pesticides. Must not be allergic to bees or afraid  to work with live
beehives. Contact Scott Prajzner (prajzner.1"at"osu.edu) with a short
description of interest and skills and a CV/resume (including references).

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Open Access References Re: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED piece about public access to research publications

[David L. McNeely]

All of us know who the real buck chasing publishers are, and they are not the 
scholarly organizations like ESA.  Elsevier Press comes to mind.  I'm not sure 
what Wayne means when he says, "Concentrate on the work rather than the buck."  
One certainly doesn't get any bucks for publishing in a traditional journal.  
One does get some degree of recognition, depending on the paper and how 
successful one is in getting multiple papers published.  But by and large, 
there is no profit in it for authors.  For Elsevier, there is profit.  For ESA, 
ASLO, ASIH .., h... .

If science wants to turn from traditional, peer reviewed publication to a free 
for all, well, it will do so.  But we need to be very careful about doing away 
with our scholarly organizations.  Whether we own up to it or not, that is what 
is being proposed.

mcneely

 Wayne Tyson  wrote: 
> Honorable Forum:
> 
> >From 
> http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/opinion/research-bought-then-paid-for.html?_r=1
> 
> "Researchers should cut off commercial journals' supply of papers by 
> publishing exclusively in one of the many "open-access" journals that are 
> perfectly capable of managing peer review . . ."
> 
> That is, AVOID the "prestigious" journals and concentrate on the work rather 
> than the buck. Be on the leading edge of advancing science in all directions 
> rather than depriving the "lay" public of the fruits of your talent and 
> effort.
> 
> WT
> 
> - Original Message - 
> From: "David Inouye" 
> To: 
> Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 3:32 PM
> Subject: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED piece about public access to research 
> publications
> 
> 
> > http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/opinion/research-bought-then-paid-for.html
> >
> >
> > -
> > No virus found in this message.
> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4136 - Release Date: 01/11/12
> > 

--
David McNeely

[ECOLOG-L] Open Access References Re: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED piece about public access to research publications

[Wayne Tyson]

Honorable Forum:

From 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/opinion/research-bought-then-paid-for.html?_r=1

"Researchers should cut off commercial journals' supply of papers by 
publishing exclusively in one of the many "open-access" journals that are 
perfectly capable of managing peer review . . ."


That is, AVOID the "prestigious" journals and concentrate on the work rather 
than the buck. Be on the leading edge of advancing science in all directions 
rather than depriving the "lay" public of the fruits of your talent and 
effort.


WT

- Original Message - 
From: "David Inouye" 

To: 
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 3:32 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] NYT OP-ED piece about public access to research 
publications




http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/opinion/research-bought-then-paid-for.html


-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4136 - Release Date: 01/11/12

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Is there a referee crisis in ecology?

[Joe Nocera]

David has brought up some good points and questions about Peerage of Science, 
and the attempt to fix some of the obvious problems with the current 
peer-review system.  Below are some responses to paraphrased versions of 
David's questions [in brackets] and further thoughts, jointly written by 
Janne-Tuomas Seppänen (PoS founder) and me.
 
"[Wouldn't editors still send a submitted ms out for review anyway]?" -- The 
idea of Peerage of Science is that authors eventually would no longer need to 
"submit" anywhere. Instead they *send* (emphasizing this word to distinguish 
from "submit") manuscripts to be peer reviewed at PoS, and journals with access 
to the system can proactively send publishing offers, if and when a peer review 
process indicates a manuscript meets their standards. In their offer to 
publish, editors can specify that the offer is conditional on another 
"in-house" peer review, if they wish.  But that is extra work, and a journal 
that trusts Peerage of Science enough to participate probably would not see a 
need to do that.

An editor of a non-participating journal receiving a manuscript with "exported" 
peer review reports is another situation. Since PoS is still such a new 
endeavour, many editors probably will opt to organize an additional "in-house" 
peer review. We trust that they will soon realize that the reliability and 
quality of reviews from Peerage of Science is at least as good as, and probably 
better than, the reviews they get after significant delay and toil through the 
traditional system, and start to accept the Peerage of Science reviews due to 
the improved efficiency of decision-making.

"[Wouldn't this attract biased reviewers who see themselves as gatekeepers]?" 
-- Reviewers with strong unjustified point of view, unqualified comments, and 
nasty wording are common enough in the traditional system. The 
peer-review-of-peer-review keeps these in check in Peerage of Science, because 
unjustified comments lead to lower scores. The system seeks to have the best of 
both anonymity and openness: you have the security of anonymity, but suffer 
from doing malicious things personally (your performance score takes a hit), 
and you have incentive to openly publish your peer-reviewed review report once 
the process is complete. In the traditional system, the worst consequence you 
can suffer from abusing anonymity is that the journal never requests your 
reviews again.

"[What prevents the system from being gamed]?" -- Gaming is not impossible, but 
takes some effort and is very risky relative to payoff. You are not allowed to 
access manuscripts authored by affiliated scientists (from someone in your 
institution, or your recent co-authors).  A pattern of reciprocal altruism with 
a co-conspirator would be evident in the system logs, and scientific misconduct 
leads to life-long ban from the service. If necessary, the system will feature 
a "report abuse" button for reviewers spotting a purposefully biased (be it 
positive or negative) review, launching an investigation.

You can invite imaginary people, but they will not get peer status (i.e. a 
right to access manuscripts) because this is granted only after service 
administration has verified identity and qualifications. Naturally,
such a "prank" would be clearly identified in the system logs.

"[What prevents ideas from getting stolen and scooped]?" -- Peerage of Science 
actually mitigates the possibility of ideas or papers getting stolen, this is 
discussed in the service FAQ.
We hope this helps clarify a few of the excellent points David raised.  
Answering these questions is very important - as it illustrates some of the 
advantages of PoS over the current (and more flawed) traditional peer-review 
system, which is more subject to many of the maladies mentioned above.

Sincerely,
Joe Nocera and Janne-Tuomas Seppänen
(Member of Board of Governors and Founder of Peerage of Science, respectively)

Peerage of Science
http://www.peerageofscience.org


- Original Message -
From: David C Duffy 
Date: Monday, January 9, 2012 9:22 am
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Is there a referee crisis in ecology?
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU

> The concept of the Peerage of Science is an interesting one and 
> potentially quite useful but I have a few concerns, perhaps 
> because I don't understand the system.
> 
> Wouldn't editors still  send a submitted ms out for review, to 
> reviewers they personally know are competent, know the subject, 
>  and are unbiased (although editors have also been known to send 
> mss to a biased or 'pitbull' reviewer to see what their best 
> shot at the ms is).  Wouldn't this actually add a layer to the 
> publication process and stretch good reviewers even thinner?
> 
> Wouldn't such a system  attract reviewers  who have their own 
> strong point of view and see themselves as gatekeepers for 
> particular subjects?  Climate change deniers could infiltrate 
> and wreck havoc with reviews of climate chang