Re: [ECOLOG-L] field computer/pda recommendations?
We just finished a tablet evaluation process, to support collecting water-related biological and physical habitat data using statewide GRTS probability sampling. What was selected was Mobile Demand. It's somewhere between tablet and laptop. Our usage is heavy. So far the field crews like it. Some of our business considerations: screen size screen type- resistive or not water resistance drop-tolerance screen glare processing speed form to form navigation screen / keyboard sensitivity on-screen keyboard vs. physical keyboard built into case operating system supportive of eform technology browser supportive of caching eforms for offline data entry browser supportive of across-the-web-to-secure staging table transmission integrated good quality GPS battery life agency standards J. Janisch -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Theresa Culley Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 12:20 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] field computer/pda recommendations? We have had great success using an IPad in the field (both an IPad 2 and a mini). We use it to enter data for plant morphological measurements in prairie and forested areas, using a customized version of the Numbers app. The nice thing is that with 3G and 4G access, we can periodically upload data to the cloud to make sure that nothing is lost while in the field (and use the device ourselves with Google Earth to make sure we are not lost). You can also purchase waterproof plastic carriers - but be careful using an Otterbox case...our devices kept overheating in the sun and would shut off, so we had to remove the case. We have had the best of luck just using the IPads with a basic shell case that is conveniently a bright color for fieldwork. Theresa Culley On 8/18/2014 6:32 PM, Malcolm McCallum wrote: Even if you use a PDA or other electronic device in the field, it is probably still a good idea to keep good records in a field book too. As easy as it is to destroy a field book, electronics can be easier! :) I have used Tremble XM and XT in the field which is essentially a PDA. They worked ok. Then, Garmin had a GPS/PDA for a while but I dont think they make it any more. It was actually easier to use than the Tremble, although not as technically good. I have not used PDAs otherwise. However, you might do better using a smart phone than a PDA these days. The newest HP Pavillion has a 6 hr battery with an A8 processor. It seems like a good laptop to me. With Windows 8.1 you can install 8.1 pro and then run programs in 8.1 that require oldeer operating systems. I can't remember if you install th other operating system inside 8.1 or if its just a setting. However, I am 90% certain you must have 8.1 pro to do it. On Mon, Aug 18, 2014 at 1:41 PM, Rosemary Hartman rosehart...@gmail.com wrote: Hello all, Does anyone have recommendations (or counter-recommendations) on field computers or pdas for collecting ecological data? I have some experience entering data on one of the Juniper Systems models ( http://www.junipersys.com/), and they are the ones I have seen most often, but I don't have experience setting up any of these systems, and Im not sure which model I would want. I'm looking for something to enter wetlands and fisheries data in the field, so it must be robust to dropping in the water and getting slimed by carp. Thanks! -- Rosemary Hartman rosehart...@gmail.com 301-538-0136 -- Theresa M. Culley, PhD Associate Professor Editor-in-Chief, Applications in Plant Sciences Department of Biological Sciences University of Cincinnati 614 Rieveschl Hall Cincinnati, OH 45221-0006 Tel: 513-556-9705; Fax: 513-556-5299 Email: theresa.cul...@uc.edu http://homepages.uc.edu/~culleyt/CulleyLab.html
Re: [ECOLOG-L] USA jobs: CV vs. Resume
I'd like to thank Brian Mitchell for this rarely-offered insight into the federal hiring process. Having spent a couple years applying for federal positions without much to show for it, it was beginning to seem a waste of time. Jack E. Janisch -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Brian Mitchell Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 12:11 AM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] USA jobs: CV vs. Resume Hello Ecolog, I hope that, as a federal employee who had done a lot of hiring over the past 7 years and who happens to have insomnia tonight, that I can offer a few comments and suggestions relevant to this thread. First, some background: The federal hiring system has changed significantly over the last couple of years. The current system has applicants fill out a self-ranking and submitting a CV to apply for positions. The self-rankings are reviewed by HR, and in theory if you lie (i.e., do not document all high self-rankings in your CV) they can reduce your score and knock you off the final cert. In practice, they don't review rankings and only check for minimum qualifications before sending applications to the hiring official. That person receives a large number of applicants who fall into the highest category of self-ratings, and that person will receive a different set (called a cert, often with a lot of overlap) for each grade and job series. This is easily thirty or more applicants who make the cut. On any given cert, a veteran can rise to the top of the cert if their application falls within that highest category (for most vets) or if they meet the minimum qualifications for the position (for a disabled vet). If a vet is on a cert, the law says that the vet has to decline the job before anyone else on that cert can be offered a job from it (but hiring officials are free to work other certs). As a hiring official, the first thing I do is toss the questionnaires into the trash. Nobody is honest on them, and the responses are useless. The next thing I do is spend a few minutes with each CV to weed out the chaff - people who were not at all qualified for the job but got in based on questionnaire responses alone. Then I'll do a second review of the remaining CVs to try to pick a few people out for interviews, and take it from there. As a hiring official, vet preference aside, I can hire anyone on any of my certs, for any reason. There is nothing illegal about choosing a candidate who is known to me, or who has done some networking and made contact with me by other means. I am not even required to conduct interviews. Perhaps this seems unfair, but many hiring officials would rather have a good candidate who they know than a great candidate they don't know; often that great candidate is only great on paper. My advice is: 1) Do NOT submit a resume and a CV; it is unnecessary duplication. Others may disagree here, but when I take 3-5 minutes to look at your application, the last thing I want is to read the same exact stuff twice; it annoys me and you don't want to annoy me during the few minutes I have with your application. DO take the time to make sure you address/document in your CV experiences that led you to rate yourself highly in the questionnaire. Yes, I did not look at your questionnaire, but I DID write the questions to reflect the skills I think are important. Document those skills or your resume will be considered chaff. 2) DO take the time to write a good cover letter. Show that you know something about the job or organization. Do your homework by looking at the hiring organization's web site, at the very least. This is where you can highlight your specific skills and experience for the position; the sorts of things that you might target on a short resume. 3) Do NOT worry about key words. That was from the old days, when the HR reviewer was actually a hurdle rather than a pass-through. DO worry about documenting your skills relevant to the position. 4) Do follow up with the hiring official, if you are able to determine who that is. You can even try contacting before submitting the application to see if they have someone in mind for the position. Most people will not provide this information, but some will. It can't hurt, and it might help. 5) I'll reiterate the advice already sent to read the application instructions carefully. Don't eliminate yourself by not submitting ALL college transcripts, for example. 6) I would tell you not to despair, and that if you apply enough times you'll get a job, but the sequester is real and it is having a serious effect. This is a lousy time to be looking for permanent work in the federal government. There is a near-complete hiring freeze on permanent positions in Interior, and I believe in many other Departments as well. The few jobs that are out there will have immense
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Statistical Question on Temperature Profiles
A generalized approach taking the whole temperature profile into account is to use a sinusoidal regression describing the reference condition to predict the temperature of the treatment condition, also described by a sinusoidal regression, then analyze differences between the regressions using a repeated measures analysis. The objects being studied need to be paired in some way to do this, but the gls function in the nlme package, R, can be used to correctly estimate the regression error if autocorrelation is present, which can then be modeled with an AR term. JE Janisch -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Christopher Brown Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 13:16 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Statistical Question on Temperature Profiles Ecologgers, I have a master's student who is examining thermal preferences of two species of scorpions in the Sky Islands of southeastern Arizona. She has gathered some field temperature data as part of her thesis, but we are unsure how best to analyze the data (or perhaps more specifically, what data to analyze). I've given some details below, if you have some insight for us! The short version of the experiment: these scorpions are found under rocks during the day, and we have determined thermal profiles for 15 rocks under which scorpions were found and 15 rocks under which scorpions were not found. For both sets of rocks, we measured length and width and selected a range of sizes based on binning the rocks into three categories (small, intermediate, and large) and then choosing 5 rocks in each size range. Each rock had an iButton placed under it, and temperatures were recorded every 30 minutes for 48 hours. Her basic question is then, do the thermal characteristics of chosen rocks differ from the thermal characteristics of non-chosen rocks? Our problem is, what data should we use? Our first though is at a simple level: we could calculate mean temps for the two rock categories and compare them with a t-test, and/or we could compare variances or ranges (max-min) with a t-test to determine if variability differs between rocks. We've found a couple of different variations of this kind of analysis in the literature, but we'd like to know if this is the best (or best) way to analyze the data, or are there more sophisticated techniques that involve analysis of the whole profile? If we do use a fairly simple analysis based on some type of summary variable, what is the best summary variable to use (mean? Variance? Range? Something else?) and the best analysis to do? If anyone has any experience in analyzing this type of data and has some suggestions, we'd be happy to hear from you! Thanks, CAB *** Chris Brown Associate Professor Dept. of Biology, Box 5063 Tennessee Tech University Cookeville, TN 38505 email: cabr...@tntech.edu website: iweb.tntech.edu/cabrown
[ECOLOG-L] Vacancy Announcement: Environmental Specialist 2, Lacey, WA
please post. ___ Vacancy: 1 Type: Project, full time Closing Date: 10/02/2009 Location: Lacey, WA Description: This position supports the Type N Experimental Buffer Study, Forests and Fish group. Contact: Martha Maggi 360.407.6453 mmag...@ecy.wa.gov http://198.238.211.77:8005/jobs/NB00018770.pdf
[ECOLOG-L] Correction: Vacancy Announcement: Environmental Specialist 2, Lacey, WA
all questions about this position should be directed to: Logan Thuet Washington Dept. of Ecology logan.th...@ecy.wa.gov 360.407.6182 -Original Message- From: Janisch, Jack (ECY) Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 9:42 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Vacancy Announcement: Environmental Specialist 2, Lacey, WA please post. ___ Vacancy: 1 Type: Project, full time Closing Date: 10/02/2009 Location: Lacey, WA Description: This position supports the Type N Experimental Buffer Study, Forests and Fish group. Contact: Martha Maggi 360.407.6453 mmag...@ecy.wa.gov http://198.238.211.77:8005/jobs/NB00018770.pdf
Re: [ECOLOG-L] inexpensive iButton radiation shield
Steve, we use Tidbits, which are larger sensors with a mounting port, but here are a couple methods we've used in the past. 1. plastic flower pots: we hang the sensor from twine so it just clears the bottom of the pot. the pot is hung and stabilized with zip ties. 2. sewer pipe caps: these can be mounted with angle brackets. We usually coat both of these with camo paint. -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Hanser Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:47 AM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: [ECOLOG-L] inexpensive iButton radiation shield I am looking for an inexpensive method for constructing radiation shielding for iButton thermochrons. I am using iButtons to take winter temperatures in snowy conditions and I need protection from both direct and indirect solar radiation. I would appreciate any ideas. Thanks. Steve Hanser Wildlife Biologist USGS, FRESC, Snake River Field Station 970 Lusk St. Boise, ID 83706 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[ECOLOG-L] seasonal internships, WA Dept of Ecology
please post _ Appointment Type: Internship Working Time: Full Time Reference Code: NB9996* Opening Date: 03/03/2008 Closing Date: 03/17/2008 Environmental Intern 1, 2 OR 3- Dept. of Ecology, Lacey WA $1848-$2169/ $2119-$2492/ $-$2611 per month- Depending on Qualifications Agency Information MISSION VISION The Department of Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land and water for current and future generations. This means protecting both humans and the environment from pollution; restoring and preserving important ecosystems that sustain life; and finding ways to meet human needs without destroying environmental resources and functions. Fundamental to achieving these results lies in our everyday interaction with citizens, stakeholders, and the public we regulate. We treat our customers as partners and collaborators: provide respectful and prompt service; explore creative solutions for the best results; and act with integrity. Also critical is maintaining effective infrastructures and a workforce that is committed, productive and successful. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, teamwork, professionalism and accountability. The citizens of Washington trust that the Department of Ecology supports and assists them in promoting the sustainable environmental and economic well being of the state. That trust, coupled with our effectiveness, helps Ecology to continue to receive the support it needs to advance our environmental mission. To learn more about our Agency, please visit our website at: www.ecy.wa.gov POSITION INFORMATION: There are four current vacancies with the Department of Ecology, Environmental Assessment Program, Headquarters, in Lacey Washington. These internships are funded through June 30, 2008, but funding is expected to continue until June 30, 2009. The mission of the Environmental Assessment Program is to measure and assess environmental conditions in Washington State for the purpose of providing credible science to guide environmental decisions. Duties Under supervision, serves as field assistant on 2-3 member crew during collection of regional stream and riparian forest data related to State of Washington forestry practices rules. These are primarily field positions focusing on private second-growth forest riparian zones in Eastern and Western Washington. Work will be based in Lacey, WA but 3-4 days/week of travel in Eastern Washington for two months is expected. Housing is not provided but employees will be reimbursed for motel costs while in travel status related to state business. Responsibilities may include: *Placement of temperature loggers in small to mid-sized streams *Collection of simple forest measurements *Maintenance of detailed field notes *Interpretation of maps *Navigation to study sites *Driving state vehicles and other tasks as requested *Valuable prior experience includes ability to use GPS, navigate by compass, hike through forests and along rivers,familiarity with spreadsheets and database programs such as Access, and general field safety practices. Work schedule Full time, four 10-hour days per week, Monday-Thursday, beginning at 7 am. Interns are eligible for overtime compensation (when working 10 hrs/day or 40 hours/week) and reimbursement of travel costs (food and lodging) as defined by agency policies. These positions include full state employee benefits. Qualifications REQUIRED A valid driver's license For Administrative Intern 1: Completion of at least four semesters or six quarters work (or equivalent) at an accredited college or university. OR Equivalent education/experience. For Administrative Intern 2: Possess a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college or university. OR Equivalent education/experience. For Administrative Intern 3: Complete of at least one quarter or one semester graduate work after receiving a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college or university. OR Equivalent education/experience. DESIRED *Attention to detail *Ability to hike over rugged terrain with field gear *Travel throughout the state as necessary *Project interest and enthusiasm *Tolerance of long field hours, biting insects, and inclement weather. Previous experience conducting environmental monitoring is desired but not required. Special Notes To ensure consideration for this position, apply electronically at www.careers.wa.gov using reference code NB9996* and submit the following materials as attachments (ATTACHMENTS TAB) by March 12, 2008. A letter of interest A resume Other Information The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a
[ECOLOG-L] job announcement, WA Dept. of Ecology
Please Post. _ Appointment Type: Project (Limited Duration) Working Time: Full Time Reference Code: NB9785I Opening Date: 02/15/2008 Closing Date: 02/29/2008 Project Lead- Extensive Riparian Monitoring (ES3), Dept. of Ecology, Lacey WA $3228-$4237 per month (Range 49) Agency Information MISSION VISION The Department of Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land and water for current and future generations. This means protecting both humans and the environment from pollution; restoring and preserving important ecosystems that sustain life; and finding ways to meet human needs without destroying environmental resources and functions. Fundamental to achieving these results lies in our everyday interaction with citizens, stakeholders, and the public we regulate. We treat our customers as partners and collaborators: provide respectful and prompt service; explore creative solutions for the best results; and act with integrity. Also critical is maintaining effective infrastructures and a workforce that is committed, productive and successful. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, teamwork, professionalism and accountability. The citizens of Washington trust that the Department of Ecology supports and assists them in promoting the sustainable environmental and economic well being of the state. That trust, coupled with our effectiveness, helps Ecology to continue to receive the support it needs to advance our environmental mission. To learn more about our Agency, please visit our website at: www.ecy.wa.gov POSITION INFORMATION: There is one current vacancy with the Department of Ecology, Environmental Assessment Program, headquarters in Lacey, WA. The mission of the Environmental Assessment Program is to measure and assess environmental conditions in Washington State for the purpose of providing credible science to guide environmental decisions. This position serves as the lead position for the Extensive Temperature Monitoring project. Work will be evenly split between field work conducted in remote, rugged forested terrain, often requiring long drives, and office-based data compilation and processing, analysis, and report writing. This is Project employment. The funding for this project is expected to last until June 30, 2008. It is anticipated that funding will be secured through June 2009. When the funding runs out the project will be eliminated. Requisition Title: 4610 523G ES3 NB9785 Duties This position will be assigned several areas of responsibility - Plan and organize logistics for field season, assist in recruitment of seasonal staff. Conduct and oversee field work consisting of installation and downloading of in situ temperature monitors in remote forested streams and collection of stream channel and riparian stand measurements. Compile field data, perform quality assurance data review, store data in database. Analyze data according to study plan, and publish in an agency report. Qualifications REQUIRED A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field and two years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control or environmental planning. Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education. A Master's degree in one of the above fields will substitute for one year of the required experience. OR A Ph.D. in one of the above fields. OR One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2. DESIRED Knowledge of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) sampling design, field methods, and data analysis methods. Experience conducting stream surveys, including: channel measurements, canopy cover, and large, woody debris surveys. Experience working in remote, rugged locations. Experience with database management, statistical analysis, and report writing. Experience with GIS software and GPS equipment. Requisition Title: 4610 523G ES3 NB9785 Special Notes To ensure consideration for this position, you must apply electronically at www.careers.wa.gov using reference code NB9785* and submit the following materials as attachments (ATTACHMENTS TAB) by February 29, 2008. A letter of interest describing how you meet the requirements for this position, using a maximum of 2000 words. Please provide clear, detailed information that addresses the duties of the position and the desirable qualifications. A resume A list of three work-related references (i.e., Supervisor, Peer, Constituent) Answers to the following questions: 1. Describe your experience with conducting surveys of aquatic habitat. 2. Describe your experience using
climate impact references?
could anyone recommend recent articles examining how rates of climate change impacts (eg, forest, ocean, weather response, etc)) may be different (worse/faster?) than previous predictions? jack janisch formerly, dept of forest science oregon state university
job recruitment: water/forests/fish related in WA state
please post. __ Appointment Type: Project (Limited Duration) Working Time: Full Time Reference Code: NB1909ECY Opening Date: 02/20/2007 Closing Date: 03/06/2007 Environmental Specialist 2 $2,712.00 - $3,450.00 per month (Range 43) Agency Information MISSION VISION The Department of Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land and water for current and future generations. This means protecting both humans and the environment from pollution; restoring and preserving important ecosystems that sustain life; and finding ways to meet human needs without destroying environmental resources and functions. Fundamental to achieving these results lies in our everyday interaction with citizens, stakeholders, and the public we regulate. We treat our customers as partners and collaborators: provide respectful and prompt service; explore creative solutions for the best results; and act with integrity. Also critical is maintaining effective infrastructures and a workforce that is committed, productive and successful. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, teamwork, professionalism and accountability. The citizens of Washington trust that the Department of Ecology supports and assists them in promoting the sustainable environmental and economic well being of the state. That trust, coupled with our effectiveness, helps Ecology to continue to receive the support it needs to advance our environmental mission. To learn more about our Agency, please visit our website at: www. ecy.wa.gov POSITION INFORMATION: There are currently two full-time project positions open with the Department of Ecology, Environmental Assessment Program located at the headquarters office in Lacey, WA at an Environmental Specialist 2 level. These positions are full-time, project positions funding for these projects is through the Salmon Index Watershed Monitoring Program currently funded through June 30, 2012 and the Forest Fish Report currently funded through June 30, 2008. Duties As a member of the study teams you will assist with planning and conducting field/office work and data analysis in support of scientific studies to evaluate the effectiveness of salmon habitat preservation and restoration. These positions will be assigned several areas of responsibility Requisition Title: 4610 62960 ES2 NB1909 *Field Tasks: Assist with collection of environmental samples and stream flow measurements, fish habitat surveys, field equipment maintenance, and equipment preparation and calibration. *Travel: Long days in the field, occasionally overnight, working at remote sites, during inclement weather in rugged forested streams environments. *Office Tasks: Data entry and analysis using various software packages, compilation of project data for technical reports, and directing field work of seasonal employees. Qualifications REQUIRED: A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field and one year professional experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning. Additional qualifying experience will substitute year for year, for education, or one year experience as an Environmental Specialist 1 or A Masters degree in one of the above fields. DESIRED: Knowledge of: Understanding of stream ecology, hydrology, and water chemistry. In addition, field sampling methods, field monitoring equipment maintenance, calibration and use, data management and analysis, and basic research principles of environmental science. Special Notes Successful candidates will exhibit the following competencies: Accepts responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work products; is focused on tasks in spite of distractions and interruptions; is proactive in addressing problems that arise; uses professional judgment in implementation of the monitoring program; effectively communicates ideas, concerns and information both verbally and in writing in a respectful professional manner. To ensure consideration for this position, apply and attach the following materials by March 6, 2007. * A letter of interest; briefly describing your professional experience conducting environmental monitoring studies that involved collecting physical habitat, water quality, and biotic data from stream systems. For each instance, state your primary role (e.g. field sampling vs. project manager), job classification, and duration. * A resume * A list of three work-related references Other Information UNION SECURITY Requisition Title: 4610 62960 ES2 NB1909 This position is covered by a union shop provision. Therefore, as a condition of employment, candidates who are appointed are required to become members of the Washington Federation of State
