What Grows On in Rhode Island News

Developing the Rhode Island Seafood Knowledge Economy ~ June 26-28, 2011

Announcing the 10th Annual Ronald C. Baird Sea Grant Science Symposium

Developing the Rhode Island Seafood Knowledge Economy: Perspectives on Seafood Sustainability 

June 26-28, 2011

Scientists, seafood suppliers, and chefs will offer their perspectives on sourcing sustainable seafood, consumer preferences, and health topics, among others, and participants will get to prepare—and taste—sustainable seafood dishes under the guidance of expert chefs.

VENUES:

Johnson & Wales University Center for Culinary Excellence
Save The Bay
Johnson & Wales University Culinary Museum

Providence

Agenda Highlights

Interactive Panel Discussion on Sourcing Sustainable Seafood
Chefs, scientists, and suppliers will share their thoughts about seafood sustainability and the social, economic, and environmental issues impacting worldwide seafood sourcing today.

Hands-on Sessions with Haddock, Salmon, and Summer Flounder 
One of the unique aspects of the 2011 Baird Symposium is our ability to offer hands-on sessions where participants can handle and prepare fish species featured in our science program.

Species-Specific Session: Scup vs. Tilapia
Scup (porgy) is a plentiful and sustainable underutilized fish species found throughout New England. This session will focus on the state of the scup fishery and why it is sustainable and include a tasting of scup followed by a side-by-side tasting of scup and tilapia.

Hands-on Interactive Session: A Vertical Tasting of Oysters
This interactive, sensory session will feature a vertical tasting of oysters provided by American Mussel Harvesters Inc., of North Kingstown, R.I. Chefs will describe the sensory aspects of each oyster in the tasting while Perry Raso, owner of Matunuck Oyster Farm and Bill Silkes, owner of American Mussel Harvesters discuss how the specific oyster species are raised and why they are both sustainable and profitable.

Chefs' Panel on Consumer Seafood Perceptions and Preferences
This interactive panel discussion will feature chefs from the fine dining, retail, and manufacturing sectors, and will provide attendees with insights regarding preference, preparation, and consumption at the end of the supply chain.

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION | DOWNLOAD DRAFT AGENDA

Note: The registration fee of $175 includes all meals noted in the agenda. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. For more information, visit the Baird Symposium website or contact Rhode Island Sea Grant at (401) 874-6800.

Moving Forward in Urban Education Policy Reform ~ May 19, 2011

Urban Education Policy (UEP) Program Annual Conference • May 19th, 2011 • 8am - 5pm
Brown University Faculty Club
One Magee Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02912
 
Please mark your calendars to attend this year’s Urban Education Policy (UEP) Annual Conference hosted by the Education Department at Brown University.  The conference theme is “Moving Forward in Urban Education Policy Reform”.   As the current administration looks to usher in education reform and new policy, practitioners are engaging in discussion that informs the improvement of both policy and practice.
 
This year’s UEP conference will also engage and inform invited guest as current urban education policy graduate students give presentations and lead discussion on their internship experiences with education policy agencies, organizations, school districts and schools.  Please plan to attend the conference and engage in rich and thought provoking discourse with our students, as well as, many invited professionals working in a myriad of education environments.


Use the following link to pre-register for the conference by May 10th:
https://sites.google.com/a/brown.edu/uep/
 
This year's conference agenda will be posted in the upcoming days.
 
Please send any questions that you may have about the conference to: [email protected].

Narragansett Bay Watershed Project Funding Opportunity ~ Deadline May 7, 2011

THIS IS UNIQUE TARGETED FUNDING TO WORK WITH PARTNERS IN THE
NARRAGANSETT BAY WATERSHED

New Funding Opportunity for the Narragansett Bay Watershed

Initial project summaries are due May 2, 2011.

On April 14, 20, and 26, EPA will be hosting information sessions via conference call.

I am very pleased to announce that EPA New England has just released an RFP seeking initial proposals for projects that target the Narragansett Bay watershed under the 2011 Healthy Communities Grant program. I have posted the official announcement at the end of this message. The purpose of my message is to highlight that the Narragansett Bay watershed is one of the priority areas targeted for funding in this year’s solicitation, and to make sure interested parties are aware of the requirements specific to a Narragansett Bay watershed proposal.

The summary information below is excerpted from the full RFP announcement to provide information pertaining specifically to eligibility and project requirements for proposals addressing the Narragansett Bay watershed investment and program area, which is one of several identified in the RFP. For detailed information on the eligible geographic area and for insight into watershed priorities for the Narragansett Bay watershed, please see the watershed map and draft Narragansett Bay Region Integrated Plan available at nbep.org. Applicants should review and comply with all official requirements for submitting applications and guidance on the full suite of investment and program areas, including the Narragansett Bay watershed, found at http://epa.gov/region1/eco/uep/pdfs/2011-HC-Application-Guidance.pdf .

For projects addressing the Narragansett Bay watershed, eligible applicants may submit initial project summaries for proposals up to $25,000 for single-state projects taking place in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, and up to $40,000 for projects with a Narragansett Bay bi-state (Massachusetts and Rhode Island) watershed focus. In either case, a 25 percent match on the total proposal budget is required. Based on the quality of eligible initial submissions, EPA will invite finalists to submit full project proposals for further evaluation. Project periods will be for one or two years, starting no earlier than August 1, 2011.

Initial project summaries are due May 2, 2011. On April 14, 20, and 26, EPA will be hosting information sessions via conference call to explain the grant program and application process to potential applicants. You must register to participate.

To request a copy of the Healthy Communities Grant Program Application Guidance, please contact Jennifer Padula, Healthy Communities Grant Program, US EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (OEP06-2), Boston, MA 02109-3912, by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 617-918-1698.

Low Impact Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual Training Workshop ~ April 8, 2011

DEM, CRMC ANNOUNCE COMPLETION OF

RI LOW IMPACT SITE PLANNING AND DESIGN GUIDANCE MANUAL

Training Workshop for Local Officials and Site Designers Set for April 8th

 

Press Release

            PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management and the Coastal Resources Management Council announce the completion of the Rhode Island Low Impact Development Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual (LID manual).  This new low impact development (LID) manual is a companion guide to the recently revised Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual (stormwater manual).
 
            The LID manual was specifically developed to provide local planning officials with guidance and examples of how their ordinances can be amended to avoid and reduce stormwater impacts from new development or redevelopment, and encourage effective implementation of LID practices. The recommended site-planning and design techniques can help preserve community character, reduce flooding impacts, and save costs for municipal operation and maintenance. “This new guidance tool for low impact development was developed to assist our community partners accommodate desirable growth without sacrificing the environment or the quality of life that Rhode Islanders enjoy,” noted DEM Director Janet Coit.   “The new LID manual provides excellent examples and guidance to assist local decision-makers in making minor adjustments to existing ordinances to meet the goals of avoiding and reducing impacts to our public waters,” said Grover Fugate, Executive Director of CRMC.       
 
            In the past, stormwater management was primarily an engineering exercise to collect and dispose of runoff as quickly as possible. The new Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual, however, changes stormwater management to encourage or require more creative site-planning and design, as well as better engineering and maintenance practices in keeping with the requirements of the Smart Development for a Cleaner Bay Act of 2007.

            The new stormwater manual requires LID practices for all major development, representing a fundamental shift in how development projects are planned and designed. LID is a more comprehensive and effective approach to managing stormwater that uses site-planning and design techniques that store, infiltrate, evaporate, and detain runoff as close as possible to the point where precipitation reaches the ground.
 
            LID can be used to accommodate growth and reduce the environmental impact of site development. Many of the LID concepts employ non-structural onsite treatment that can reduce the cost of infrastructure while maintaining or even increasing the value of the property relative to conventionally-designed developments.  In the past the landscape was altered significantly to fit the conventional style of development, whereas the LID process is reversed such that the development is designed to fit the landscape and its natural features.
 
            DEM is partnering with the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve’s Coastal Training Program to offer training on the new Rhode Island Low Impact Development Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual for local officials and site designers. A free training workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, April 8 at DEM Headquarters at 235 Promenade Street in Providence. To register, contact Jennifer West at 222-4700 ext 7413 or via email at [email protected]
 
            The LID manual is available on DEM’s website at http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/suswshed/pdfs/lidplan.pdf.  For questions or more information on the LID manual, contact Scott Millar at 222-4700 ext 4419 or via email at [email protected]

Contact:      RI DEM    Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

RI Nursery & Landscape Association Winter Education Seminar & Trade Show ~ January 25-26, 2011

An Environmental Approach to Profitability ~ January 25th & 26th, 2010 ~ Crowne Plaza at the Crossings, 801 Greenwich Ave., Warwick, RI 02886

Schedule
Register 

Exhibits/Sponsors Sought ~ URI ASLA Green Industry Conference & Exposition ~ February 25, 2011

On February 25 the University of Rhode Island's chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects will be hosting our annual Green Industry Conference & Exposition. We would like to invite you and your organization to join us as an exhibitor or sponsor.

The day begins with a conference session on green careers and employment options for graduates now and in the near future. A networking buffet luncheon follows the conference, along with an exhibit floor with pre-set booths for ease of participation.

Contributed Papers Sought for RI Ecology Conference ~ April 28, 2011

The Ecology of Rhode Island: Science and Management of Salt Ponds and Coastal Lagoons ~ April 28, 2011

This year, RINHS's annual ecology conference focuses on southern New England's salt ponds and coastal lagoons. These special landscapes help characterize coastal Rhode Island and other parts of southern New England. They form a complex boundary between sea and land and are loci of dynamic natural processes, diverse habitats, and intense pressure from human activity.
 
In southern New England, salt ponds and coastal lagoons serve valuable and unique functions for a variety of stakeholders in tourism and recreation, environmental sustainability, and resource-extractive industries such as fisheries. Yet many elements of these systems are undergoing historic changes due to climate and sea-level change, land conversion, surface water and groundwater contamination, invasive species, restoration projects, and new aquaculture practices. The difference between good and bad management could have a dramatic effect on the future viability of salt ponds and coastal lagoons, therefore the need for sound scientific understanding of the processes and functions of these valuable yet fragile ecosystems has never been greater.
 
Researchers and managers working on any aspect of salt pond/coastal lagoon systems relevant to southern New England are encouraged to present at this conference.

Green Chemistry Forum ~ December 16, 2010

EPA’s New England office is working collaboratively with Beyond Benign to sponsor a Green Chemistry Networking Forum on Dec. 16 at the MIT Faculty Club in Cambridge. The forum is a free event meant to support and help further develop a network of cutting-edge scientists engaged in finding safer, less-toxic chemical uses to advance sustainability in our society.

Green Chemistry is the design, development, and implementation of products, materials, and processes to reduce or eliminate the use and generation of toxic and hazardous waste. Green Chemistry is a philosophy and approach to design new materials and products derived from renewable feedstock. Green Chemistry considers the entire life cycle of the materials and products manufactured.

The networking forum will take place on Dec. 16, 2010 at the MIT Faculty Club – 6th Floor, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge Mass. between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

The goals of the forum are to:

• Bring together green chemistry practitioners and potential customers and/or funders
• Enlist participation in strategic groups
• Showcase the many successful green chemistry activities in New England

The focus of the meeting is networking:

• Network with green chemistry leaders in
  • Education
  • Government
  • Industry
  • Investment and Development
  • Healthcare
  • Advocacy
• Participate in creating a sustainable green chemistry future
• Showcase your work with a poster or table exhibit

There is no cost for the Forum but registration is required.
Please register by December 10, 2010, space is limited.

Source: Press release and Forum website

A Better World By Design Conference ~ October 1-3, 2010

Brown U and RI School of Design students have organized the 10th "A Better World By Design" conference to be held October 1-3, 2010, in Providence, RI.

A Better World by Design is a three-day internationally acclaimed conference in Providence, RI that connects students, professionals, and individuals from a variety of disciplines in order to build a global community of socially conscious and passionate innovators. Presenters share engaging stories, workshops teach creative skills, and discussions reframe perspectives. A Better World by Design is an immersive experience, one that deepens our understanding of the power of design, technology, and enterprise to reshape our communities and sustain our environment. See the website for details, and register today!

Forest Health Works Project Open House ~ August 23, 2010

This is a community event where you can meet our high school summer crew, enjoy coffee & dessert, and learn about the current and future Forest Health Works Projects! The FHWP is a project of the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, in partnership between state and local organizations, to help improve the health & sustainability of Rhode Island’s forests by inventorying and restoring up to 50,000 acres of priority forestland for invasive plants. 

When:        Monday, August 23rd, 7 – 8:30pm
Where:      W. Alton Jones Campus -  Environmental Education Center, West Greenwich, RI

We welcome the opportunity to meet members of the community and showcase our work. We hope to see you there!
 
For more information, please contact us at 401-874-5800  
 
Directions to the W. Alton Jones Campus Environmental Education Center