The following article featured on the Wilmington Star News website outlines the future of wind farms on the North Carolina coast, most notably the challenges involved in implementation. To view the full story: http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20130511/articles/130519927?utm_source=feedly&tc=ar

The Spring 2013 issue of the UNC Graduate School’s annual magazine, The Fountain, is focused on water issues and features articles directly addressing UNC’s focus on this theme and many of the Water Theme’s key supporters.To view the online version of this issue: http://fountain.unc.edu/spr_13/

The following editorial piece published in the May 12th edition of the Raleigh News & Observer focuses on a current dispute between Alcoa Corporation and the residents of Stanly County over re-licensing of a dam on the Yadkin River, which could have lasting effects on both the community and the overall issue of ownership over statewide water resources. To view the full article: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/05/12/2884725/alcoa-and-the-question-of-who.html

Dr. Jill Stewart, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, will serve as the deputy director of the UNC Galapagos Initiative from July 1, 2013 until June 30, 2016. Previously, Dr. Stewart has been to the Galapagos Islands as a course instructor for the UNC Study Abroad Program and as a researcher. She will return this summer to teach and conduct preliminary research on water quality and human and ecological health in the islands.

The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of North Carolina School of Government seeks a Graduate Student Data Analyst to assist with research related to projects on water utility finance and sustainability. The EFC is dedicated to enhancing the ability of governments and other organizations to provide environmental programs and services in fair, effective and financially sustainable ways. This is done through collaborative planning and problem solving, system development, local capacity building, implementation consultation, educational programs, and the development and use of finance and governance tools, publications and resources. The EFC works with communities across the country with a strong focus in the Southeast primarily in the area of drinking water, water quality, energy, and land preservation.

The graduate student will work with EFC staff on various projects for water and energy utilities by collecting, cleaning, analyzing, and understanding data on customer consumption patterns and their impact on resource management and pricing policy. The majority of the data cleaning and analysis will be done in STATA by adapting code from previous projects.

To apply, visit: https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/24446

- Hygiene and behavioral change

- M&E: local, global, and human rights perspectives

- Institutions, finance, and sustainability

- Sanitation and health

- Water supply and quality from catchment to consumer and back

Abstract submissions can be made online at http://whconference.unc.edu/

http://efc.unc.edu/jobs.html#data

Abstracts for oral and poster presentations, as well as side event proposals, for the 2013 Water and Health Conference will be accepted until April 30. As a reminder, the conference will be held October 14-18, 2013, and is organized by The Water Institute at UNC.

This year’s themes are:

-Hygiene and behavioral change

-M&E: local, global and human right perspectives

-Institutions, finance and sustainability

-Sanitation and health

-Water supply and quality: from catchment to consumer and back

Scholarships are available for US student authors with the highest ranked abstracts, as well as authors from low- and middle-income countries. For more information: http://whconference.unc.edu/

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