Education, Training, and Workshops
We have a variety of experience communicating technical information to diverse audiences. This experience includes preparation of training materials, lecturing, and coordination and facilitation of workshops and seminars.
Chesapeake Bay Program Data Analysis Workshop
Under a contract with the Chesapeake Research Consortium, Dr. King led a team of workshop organizers in planning and coordinating a workshop focused on methods of data analysis and integration. This was a two-phase workshop designed to meet three objectives: 1) Explore the potential uses of several methods for integrating and analyzing multi-disciplinary data on environmental conditions and living resources within Chesapeake Bay; 2) Test the utility of existing data sets by applying these methods to three pilot living resource groups: waterfowl, menhaden, and oysters; and 3) Recommend a general process by which Chesapeake Bay Program partners can continue this kind of data analysis and management tool development on a more routine basis. Dr. King drafted the list of invited participants; contacted and secured guest speakers; supervised logistical aspects such as venue facilities and meal service; acted as liaison for the wokshop sponsor, the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) of the Chesapeake Bay Program; and produced the final workshop report.
Water Quality Standards Academy
Through the Cadmus Group's prime contract with the U.S. EPA, Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, Dr. Jacobson provided training in EPA's Water Quality Standards Program to representatives from state, federal, local, and tribal agencies, industry, and non-profit organizations. His responsibilities included overall project management, preparation of instructional materials, facility arrangements, shipping of materials to sites, and teaching. Academy participants were presented information on the enabling legislation provided in the Clean Water Act, variances, criteria development, aquatic life criteria, sediment criteria, implementation of water quality criteria, designated uses, and mixing zones. EPA personnel presented additional modules on topics such as toxicology, human health criteria, use attainability analysis, economic considerations, and anti-degradation policy. The Water Quality Standards Academy has since received one of the first National Environmental Education Achievement Awards presented by the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation.
This project is also described under the following project category:
Water Quality Standards and Criteria
Graduate Course in Ecological Assessment
Dr. Jacobson developed and teaches a graduate-level course on quantitative ecological assessment for the Environmental Sciences and Policy program at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Arts and Sciences. The course introduces students to concepts, approaches, and tools used in quantitative ecological assessment. Lectures and readings enhance the students' understanding of important ecological concepts and demonstrate how the concepts can be applied in a management or regulatory context. The course covers assessment strategies, tools for ecological assessment, design of sampling programs, indicators of ecological integrity, bioassessment, coping with uncertainty, ecological risk assessment, and adaptive environmental assessment and management. Course material covers approaches for population-, ecosystem-, community-, watershed-, and landscape-level assessment. Computer exercises reinforce concepts from the lectures and readings, and familiarize students with a variety of assessment tools and techniques.
Landscape Ecology Course for USEPA Program Offices and Regions
Under a contract with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Langhei Ecology developed an introductory course for EPA personnel and their peers in state government on landscape ecology and its application to environmental management. Training materials for the course include both a three-day classroom lecture and an abbreviated Web-based version that will be incorporated into EPA's Watershed Academy website. Course participants learn about the key concepts inherent in landscape studies, including heterogeneity, scale, and the interplay of structure, function, and change. The most commonly used tools and quantitative methods are also briefly presented, as well as two case studies.
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