New ISU Technical Safety Director

Peter Farina

[Idaho State University News Release]

Peter Farina has been hired as the new technical safety director at Idaho State University.

Farina will continue the tradition of excellent customer service that has become synonymous with the ISU Technical Safety Office. Using his varied experiences at different universities, he will expand on what is already a fine program at ISU to move it to the next level.

His department will continue to provide hazardous materials response and waste management and address campuswide safety concerns. Farina will provide guidance on the implementation of environmental safety and health programs for research activities at the ISU Pocatello campus, as well as remote facilities such as the Center for Advanced Energy Studies.

Farina has more than 20 year of experience in university environmental health and safety. He is joining ISU after 13 years at Georgia State University, where he was both the director of research safety and the radiation safety officer.

Prior to working at Georgia State University, he held the positions of environmental safety coordinator and radiation safety officer at the University of Georgia for eight years. He earned a master’s degree in nuclear physics from Florida State University and has two bachelor degrees from the University of Massachusetts.

He can be reached at 282-3627 or pfarina@isu.edu.

CPD Partners With Ed2Go

Center for Professional Development

[Northwest Nazarene University New Release]

The Center for Professional Development at Northwest Nazarene University has partnered with Education To Go (ed2go) to launch two new, comprehensive career and personal / professional development course catalogs in January. This collection of not-for-credit personal and professional development offerings expands the Center for Professional Development’s ability to expansively provide quality, career-oriented and personal-enrichment training to NNU’s friends at affordable rates. While a few of the offerings may require prerequisite learning, most are open to anyone wanting to learn.

The catalog of Instructor-Led Courses offers a wide range of highly interactive short courses that are available entirely online. Individual courses in areas such as business, computer applications, design and composition, health care and medical, language and arts, law and legal, teaching and education, technology, writing and publishing are available.

The Career Training Programs (CTP) are open-enrollment programs designed to provide the necessary skills to acquire professional-level positions for many in-demand occupations. CTP programs are designed by a team of professionals from each respective field, who work to provide the student with an effective web-based learning experience. Students can begin the programs anytime and progress at their own.

Affordably priced certification and career programs can be taken in the areas of healthcare and fitness, business and professional, IT and software development, management and corporate, media and design, hospitality and service industry, skilled trades.

Course catalogs will be available as of January 3, 2012. Questions may be directed to the Center for Professional Development or call Cheri Severson 208.467.8545.

2012 INPS Annual Meeting in Northern Idaho

Calypso bulbosa

[Idaho Native Plant Society News Release]

Location The 2012 annual meeting of the Idaho Native Plant Society will be hosted by the Calypso Chapter from Coeur d’Alene on June 22-24, 2012. We’ve selected the Clark Fork Drift Yard as the camp site for the gathering. The Drift Yard is found where the Clark Fork River meets Lake Pend Oreille between the cities of Clark Fork and Hope, east of Sandpoint.

Theme The focus of the gathering will be the restoration and protection of natural habitats. In particular, we will be looking at efforts to restore the natural function of river deltas of Lake Pend Oreille that were damaged or destroyed by the construction of the Albeni Falls Dam on the Pend Oreille River. We will learn about efforts to protect the spectacular area in the Cabinet Mountains north of Clark Fork through the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Area.

Directions From western Idaho: Proceed north on US 95 through Coeur d’Alene and through Sandpoint. On the north side of Sandpoint take State Highway 200 east toward Clark Fork, Idaho. The Clark Fork Drift Yard camping site is located six miles east of the town of Hope, Idaho, on the south side of the highway.

From eastern Idaho: Proceed north on Interstate 15. At Butte, Montana, take Interstate 90 west. Just beyond Missoula, Montana, take Montana Highway 200 west. Montana Highway 200 connects to Idaho Highway 200 seven miles from Clark Fork, Idaho. The Clark Fork Drift Yard camping site is located four miles west of the town of Clark Fork on the south side of the highway

See the INPS Web Site for a Map of Clark Fork Drift Yard between Hope and Clark Fork

Alternative Lodging The Clark Fork Drift Yard is a primitive camp site for tent and RV camping. As an alternative, developed RV camp sites and motels are available in Clark Fork, Hope, and Sandpoint. A list of specific alternative lodging choices will be provided later.

Assistive Technology Resource Center Relocation

Coordinator Mike Mann

[University of Idaho Press Release]

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho — The Idaho Assistive Technology Project (IATP) Resource Center-Coeur d’Alene, has recently relocated to the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene Harbor Center facility, 1031 Academic Way #130D. The center previously was located at Coeur d’Alene Hand Therapy & Healing Center.

The IATP Resource Center-Coeur d’Alene offers assistive technology information, referral, assessment, demonstration and loan to people with all types of disabilities of all ages and professionals who serve them. Equipment includes computer access devices, such as alternative keyboards, mice, switches, developmental toys, aids for vision, hearing and communication, as well as tools for reading, writing, math and organization. Services also include providing access to new and used equipment through trade, purchase and donation.

“We want people with disabilities, and all those who live and work with them, to know these resources are available in Northern Idaho,” said Mike Mann, NIATRC coordinator. “The center provides access to assistive technology and training for all those who need it, and to the businesses, educators and care providers who offer assistive technologies to their employees, clients or family members. Identifying the right assistive technology before investing in purchasing it can save schools, employers and families thousands of dollars.”

Low-interest loans to purchase assistive technology are available through the Idaho Assistive Technology Project, in partnership with Zion National Bank and KeyBank of Idaho. Loans are available for assistive computer hardware or software, vehicle modifications, accessible home remodeling or any type of assistive device.

Mann hopes the relocation will help raise awareness of the center’s services and increase local access.

“For many people with disabilities, these technologies are life changing,” said Mann. “It’s important that educators, occupational therapists, employers and families of people with disabilities to know what’s available and how to get it.”

For directions to the new location, contact Mann at mmann@uidaho.edu. For more information on the services offered through NIATRC in Coeur d’Alene and throughout the state, visit Idaho Assistive Technology. For additional information, assessment, and referral services, email idahoat@uidaho.edu or call 1-800-432-8324. 

National Science Group Leader from University of Idaho

Professor Machlis

University of Idaho News Release]

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recently appointed University of Idaho College of Natural Resources Professor of Conservation and Science Advisor to the Director of the National Park Service Gary Machlis as co-leader of the Department of the Interior’s Strategic Sciences Group.

The specialized scientific group will develop future scenarios and provide rapid, interdisciplinary scientific assessments during environmental crises or disasters affecting America’s natural resources.

“I am honored to co-lead the Strategic Sciences Group with my colleague Dr. David Applegate of the U.S. Geological Survey,” said Machlis. “We have an opportunity to create a fast response scientific team that can support local and national decision makers, help respond to emergencies and accelerate recoveries.”

During an environmental crisis affecting Department of the Interior resources, the Secretary of the Interior may direct the Strategic Sciences Group to activate a crisis science team or teams, including scientists from government, academic institutions, non-government organizations and the private sector as appropriate. The group may also be directed to assist other federal, state, local or tribal agencies, as well as international assistance as necessary, subject to applicable authorities and availability of appropriations.

“Dr. Machlis is particularly well positioned to play this leadership role. He has a distinguished career as a scientist, teacher and policy expert,” said University of Idaho Provost Douglas Baker. “While on loan from the University of Idaho to the National Park Service, Dr. Machlis has served as its chief science advisor and has led other efforts to apply scientific approaches to natural disaster scenarios around the world.”

“Experience shows us that these science-based scenarios and assessments are key to an effective, strategic response to all kinds of disasters immediately after they occur, and contribute greatly to mid-term recovery and long-term restoration,” said Salazar.

The group will help ensure that preparedness, response and recovery efforts undertaken by the Department of the Interior and its bureaus will be guided by the best available science and lessons learned from past events, including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and Hurricane Katrina. Machlis led the experimental Department of the Interior Strategic Sciences Working Group during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

“Dr. Machlis’ appointment is just one example of the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources’ international engagement in important natural resource issues,” said Kurt Pregitzer, CNR dean. “He and other CNR faculty members are also leading science education efforts in Haiti to help the nation recover from the devastating 2010 earthquake, support future development and improve the lives of all Haitians.”

The Department of the Interior Strategic Sciences Group was established by Secretarial Order signed by Secretary Salazar Jan. 3, 2012.