BIG DATA ANALYTICS TRAVEL, a program for the tourism industry co-developed SKEMA/NCSU

Posted on April 16, 2013 by

Gene Brothers and Frédéric Dimanche at Sophia

Dr. Gene Brothers, a professor at North Carolina State University was at SKEMA last week to work with Frédéric Dimanche, a marketing professor and head of the Centre for Tourism Management, on the development of a joint program of certification analysis of “big data” in the tourism sector. Every day with the Internet, petabytes of information are being created, and businesses have access to new types of data to answer new questions to better understand, for example, the behavior of traveling consumers. This certificate program will address the needs of research students as well as professionals of tourism. Contacts have been made with Amadeus and other professionals interested in these big travel data analytics. Gene Brothers was a visiting professor at SKEMA in 2008.

For more information: Frédéric Dimanche frederic.dimanche@skema.edu or Gene Brothers gbrother@ncsu.edu

Hofmann Forest Update Letter from Natural Resources Foundation Board

Posted on March 20, 2013 by secorica

The following letter from the Executive Committee of the Natural Resources Foundation was emailed to College of Natural Resources alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff on March 20, 2013.

Dear Friends of the College of Natural Resources,

Much conflicting information has circulated around a potential sale of the Hofmann Forest, managed by the Natural Resources Foundation for the benefit of North Carolina State University’s College of Natural Resources. We, the Executive Committee of the Natural Resources Foundation Board of Directors, write to clarify our rationale and process to consider a sale.

The Hofmann Forest has a long history in the College of Natural Resources. It has been managed over the years for teaching, research, and more recently, as an income source for the College. Changes in the educational use of the Forest began in the 1950s when the College relocated its educational programs from the Hofmann to our Hill Forest in nearby Durham County. The College’s forestry research programs now occur quite literally all around the world. Only a very small number of today’s CNR students ever visit Hofmann Forest.

While recognizing its unique heritage and values, as a Board, we have focused primarily on the management of the Forest as a critical financial asset for the College. Over the last 10 years, income from the Forest has fluctuated greatly, and over the last few years, it has declined. These declines are evident in the Foundation’s publically available financial reports. Currently, the income from the Forest does not meet the critical needs of the College.

We are also concerned because the forest represents about 90% of the total assets of the Natural Resources Foundation. Most other institutions only hold 10-15% of assets in forestland, and generally this land is dispersed geographically to reduce risks and access multiple wood markets. Cash flow from this Forest, in just one place, is particularly vulnerable to the risks of fire, hurricane, or other catastrophic events and the Forest can only supply wood to one geographic market.

The Natural Resources Foundation has a fiduciary responsibility to use the Forest to best meet the needs of the College and its students. As part of our fiduciary responsibility, we are exploring a potential sale, if price and other conditions that are consistent with the values of the College are met. Considerations that would be part of any sale include preserving the legacy of Doc Hofmann by retaining the Forest name, maintaining access for students and faculty to conduct research, and maintaining a working forest on this site. We are also considering a range of options for managing the Forest differently if we do not find such a buyer.

Recognizing the need to hold the financial details of a potential sale confidential, we have broadly shared information about our actions. Beginning more than a year ago, there have been a variety of public sessions with College faculty, staff and students, and with outside partners to share information and receive feed back about the need to manage the Forest differently, including potentially selling the property. While we are not in a position to share the details of any potential offer at this time, we have set a deadline in late March to receive offers to purchase. The Natural Resources Foundation Board will meet in April to consider these offers and make a decision about how best to move forward, whether this is to negotiate a final sales agreement or to pursue other options.

We believe that the additional endowment support for the College that could result from a sale of the Hofmann Forest would create exciting new opportunities that cannot be achieved in any other way. The additional funds would be used to:

o Attract the best and brightest undergraduate and graduate students by providing additional scholarships;

o Fund new hands-on engaged learning opportunities for students;

o Support new professorships in emerging areas important to our state and the nation;

o Facilitate interdisciplinary research in the areas of sustainability science and policy, forest and watershed management, energy, water and the environment; and

o Continue to support our traditional strengths in forestry, outdoor recreation, and forest products.

We are confident the resulting impact from Doc Hofmann’s legacy would be transformational.

Sincerely,

Brenda Brickhouse, President, NC State Natural Resources Foundation Board
Art Raymond, Board Member
Jim Buzzard, Board Member
Ken Hines, Board Member
David Ashcraft, Board Secretary
Mary Watzin, Dean, NC State University College of Natural Resources

Dr. Norman and Betty Camp Partners for Environment Justice Scholarship Established

Posted on February 19, 2013 by

Dr. Norman Camp is an educator, environmentalist, political activist, community advocate and NC State University alumnus. He received his Ph.D. in Science Education in 1979, was born in East Raleigh and grew up exploring the Walnut Creek Wetlands. Dr. Camp served as college administrator at three different institutions throughout the Southeast, including holding positions of Dean and Vice Chancellor.

Dean Mary Watzin joins in Camps in celebrating the PArtners for Environmental Justice Scholarship at NC State University

Dean Mary Watzin (left) joins Mrs. Betty Camp (middle) and Dr. Norman Camp (right) in celebrating the new Partners for Environmental Justice Scholarship at NC State University

A prominent figure in Southeast Raleigh for over 35 years, he has served as chairman of the South Citizens Advisory Council, a member of the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, a member of the Garner Road Development Committee and as Trustee of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

One of his greatest passions is his role as chairman of Partners for Environmental Justice, a nonprofit coalition that spearheaded the effort to restore and preserve the Walnut Creek Wetlands and successfully establish an urban wetland education center and park.

Dr. Norman and Betty Camp’s shared passion for the environment, education and social justice has inspired the establishment of this scholarship in hopes that future generations will follow a similar path–one of increasing stewardship and access to the natural world for all people, especially those traditionally excluded from this fundamental human experience of communing with nature.

An anonymous donor established the Dr. Norman and Betty Camp Partners for Environmental Justice Scholarship Endowment to honor the legacy of Norman and Betty Camp and to provide a scholarship award to deserving students. As an alum of NC State University working in the environmental field, the donor has chosen to honor the Camps because of their shared passion for giving back and for promoting stewardship of our natural resources.

Need-based awards from this endowment will be made to a student in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, College of Natural Resources at NC State University who has graduated from a Southeast Raleigh public high school. The award(s) may be renewable based on specific criteria being met.

New Scholarship Recognizes Influence of Drs. Zobel and Kellison

Posted on February 14, 2013 by

The Richard and Rita Porterfield Charitable Trust established a scholarship endowment dedicated to the late Bruce J. Zobel and Robert C. Kellison. Drs. Zobel and Kellison, professors, mentors and friends to innumerable NC State University students over their decades of service to the profession of forestry, will be recognized in perpetuity through this endowment.

These “teachers” positively affected the lives and work of many natural resource managers here at NC State and around the world.

The endowment states, “The recipient of this scholarship should ever strive to be such a positive influence on others throughout their careers.”

Dr. Bruce Zobel

Dr. Zobel served NC State 55 years in the field of forest genetics and founded the Camcore program in gene conservation and forest genetics. During his tenure, Dr. Zobel received numerous awards including the Alexander Quarles Holladay medal for career achievements and contributions to the university.

Dr. Robert Kellison

Dr. Kellison, Professor Emeritus of Forestry, came to NC State in 1966 to pursue his MS and PhD. He joined the faculty and became a leader in the areas of forest genetics and silviculture. Because of their contributions, our natural environment as well as the populous of the world has ultimately benefited.

A Little Wild on the Side?

Posted on January 28, 2013 by rwgonzal

The North Carolina State University Leopold Wildlife Club, Student Fisheries Society, and the NCSU Fish and Wildlife Alumni Society are teaming up again this year to host the 2^nd Annual Wild Foods Supper, Saturday, February 9, 2013. The many students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends who made the first year such a success are looking forward to another great evening that will feature a buffet dinner, a wild foods cooking contest, game calling, door prizes and more. The location will be the same as last year, VFW Post 7383, 522 Reedy Creek Road, Cary, NC 27513.

“The event is a fundraiser for our student clubs and an opportunity for faculty, students, and alumni to come together for socializing and professional development,” explains Dr. Chris Moorman, Coordinator of the Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Program at NC State University. There is a suggested donation of $15, with children under 12 free.

If you would like more information or to enter your dish in the contest, contact Leopold Wildlife Club President, Charlie Sanders at cwsander@ncsu.edu.

The Wild Food Contest categories include Venison, Fish, Other Game, Fruits and Vegetables, and Desserts.

So for a “wild” time and the opportunity to support these great student organizations, come out to the 2nd Annual Wild Foods Supper!