NC State Receives $3.67M Grant to Examine Effect of Climate Change on Southern Loblolly Pines

Posted on February 18, 2011 by

NEWS RELEASE:
For Immediate Release

North Carolina State University is part of a team of 12 institutions across the Southeastern United States selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to establish a regional network to monitor the effects of climate change on southern pine trees. The goal is to use the information to develop new management methods and varieties of pines to help Southeastern pine forests adapt to changes in climate.

Researchers will study climate-change mitigation and adaptation as it relates to southern pines, particularly loblolly pine, which comprises 80 percent of the planted forestland in the Southeast. NC State researchers, led by Dr. Ross Whetten, associate professor of forestry, will participate in establishing the monitoring network to collect information on response to climate change, examining the genetics of pine to learn how the trees grow and respond to temperature and rainfall, and measuring the nutrients the trees take in from and release into the atmosphere and soil.

Key components of NC State’s research effort include creating and disseminating knowledge that helps landowners harness planted pine forest productivity to mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide; use nitrogen and other fertilizers more efficiently; and adapt their forest management to increase resilience in the face of changing climate.

Dr. Ryan Boyles, North Carolina state climatologist and assistant professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences, will also play a key role in coordinating state climatologists with forestry extension personnel to engage land managers across the region.

“We want to find out from landowners early on in the research process what questions they have about the impact climate is having on their ability to manage their land,” Boyles says. “This proposal is going to be very interesting not only in helping to improve forest production in a changing climate, but also in understanding the positive impact the timber industry plays in improving carbon sequestration. There are few tools as successful as forestry in having a positive effect on climate change.”

By the study’s conclusion, researchers hope to develop a computer model that incorporates climate variables – like temperature, rainfall and other factors – to predict forest productivity under different climate conditions. They also want to identify new varieties of loblolly pine, and new management techniques for existing pine plantations, that will allow plantations to better tolerate predicted climate change.

“In the end, we want to provide information and tools that equip landowners and forest managers to increase the sustainability and productivity of planted pine forests, and that empower environmental agencies and policy makers to make informed decisions about how forests will respond to climate change,” Whetten says.

The overall grant, a $20 million, five-year project, will be led by Dr. Tim Martin at the University of Florida. NC State will receive $3.67 million to perform its research, education and outreach activities.

Media Contact:
Caroline Barnhill, NCSU News Services, 919/515-6251 or caroline_barnhill@ncsu.edu

Cracking the Glass Ceiling in College Sport Administration

Posted on February 10, 2011 by

NEWS RELEASE –
Think Manager, Think Male? Impact of Gender In Sport Administration Hiring

The “glass ceiling” for women administrators in college athletics may be cracked, but is not completely broken, according to a new study co-authored by a North Carolina State University researcher.

Results of the study, which surveyed athletic administrators at universities across the country to determine how, and if, gender roles made a difference in hiring practices, may disappoint those who think double standards for women have been relegated to the past.

Dr. Heidi Grappendorf, assistant professor of parks, recreation and tourism management at NC State University, and colleagues surveyed 276 athletic administrators at Division I universities to have them evaluate fictitious vignettes of male or female candidates for intercollegiate athletics positions such as athletic director, compliance director or life-skills director. They then ranked the candidates’ attributes and the likelihood of hiring them for the respective positions.

The research found that female candidates for the athletic director position, despite having the same background as their male counterparts, were viewed as less feminine. However, if the same female candidates applied for life skills positions – positions which are predominately held by women in real-life athletic administration – they were viewed as more feminine.

Meanwhile, males were more likely to be chosen for athletic director positions, even with the exact same background and attributes as female candidates.

Researchers believe the study lends support to the notion that men tend to be hired in management roles not just for their skills and experience, but because of the perceived view that management roles require masculinity.

“It seems like there is, unfortunately, a ‘catch-22’ for women in management roles – particularly in sports,” Grappendorf explains. “The assumption has been that masculine attributes like aggressiveness and competitiveness are needed for management-level positions, yet women who display those attributes are still not given the same opportunities as men. Even worse, if they do happen to be hired, women are often looked down upon by colleagues for having those masculine qualities.”

Similar research has been conducted in business settings, but this research is the first of its kind conducted in the sports industry, which continues to be male-dominated. The research, which is published in the Journal for Sport Management, was conducted along with lead author Dr. Laura Burton from the University of Connecticut and co-author Dr. Angela Henderson from the University of Northern Colorado.

NC State’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management is part of the university’s College of Natural Resources.

-barnhill-

Note to editors: The study abstract follows.

“Perceptions of Gender in Athletic Administration: Utilizing Role Congruity to Examine (Potential) Prejudice Against Women”
Authors: Laura Burton, University of Connecticut; Heidi Grappendorf, North Carolina State University, Angela Henderson, University of Northern Colorado.
Published: 2011, Volume 25, 36-45, Journal of Sport Management

Abstract:
Based on the tenets of role congruity theory, the current study examined the unequal representation of men and women in athletic administration positions. A total of 158 female and 118 male (n = 276) athletic administrators evaluated a male or female candidate for an athletic director, compliance director, or life skills director position within athletics. Participants indicated no significant differences in masculine ratings of male or female candidates and significant differences in feminine ratings for female candidates in the life skills position. Male and female candidates were perceived as similar in potential and likely success in all positions. Finally, the female candidate was evaluated as significantly less likely to be offered the athletic director position when compared to the male candidate.

Media Contacts:
Dr. Heidi Grappendorf, 919/513-0060 or heidi_grappendorf@ncsu.edu
Caroline Barnhill, News Services, 919/515-6251 or caroline_barnhill@ncsu.edu

College Honors Distinguished Alumnus

Posted on February 9, 2011 by

Dr. Alexander and Dean Brown at the NC State "Evening With the Stars" Gala - January 2011

NEWS RELEASE

The College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University is pleased to announce the selection of our 2010 Distinguished Alumnus -Dr. Ernie Alexander.

Dr. Alexander ’67, ’72, combined an undergraduate degree in pulp and paper technology with a PhD in chemical engineering to build a successful career in the forest products industry. After completing his doctorate, Dr. Alexander joined Westvaco, a leading paper, packaging and specialty chemicals corporation, as a research engineer. After seven years, he was transferred to Covington Mill as supervisor of the newly formed paper process group. Dr. Alexander spent 23 years at Covington Mill, taking on positions of increasing responsibility, including technical director, pulp mill superintendent and pulping expansion manager.

After the merger of Westvaco and Mead Corporation in 2002, Dr. Alexander joined the company’s corporate engineering department, which was relocated to NC State’s Centennial Campus in 2006.

There, he led a team of production superintendents from all MeadWestvaco Mills to handle property conservation and operational improvements. Specifically, Dr. Alexander supervised major capital improvement projects at plants in Texas and South Carolina.

Dr. Alexander retired in 2009 and launched his own consulting firm to provide valuable advice to forest products companies, including his former employer, MeadWestvaco.

Throughout his career, Dr. Alexander has been a strong supporter of the NC State College of Natural Resources. Following his retirement from MeadWestvaco he became a volunteer employee in the College’s development office assisting with industry and foundation relations, student mentoring and fundraising.

Understanding the importance of donors to the university’s future, Dr. Alexander and his wife Beverly established the Ernie and Beverly Alexander Endowed Scholarship in Paper Science and Engineering at NC State.

Dr. Alexander accepted the distinguished alumnus honor on January 29, 2011 at the NC State University Alumni Association’s “Evening of Stars” Gala in Raleigh. He lives in Cary, NC with his wife, Beverly.

See a complete list of previous honorees

For more information contact Tilla Fearn at (919) 513-4644 or tilla_fearn@ncsu.edu

N.C. Arbor Day Celebration Planned

Posted on December 9, 2010 by

Winning poster - Trees are Terrific and Energy Wise

The 2010 Arbor Foundation national poster contest winner was Wyatt D. of Alabama

The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University and the Triangle Society of American Foresters are excited to announce that the 2011 Arbor Day celebration will be held at the State Farmer’s Market!

Come join us for the tree seedling giveaway, announcement of the North Carolina Arbor Day poster winners, and displays!

This event will be held on Saturday, March 19th, and it is open to the public.
See the website for details.

More Information
Arbor Day Foundation – NC
NC Forest Service Arbor Day Information

Oh Deer: Protecting This Year’s Christmas Tree Crop

Posted on November 16, 2010 by

NEWS RELEASE – November 1, 2010 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Caroline Barnhill, News Services, 919/515-6251 or caroline.barnhill@ncsu.edu

New research results from NC State can save tree farmers from costly deer damage

Hair clippings, cayenne pepper and raw eggs – these are just a few of the odd ingredients recommended to keep those pesky deer away from your backyard garden. But what about farmers who have hundreds of acres of Christmas trees to protect?

North Carolina State University extension specialists have now found an effective, inexpensive alternative to available commercial products to keep the deer at bay.

The NC State researchers, led by Jeff Owen, a Christmas-tree production specialist, are exploring the use of inexpensive, inedible food byproducts – such as dried blood and egg powder – typically sold in bulk to the pet-food industry to be used for flavoring. These byproducts cost 85 to 90 percent less than their commercial counterparts, and are found to be just as effective. Using these repellents – which can be purchased locally in bulk – may provide tree farmers an early Christmas present.

“These products have an unappealing taste, but the decaying smell actually elicits a fear response in the deer and keeps them away from the crops,” Owen says. “We’re continuing to look at similar products – like liver powder and fishmeal – to see if they work the same way.”

Owen says that Christmas-tree farms in North Carolina have long dealt with deer who harm the trees by horning (thrashing market-sized trees with their antlers to mark territory) and browsing (eating the buds and shoots off young trees.) Not all Fraser fir growers contend with these problems, but where deer populations are high, deer can eat young trees down to a pencil-sized stem. Damage can be so extensive that growers have abandoned fields of young trees. Hard-pressed growers will use a combination of selective hunting, deer repellents and food plots to divert deer from their trees.

“We initially looked into the effectiveness and feasibility of using different fencing and commercial repellents to protect trees and crops from deer. Both are successful, but are extremely expensive,” Owen explains. “When you take the commercial deer repellent that you find at your local hardware store and use it on a farmwide basis, you see growers budgeting as much for deer repellents as most of their other pesticides.” Commercial deer repellents are so costly that Christmas tree growers use them at half-strength to be able to afford using them at all.

According to Owen, commercial deer repellents cost at least $18 per pound, while the dried blood or egg powder, which can be bought in bulk from agriculture suppliers, runs less than $2 per pound. When you consider that growers use 10 pounds per acre and make two or three applications over the fall and winter, the savings are significant.

“The threat of deer is very important to our local growers, since the impact of their browsing and horning can cost thousands of dollars in lost product and increased expense. And with the economy in the state it is, the growers can’t pass expenses associated with deer damage onto the consumer, because the wholesale market would not support it,” Owen says. “So, the deer have been, literally, eating into their profit. We hope that finding an inexpensive deer repellent alternative will not only help save their crop, but also help them to stay profitable.”

But before the home gardener runs to place orders for rancid egg powder, Owen offers some words of wisdom.

“Our growers get these products in 50-pound bags or even 2,000-pound pallets, and have to mix the egg powder or dried blood into a solution to be sprayed. It’s not the prettiest process,” laughs Owen. “For the average homeowner, the pre-made commercial deer repellent should be more than adequate, provided you rotate repellents from time to time.”

NC State University and the N.C. Christmas Tree Association provided support for the research.