We are now accepting applications for Fall 2024 and Fall 2025 admission to Team-TERRA (NSF NRT)
For students entering the Team-TERRA program either fall 2024, (existing UConn students) or fall 2025 cohort (students applying for admission to UConn), applications will be reviewed starting on February 1st, 2024, with priority given to those applications that are received prior to February 1st, 2024. Rolling admission will continue until April 15th, 2024. Click Trainee Information to learn more.
Welcome to Team-TERRA - Building Resilient Landscapes for Food, Energy, Water, and Ecosystem Services in America’s Original Megalopolis. Team-TERRA is a transdisciplinary training program in the Center of Biological Risk at the University of Connecticut. The training program consists of a 2-year sequence of coursework, teamwork, a real-world internship, and associated workshops. We will use the northeastern US megalopolis stretching from Boston to Washington, D.C. as a living laboratory to understand, predict, manage, and communicate risks to food, energy, water, and ecosystems in the face of global change. As part of the training program, trainees will work in diverse teams to predict and solve complex problems of the future in regions that are urbanizing and stretched to both provide the essentials for human wellbeing while maintaining the many benefits of biodiversity and natural ecosystems.
Team-TERRA Cohort 2 - 2022-2023
Peter Billman, Ketki Samel, Katja Kwaku, Michael LaScaleia, Erin Dierickx, Durga Joshi, Madeline Kollegger, Bivek Bhusal, Catalina Vasquez, Josué Martínez-Martínez, Makduma Zahan Badhan & Naomi Adler
Team-TERRA Cohort 1 - 2021-2022
News
Congratulations to Adam Gallaher for completing his PhD. Upon graduation Adam will be a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell University under Dr. Steve Grodsky in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment researching solar energy and ecosystem service trade-offs and co-location.
Congratulations to Josue Martinez-Martinez who won the NASA CT Space Grant Fellowship for the next academic year. Josue also joined a startup called Toribio LLC, developing smart clothes to help with the prevention of strokes. In the startup, Josue is tasked with overseeing the artificial intelligence and data management part. They took 3rd place at the UConn Get Seeded event and won $1,000.
Congratulations to Durga P. Joshi for receiving the following awards; Accelerate UConn, Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI), UConn ($2000), February 2023. Second Prize on Get Seeded Pitch Night by Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI), UConn ($750), November 2022. SAF Student Diversity Scholar 2023, Society of American Foresters.
Congratulations to Peter Billman on the publication; Beever, E.A., Wilkening, J.L, Billman, P.D. et al. (+47 authors). 2023. Geographic and taxonomic variation in adaptive capacity among montane mammals: implications for conservation status and actions. Biological Conservation. 282: 109942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.10994
Congratulations to Madeline Kolleger who was awarded the Multidisciplinary Environmental Research Awards for Graduate Students (MERAGS) from the Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering and the Institute of the Environment. UConn Today article and for her acceptance to the next cohort of AGU Science Communicators through the Voices for Science program
Congratulations to Adam Gallaher, whose proposal "Walking the walk: An analysis of the drivers, barriers, and directions of the Connecticut EV market, 2012-2021" was funded by the MERAGS program. He collaborated with Dr. Carol Atkinson-Palombo (Geography) and Dr. Lyle Scruggs (Political Science) on this project.
Collaborative Partner Organizations
We are excited to collaborate with these partner organizations:
- The premier ecosystem research institute, the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY. Together, we will study the risks to the urbanizing landscape of the northeastern U.S
- UConn Institute of the Environment has a mission to advance research, education, and engagement concerning the environment and sustainability at the University of Connecticut.
- UConn Center for Biological Risk seeks to improve the capacity to assess, manage, and communicate biological risks of global change through research, teaching, and community outreach. The Center focuses on risks that affect, originate from, or are mediated by biological systems.
Curriculum
Year 1 - Fall:
- EEB 5872 Environmental Risk Assessment (3 credits), Tuesdays 10:00-1:00, Bamford, TLS 171B-Dr. Mark Urban
- EEB 5882 Environmental Risk Practicum 1 (3 credits), Thursdays 11:00-1:00, Bamford, TLS 171B-Dr. Mark Urban
- EEB 5895 Section 018, Environmental Risk Communication (1 credit) - Thursdays 9:00-10:00, Room TBD-Dr. Margaret Rubega
- EEB 5482 Science Communication II: Writing for Public Audiences, (3 credits) Tuesday/Thursday, 2:00-3:15, Austin Building Room 247-Dr. Margaret Rubega
Year 1 - Spring:
- EEB 5882 Environmental Risk Practicum 2 (3 credits)
- GIS course elective (3 credits)
Year 2: Workshops, Internship, Mentorship
Values Statements
Cohort 3
- We treat people with respect
- Compromising and communication are essential to working in a group
- Our projects will be practical, achievable, and provide growth
Cohort 2
- Conservation - We commit to conservation of harmony between humans & nature
- Communication - We hold communication as a necessary component of transdisciplinary work
- Curiosity - We value and promote curiosity to drive learning
- Cooperation - We believe success will come through cooperation with each other and the community
- Compassion - We strive to think and act with compassion
Cohort 1
- Open-mindedness
- Give and receive support to create an equitable, empathetic, inclusive environment
- Purpose-driven to improve the world
- Freedom to grow
- Overcome barriers
University Events
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Apr
20
A Special Exhibit for Art Connection Studio All Day
A Special Exhibit for Art Connection Studio
Saturday, April 20th, 2024
All Day
UConn Health
Art Connection Studio is a program of Vinfen, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. ACS teaches art skills to participants and helps them use their talents to generate income. We want to highlight their efforts and dedication to empowerment. We also want to draw attention to the great work that UConn does with the same population through our Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service
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Apr
20
Annual Compliance and Ethics Training All Day
Annual Compliance and Ethics Training
Saturday, April 20th, 2024
All Day
The University is required to provide all faculty and staff with annual training on:
- Elements of the University’s compliance program
- University’s expectations that all will act in accordance with applicable laws, policies and standards
- Obligations as a state employee under the Connecticut State Code of Ethics.
Developed by the Office of University Compliance, training provides realistic scenarios and examples of how issues of ethics and compliance may arise in your work as a state employee. You can complete your training in one of two ways:
Attend a live virtual session.
Register for a Live Session on March 13, April 18, or May 15.
Estimated Time: 90 minutes
Location: Online via WebexRegistration is required.
Employees should register for live sessions as early as possible, because sessions will be limited.
If you register for a live Webex session, you do not need to complete the online training course.
Complete online training on your own schedule by May 31, 2024.
*Special payroll employees are not required to complete compliance training unless mandated by their Department Head. -
Apr
20
CT Science Olympiad All Day
CT Science Olympiad
Saturday, April 20th, 2024
All Day
UConn Storrs
UConn Early College Experience hosts the annual Connecticut Science Olympiad competition. This event attracts approximately 45 Connecticut high schools from all corners of the State and approximately 1,000 high school students. The Connecticut Science Olympiad is the only qualifier for students to compete in the Annual Science Olympiad National Tournament.
Each year’s Olympiad features over 25 different scientific competitions, experiments, and academic tests, including: using lasers and refraction, launching self-propelled airplanes, creating perfect pitch in the physics of music, identifying fossils, making mousetrap-powered cars, using photo-spectrometers, using CSI skills to be a disease detective, recalling skills in anatomy & physiology, and much more!
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Apr
20
Culmination of Hope & Land, Sea and Sky Exhibits All Day
Culmination of Hope & Land, Sea and Sky Exhibits
Saturday, April 20th, 2024
All Day
UConn Health
Katiana Jarbath Smith is a Haitian American painter based in Waterbury, CT. William Prensky is from West Hartford. Katiana, our feature artist for Black History Month, presents a new series of paintings highlighting her Caribbean roots and South Florida upbringing. William Prensky is showing a series of colorful, serene landscapes.
Reception: Thursday, February 22nd, 4:30PM - 6PM.
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Apr
20
South Park Clinic Directors Meeting All Day
South Park Clinic Directors Meeting
Saturday, April 20th, 2024
All Day
UConn Health
South Park Clinic directorship monthly meeting
Contact Information:
More -
Apr
20
UConn Summer Horseback Riding All Day
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Apr
20
UConn Women’s Rowing at Holy Cross Invitational All Day
UConn Women’s Rowing at Holy Cross Invitational
Saturday, April 20th, 2024
All Day
Worcester, MA
Contact Information:
More -
Apr
20
OOzeball 9:00am
OOzeball
Saturday, April 20th, 2024
09:00 AM - 06:00 PM
North Campus Field
A volleyball tournament to be played in inches of mud. Teams are co-ed and comprised of 6 to 8 players. A bracket will be made and released prior to the tournament. Teams can win and advance through the bracket.
Teams can win their way through a predetermined bracket to be UConn’s 2024 OOzeball Champions. Current undergraduate, graduate students, faculty and alumni are welcome! Our 2024 Theme is…Barbie!
Program Events
- 8/29: 12:15-1:15 pm Team-TERRA Cohort 3 & advisors Lunch, TLS Courtyard
- 8/29: 1:15-3:15 pm Program Orientation for Cohort 3 Trainees
- 9/14: External Advisory Panel visit
- 10/10: Anne Krook - 10:30 am-1 pm virtual workshop 'General non-academic job search 101'
- 10/29-31: Annual NSF NRT PI Meeting
- 11/01: Team-TERRA Program Information session, SU 320, 4:30-5:30
- 4/9: Joseph Fullerton - 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm virtual workshop 'Expanding Action for Environmental Justice'
- 4/10: All trainee social event