We heard a lot about Travel Nursing during the last three years, but Flight Nursing can be just as lucrative a profession and extremely useful not only to patients and families, but to one’s professional experience as an expert in emergency and critical care.

A Flight Nurse or Transport Nurse (Air and Surface) is someone you can count on in a disaster and not someone you want on the other team’s side in a war. They make up a cadre of modern heroes, if anyone does in the 21st Century, right alongside our Protective Services professionals and Teachers. 

Learn more about the benefits and work of Transport Nursing at:

 Advantages of Transport and Flight Nursing

In any lifetime there are a handful of opportunities for greatness.  Some we take advantage of, while others we let slip away, then live to regret later.

This is one of those times when opportunity is here, for those who have the vision to jump in.  Fortunes are being made, and will be made, by those visionaries who have decided to begin a career in real estate now.

Why would the middle of the worst recession in decades be a great time to get into real estate?  Well, for one thing, the “faint of heart” have gotten OUT of the game.  There are fewer agents now than in years so the competition for the customer is at its lowest.

Another reason is timing on the factors that most influence the market:  interest rates are at all time lows, the government is handing out tax incentives, home prices are down, and inventory is high.  That translates into a potential home-buying frenzy with people who have been on the fence about buying for the last few years. 

The real estate meltdown caused the economic realities we face today.  Everyone, including the government, knows this.  So what industry is the government looking to boost back up to turn things around?  Real estate!

 There has never been a time, and probably never will be again, in which all the stars have aligned to create such a perfect time to be in this business.  Will this be something you regret later or do you have the vision to take the plunge?

Do you know that feeling when you find a perfect gift for someone and you’re really excited to give it to them? I have that feeling! My mom’s birthday is coming up on December 16th, and Carter and I bought her a GREAT gift! I can’t wait to tell you what it is on the 16th . . . but I can’t now, just in case my mom reads this. I just had to share my excitement!

In food news . . . I received this sample from Kashi this week:

That’s GoLean Crunch Honey Almond Flax. I tried it for breakfast, atop of a mixture of Fage 0% yogurt, warmed-up Libby’s pumpkin, 2 T flax, and 2 packets of Splenda. I sprinkled some blueberries on top:

I LOVED the crunch of the cereal, but I’m not sure if I was crazy about the flavor. I think it just may have gotten lost because the pumpkin flavor out-powered it. Or maybe I’m just used to eating granola for breakfast. I love Kashi, so I’ll probably give this cereal another shot, but without the pumpkin next time.

Today is a beautiful and sunny 50 degrees, so I’m going to take advantage of the sunshine and take Kai for a walk. We sure won’t be walking tomorrow — it’s supposed to be 42 degrees and rainy . . . and then the rain’s supposed to turn to snow. We might accumulate 1-2 inches! I’m not sure if I’m happy or sad about this. I’m really more of a warm-weather girl. But, since I’ll be inside at a cookie exchange tomorrow night, I think the snow will just add to the festive ambiance. What kind of cookies should I bake for the exchange? Hmmmmm . . .

Yesterday, I finally got a call about the director of community prevention position that I applied for. I didn’t get the job, but I got some really awesome feedback, and I’m pleased with everything that the executive director had to say about me. He told me that he’d “hire me in a heartbeat,” but unfortunately, the organization has been struggling for the past few years and he had to hire somebody with more directorial experience who could “hit the ground running” and get the organization back on its feet. However, because he was so impressed with my enthusiasm, dedication and work ethic, the executive director wants to CREATE a position for me! I was completely flattered, and I think I was more excited than if I had been offered the job.

He said that, though he can’t promise anything, the mental health division of the organization is being re-structured, and they will most likely be hiring a health educator within the next few months. I have an interview with the director of the mental health division next week to discuss potential opportunities. I’m very excited because this position would actually be a better fit for me — I have a psychology degree and experience as a health educator, so it’s right up my alley.

So . . . I have lots of balls up in the air. I have so many pending job possibilities and of course, the pending possibility of attending grad school, so I’m staying positive! I’ve been working hard to carve out opportunities for myself, and I know something will work out, all in good time. I choose to look at the bright side — not having a job has enabled me to savor the holiday season on a whole new level . . . and hey, I have the chance to do some modeling. I got more pics back from JMB Photoworks:

Grown-up Tammy remembering young Tammy . . . how cool:

I prefer the natural-looking photos over the ones where I’m edited into the background, but the edits definitely add something unique to my portfolio.

Have a fabulous weekend! Anyone else getting a Christmas tree this weekend? Look at the new ornament my step-mom bought for me to celebrate my recovery and newfound love of cooking! What a perfect gift!

“Snow Much Fun to Cook!” I love it!

So, you are not able to decide whether you should stay there or move on? You are unhappy and stuck at work, right? It means you need guidance. If you are stuck up in situations like these, you can always seek guidance from a career counselor. Today, you can find hundreds of free career tests and career assessment tools on the internet. A career counselor or free online career tests help you deal with important issues like career planning, career change, career shift and career development. These free tests will enable you to know your strengths and weaknesses. As a result, you will be able to make well-informed decisions about your job or career.

But, it is essential to listen to the signs –

Lack of clarity about work related issues
Dissatisfaction with the current job or career
Feeling of Frustration
Lack of Motivation
Workaholism which leads to imbalance between work and life

When should you head to the career counselor?

When you are stuck up at work
When a relationship saps your energies
When you face a dilemma while making important decisions
When you have a work-life imbalance
When you are dissatisfied with your work
When there is a sharp dip in effectivity at the workplace

How does the counselor help you resolve your career crisis?

Enables you approach a crisis with objectivity
Provides guidance so that individuals may resolve the career crisis themselves
Helps individuals discover their inner self
Helps individuals identify strengths

So, whenever you face situations like these, be ready to detect the signs and head to the career counselor if you can not handle or resolve the crisis yourself.

“Life is the sum of all your choices”~   Albert Camus

For those that are just getting started in independent publishing, there is a breaking point when your company has gained momentum enough to begin to outsource your order fulfillment. All independent publishers wonder when that time has come to seek help. If your  thoughts and feelings resemble this list, it is time to stop going it alone.

• You are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done in a day.
• Packing and shipping orders is not what you have set out to do in your career.
• Your focus has been mired in details, such as how much it costs to get your independently published book or film from here to there and the best way to do it.
• You are spending less time on your craft of writing or publishing, and more time on the business aspect of handling orders, recording payments and database upkeep.

Step back, assess how your life will be changed, if you could focus on the creative process and get back to what matters most. You are never alone. Use your favorite search engine and look for affordable order fulfillment for independent publishers. They are the folks who will lend you a hand. What a difference a day makes when you move forward with making a decision.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

To get your place on this Cambridge Judge Business School – run course, get your application in by 10.00 am Friday 11th December 2009 .

This Enterprisers course runs from 11th – 15th Jan 2010. If this is something you would like to do you can find out more here or go straight to the application form on the Cambridge Website and chose ESRC funded (11-15 Jan 2010), make sure you write in Newcastle in the University tab and your nearly there.

Carpe Diem

We thought that you might also have friends who would benefit from this amazing course. Maybe you know someone who has a Newcastle University degree but is having trouble finding work, or who has been affected by the economic downturn.

Please remember that eligibility is restricted to Newcastle University Graduates (i.e not current students). To see our full eligibility statement please go to http://www.ncl.ac.uk/careers/makeitfly/enterprisers.php and scroll down to ‘how do I apply’.

You can find out more at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/careers/makeitfly/enterprisers.php or by emailing me at c.a.m.kennedy@ncl.ac.uk

EDUCATION AND HONORS

Lafayette College, Easton, PA

Bachelors of Arts in History, Government & Law; Spanish (2009)

• Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Alpha Theta, Sigma Delta Pi, Order of Omega
• Dean’s List, graduated magna cum laude
• Truman Scholarship Finalist, Lafayette College Novak Prize in Government
• Honors Thesis in History: “A Union of Farmers: The Grange in Pennsylvania”

SKILLS

Computer

• SalesForce, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, iMovie, Social Networking, MIMSY, ProVenue

Language

• Spanish (advanced proficiency, some translation experience)

WORK EXPERIENCE

Mobilize.Org (Washington, DC)    September 2009-November 2009

Development Associate

• Create and implement funding plan. Prospect research and donor cultivation.  Assistant to the CEO.

Lafayette College Special Collections and Archives (Easton, PA)    January 2009-May 2009

Advanced Archival Assistant

• Archival rehousing, finding aids, and research inquiries. Exhibition planning.

Denver Art Museum (Denver, Co)     May 2008-August 2008

Education Department Intern

• Aide at day camps. Curriculum development. Wrote docent papers.

Lou Reda Productions (Easton, PA)     February 2008-May 2008

Intern

• Research and acquire international WWII film footage.

Meyner Center for State and Local Government (Easton, PA)  September 2007-May 2009

EXCEL scholar

• Research various topics relating to federalism for journal articles and conferences.

Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Washington, DC)  June 2007-August 2007

Curatorial intern, Division of Work and Industry

• Collection rehousing, finding aids. Conducted reinterpretation/inventory of exhibits.  Website development. NMAH Colloquium lecturer—“Racism in Disney’s ‘Song of the South.’”

Technology Clinic (Easton, PA)  January 2007-December 2007

“Green Team” Member

• Create a comprehensive Green Plan implemented by Lafayette College

Landis Community Outreach Center (Easton, PA) August 2005-July 2007

Program Coordinator, Ingles Número Uno

• Recruited volunteers to tutor ESL elementary school students. Created curriculum for students and volunteers.

Congressman Charles W. Dent (Washington, DC)  July -August 2006

Intern

• Office duties. Tours of US Capitol.  Research for legislative aides/director.

Williams Center for the Arts (Easton, PA) January 2006-May 2009

Head Usher and Box Office Associate

• Recruit, train and establish schedule for employees. Conduct sales in box office.

Lafayette College Republicans (Easton, PA) August 2005-May 2009

President

• Schedule and run regular membership meetings. Develop events and recruit new members.

Panhellenic Executive Council (Easton, PA) November 2006-December 2007

Philanthropy Chair

• Chairwoman of “Dress Upon A Star”.  Organized philanthropy/service events for all sororities.

An interested employer?  Contact me at sara.elizabeth.walter@gmail.com.

…can help progress your career when you least expect it!

It’s always great to go to events designed specifically for social networking. This goes without saying. Get your name out; meet people with fantastic start-up ideas; shake hands with successful entrepreneurs. But what about the people you meet in daily life, or even while enjoying one of your favourite hobbies?

This past Sunday was the end of my most recent contract as a musical production Stage Manager. Since it was with a community theatre company, as reputable as it is, I did not get paid much for the 3.5 month position. For the amount of work that is required of a Stage Manager*, no matter how enjoyable it is, let’s just say that the immediate financial return does not make up for the amount of work at all.

What was great though was the incalculable benefit of being in my position. Who would have thought? As a budding educator, I met other professionals who were involved in the production: coming on board as actors and stage crew were principals, retirees, and teachers who all worked in the same school board as I did. Even better was that I was working in a leadership role, which gave them the opportunity to witness firsthand my professionalism, work ethic and effectiveness as their leader and manager.

Me, being professional.

One of the actors (who happened to be a principal at a local elementary school) saw value in the way I managed the cast and production team, as well as in my genuine spirits, so he gave me the opportunity to fill in for one of his teachers for two weeks while she was away. In two weeks, I will earn over 3 times more money than what I made as a Stage Manager in 3.5 months. And now that I’ve worked for him at his school and he’s seen what I can do in the classroom, I have no doubt that he will have enough faith in my abilities to keep me in mind for any other future jobs that may come up. The best part is that this connection was indirectly made while I was out and about, enjoying my hobby of putting together a musical theatre production!

Many have asked me why I do not put more direct focus into my teaching career with my school board of choice. My answer is that I’m simply not ready to make the time commitment. Being a good teacher nowadays is life-consuming, and there are too many other things I enjoy doing and am unwilling to forfeit (like musical theatre, social media, work with non-profits, etc). But lookie here: I got a teaching job while stage managing! It’s nice to know though that in doing what I love to the best of my ability, even if it is not directly within education, I am still moving forward with my teaching career.

It just goes to show that everything we do contributes to this journey we’re on, don’t you think? It’s all about how we take our opportunities to shine!

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*9 hours of rehearsal per week, countless hours of time spent preparing paperwork (props/set lists, detailed scene change and mic change documents, preset lists, sound effects, music cues), updating cast and production team with inevitable last-minute changes to rehearsal schedules, picking up and responding to emails/phone calls from confused cast and parents alike, lending an ear to the production team as they gripe about this and that, and on top of all of this, being the logistical backbone of the artistic team. Whew. This wasn’t even my day job!

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<3

As a journalist, I’ve spent the last few years desperately trying to figure out who I am, where I want to be and what my purpose as a journalist is. From missed deadlines to second-rate stories and angry public relations officers, it’s all pretty much about allowing myself to make mistakes and, more importantly, allowing myself to learn from them.

Although I’ve had my heart firmly set on being a journalist since before I could even pronounce the word, I have to admit that I still sometimes have a problem admitting what I do in public. Turning up to a party and announcing that you are a journalist is always met with the type of disgusted faces and uncomfortable silence that you would expect to receive if you had just walked in and announced that you had just murdered a kitten. Why? Good question. To me, journalism is about truth and honesty. It is about making people aware of things that I feel are important and this is something that I am very passionate about. These days, journalists seem to have a reputation for being manipulative and untrustworthy thanks to the substandard work currently being done by bad journalists. That being said, trying to explain this to a table full of bankers at a family function last month was seriously comparable to nailing jelly to a tree. Journalism is a tough industry to work in with stigma strongly attached to it. It’s time-consuming and all the hard work in the world sometimes simply isn’t enough to make it pay off but, at the end of the day, at least I can always hold my head high and say there genuinely isn’t anything else I would rather be doing.

Prior to enrolling on my Journalism course at Edinburgh Napier University, I was lucky enough to experience what it was like to write for a publication first-hand when I nabbed my first writing job as a café reviewer for I-on Edinburgh magazine. Whilst I loved writing the reviews and then seeing them published in a glossy magazine, I had very little experience writing news stories and had hoped that I could use the time spent on our Multimedia Reporting 2 module to improve on this. During the module, we partook in a live rolling news day as part of our overall assessment and I really enjoyed learning how to write effective news stories under highly pressured circumstances. This was new experience for me and one which I found to be very valuable. Whilst I felt the ‘Hospedia’ scandal story which I produced during the first assessment was my best overall, I learnt something new and useful from each of the different articles which I produced during the module. My self-confidence when it came to gathering sources and quotations also grew significantly throughout the course of the module. The tight time constraints meant it was essential for us to be pro-active when it came to dealing with press officers and other fundamental contacts. As I tried desperately to gathered valuable comments to add depth to my articles, I realised that persistence is key to opportunity – as a journalist, you must be confident and relentless, pushing hard for that key quotation if you wish to succeed. 

I specifically enjoyed writing the news story entitled ‘Supermodel Fired for Being Too Skinny’.  In this article, I investigated the claims that were recently made by Swedish supermodel Fillipa Hamilton that she was fired by the Ralph Lauren corporation for being overweight. I felt this story was of particular social relevance due to the overwhelming presence of stories regarding the ‘size 0’ debate in the media today.

As I began to piece the Ralph Lauren story together and consider the underlying issues, I was constantly reminded of why I decided that I wanted to become a journalist in the first place. Growing up, I would spend hours on end reading countless magazines from cover to cover. My favourites were Bliss and Sugar as I adored how their writers promoted individuality and self-confidence over the common goal of perfection. They taught me to be both strong and self-assured and that I should not be intimidated by all the Britney-Aguilera-Jolie-looking clones that I was likely to be surrounded by during my teenage years.

Through reading these magazines and the messages given out by their writers, I suddenly became very aware of the impact that journalism can have on young people during the very vulnerable stages of their lives. I may have been pretty much oblivious to it at the time but these writers helped form the person that I am today. I would love to someday have that same impact on somebody else. When writing this particular article, I felt that I was drawing attention to the fact that commercialised beauty is not necessarily real beauty. It is flaws that people relate to and I feel that drawing attention to Hamilton’s story and her stance on the situation really highlighted this. Whilst such stories are often considered to be ‘light journalism’ when compared to articles dealing with issues like war and murder, I actually believe that they are of equal value in society. In a media-led world in which we are consistently told how we should look, dress and act, I think it is crucial that stories which challenge these ideals are published in order to make people feel good about themselves and to celebrate idiosyncrasy.

Defence Jobs

Australia Government Job Guide

Australian Government Job Search 

Career Job Search 

Career.com.au Employment Solutions   

Job Find Centre 

JobNet Australia: Search for Australian Jobs 

JobStar Central for resume advice  

My Career 

 http://www.seek.com.au 

http://www.monsterboard.com.au 

Freelancers are people who enjoy the freedom of creation and don’t like being dictated by anyone else. It is a profession that now doesn’t support only the aged or the retired, even the youth take shelter here. But does creativity really help you get an edge over anyone else who is probably earning a definite monthly salary under his boss? Rather, how far can one sustain only by freelancing?

I have picked up the following link from the New York Times blog, an article by Michelle Goodman that describes beautifully, what freelancers and creative heads need to verify before getting into a deal with companies/people who propose freelance jobs and where exactly to strike a boundary. If you are a freelancer or wish to be one, you certainly don’t want to get consulted at no cost, and if you want to know everything about what such job ads could actually mean then go ahead and enjoy the article!

http://shiftingcareers.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/when-to-work-for-free/

Tuscaloosa in one of the Top 20 College Towns in America named by Forbes.com and well known for the University of Alabama and its Crimson Tide. Jobs have increased in Tuscaloosa as it has in all of the Top 20 College Towns in 2008 – 2009. Moreover, Daimler AG is bringing 1,000 new jobs into town in 2010 in an upturn in the auto industry there.

Other jobs most often listed in Tuscaloosa include Management, Technicians, Engineers, Healthcare professionals, Professors, and Dining Industry personnel.  Retail Trade also appears healthy as part of Travel and Tourism overall. For additional information and a City Review, see:

Hot Jobs in Tuscaloosa

“Look at every thing as though you were seeing it either for the first time or the last time.”  ~Betty Smith

All of us have our own interpretation of what good art means. What one of us may deem to be beautiful, may have little merit for others. Some of us like representational art, others prefer abstract art presented in large installations or sculpture, some enjoy art in the form of handcrafted items. Creative expression comes in so many forms.

Art has merit in my own eyes, when it strikes me immediately. It may come in the form of a painting, an exquisite voice, a superb theatrical production, a symphony of sounds, meaningful lyrics to a song or a well executed book or film.  A  meal with beautiful garnishes or even a beautiful flower arrangement is a work of art.

There are paintings that I love to revisit day after day,  as if I am seeing the work for the first time.  Painter Timothy Thies has a way of drawing me into his gardens of color and light, time and time again.  As my eyes meander the canvas, I always see a stroke of paint, a blending of color or a ray of light I had never seen before.

Wikipedia.com defines art as “the process or product of deliberately arranging  elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions.” That is a very broad definition. What really matters when it comes to Art appreciation is that it satisfies and fulfills us.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Nubby is a former MHCC Graphic Design student. She’s a talented designer and prolific blogger.

She has a great post about making the leap to freelancing. Very good advice for all of you entering the design work force.

Check it out!

Let’s face it, job boards are basically useless at this point. I recently read, but can’t find it now, that job boards only account for about 3% of all hires. This SHRM article states that networking and in-house references are the best source of candidates.  The big buzz these days is using social networks for recruiting, but as I look at some of these examples (Twitter and FB posts) I still think recruiters are only scratching the surface of social networking’s real potential.

Recruiters use Twitter to post positions or redirect candidates to their recruiting site. That’s not networking, that’s posting. All you have really done is extended your job board out a little further. It only goes to those currently following you on Twitter. The odds are if they are following you they also know how to find your job board already. You really haven’t extended your reach much.

Here is what recruiters need to do. Send an email to all of your employees with each job opening separately worded for different social mediums. Ask the employees to cut and paste the openings they want to share with their network, using the appropriate message created for the medium they are posting it on. In other words, email out a Tweet that you ask all your employees to post to their Twitter accounts. The same for FB and LinkedIn.  Now your building a network! If 25 employees Tweet the opening and each employee has 100 followers even if only 5% of followers RT but also have 100 followers, you have now hit 500 people, most of whom you don’t know. They key is making it easy for the employee and not asking them to come up with the Tweet or FB posting. This is one HR/Recruiting should spoon feed.

Want to track back which employee was the source of the referral so you can reward them? You could have a numeric code that each employee could attach to their tweets and posts that the candidate is asked to submit with their application. This way you know where the candidate came from.

Bottom line, if your going to use social networking make sure your making the best use of your social network!

No matter whether you are starting a fresh career or switching into a new career, given below are ten job search attitudes to get you more and more interviews. And remember these are not just feel-good quotes. So, read each of the job search attitudes carefully, adopt them and keep them repeating over and again.

Attitude # 1: Business firms and corporations hire without joy and fire without remorse.
Attitude # 2 : I will work for good pay, good benefits and good people.
Attitude # 3 : I will always work towards career advancement.
Attitude # 4 : My job search is a positive activity and it will always be the central part of my life.
Attitude # 5 : I will never stop looking for my next job again. (because your employer is always   looking for their next you.
Attitude # 6 : It is not disloyal to look for work when I already have a job.
Attitude # 7 : I have the ability to create an opportunity even when there isn’t an opening.
Attitude # 8 : I will be more successful if more people know about my job search.
Attitude # 9 : Helping others find work is a great way for me to my next work opportunity.
Attitude # 10 : I will search for jobs as if I don’t need one.

So, are you ready to adopt or develop these 10 job search attitudes?

 URL: http://www.jsps.org/pdf/Standard_Award_Poster.pdf

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) is the leading research funding agency in Japan, established by the Japanese Government for the purpose of contributing to the advancement of science.

JSPS plays a key role in the administration of various scientific and academic programmes, whilst expanding bilateral exchange between Japan and the United Kingdom. In cooperation with the Nominating Authorities (the Royal Society and the British Academy), JSPS provides the opportunity for outstanding young researchers to conduct cooperative research with leading groups at Japanese Universities and Institutions for a period of between 1 – 2 years.

The Royal Society and the British Academy are given a quota by JSPS and they operate all application procedures.

The fellowship is worth a maximum of £62,000 (tax exempt for two years) and includes: •Return air ticket •Insurance •Living expenses A further £1,000 is available for Japanese language training and the KAKENHI Grant worth up to £30,000 can be applied for to cover research support costs.

More information about eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the following websites;　 ●The Royal Society: http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/JSPS-Postdoctoral-Fellowship-Program/　　　　　　　　 　 ●The British Academy: http://www.britac.ac.uk/funding/guide/intl/jspspdfnfa.cfm 

Polly Watson. International Programme Coordinator JSPS London Tel: 020-7255 4660

Wipro announces admission to WASE

Wipro Academy of Software Excellence (WASE), an off-campus ‘earn while you learn’ program pioneered by Wipro in collaboration with BITS, Pilani has announced admissions for the year 2010-11.

The admission process involves a national-level online common entrance test conducted between December 9 and 20, 2009.

Since 1995

Started in 1995, WASE offers B.Sc., BCM and BCA students an opportunity to earn an MS degree from BITS, Pilani without having to complete an engineering degree. WASE is a four year, eight semester course where the candidates train with Wipro and work on live projects on weekdays and attend classes over the weekends. The first seven semesters comprises of course work, with the eighth semester being a dissertation. At the end of four years, candidates get an MS degree from BITS, Pilani equivalent to their full-time two year MS degree program. The programme provides science and computer graduates across India an opportunity to be IT professionals while gaining experience and a MS degree.

Wipro bears the entire course fee and also pays the WASE candidates a monthly stipend for the duration of the course (four years).

The program is open to graduates and final year students of B.Sc. / BCM / BCA from Mathematics, Computer Sciences, IT, Physics, Statistics and Electronics branches.

The students should have studied Mathematics till 12 {+t} {+h} and should have scored 60 per cent or above in 10 {+t} {+h}, 12 {+t} {+h} and in graduation till date.

Last date for registration: December 5, 2009. For more details, log on to: http://careers.wipro.com/wase

Course in screenwriting

Creating art is not easy and scriptwriting is an art form where writers cannot be created, they can only be moulded. Making that clear Mindscreen Film Institute is next introducing a six-month course in screenwriting and filmmaking. The institute already offers a course in cinematography.

At a press conference held here on Friday, cinematographer and founder of Mindscreen Film Institute, Rajiv Menon, said that course is aimed at those who cannot take up the extensive three-year course.

The course covers all the technical and theoretical aspects of scriptwriting.

Talking about the demand for good screenplay writers, Mr. Menon said that though the industry has very good natural writers they get frustrated after a point and turn directors. Also, the “oral tradition” used in films adds to the production cost.

One of the main requirements for the course is that the candidate should have some written work in any language and had it published. “Cinema is about transferring thought into action,” he said, talking about writing for cinema and novel as two different things.

Explaining about the curriculum of the course, Mr. Menon said understanding of Indian love story, mythical and emotional characters, relevance of songs, stories with plots, comedy writing and tracking Indian actors will all be dealt.

“Script appraisal, how to register your script, how to hold on to your idea … will all be covered,” he added.

The course commences from February 2010, with an intake of 10 students.

BRAOU spot admissions

Spot admissions into first year of undergraduate programmes (B.A., B.Com./BSc.) offered by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) for academic year 2009-10 will be held at the university campus in Jubilee Hills from December 1 to 10.

Those interested in joining the undergraduate programmes offered by the university need to take along their original certificates and photocopies of the same along with six passport photographs and tuition fee, according to a press release issued by the university.

Details

More details of the programmes offered by the university can be had on the website www.braou.ac.in , the release added.

NIRD entrance test on Jan. 4

The National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad, has invited applications for the entrance test to be held on January 24, 2010 across the country for admission to the postgraduate diploma programme in rural development management (PGDRM) for the year 2010-11.

It is a one-year, fully residential course having 60 seats. Graduates in any discipline and those who are in the final year of the degree course and expected to complete graduation before August 1, 2010, are eligible to apply. The application form can be downloaded from the website www.nird.org.in. Completed application forms along with a demand draft for Rs.1,200 drawn in favour of NIRD, Hyderabad, and copies of relevant certificates should be sent to the Coordinator, Centre for Postgraduate Studies, National Institute of Rural Development, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500030, so as to reach the addressee on or before December 18, 2009.

SNAP test

Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP) Test, the written test for admission to the Postgraduate and MBA programmes offered by the 12 constituent institutes of Symbiosis International (Deemed University), will be conducted on December 20 in 29 cities across India.

After appearing for SNAP, students have to apply to the Symbiosis institute/s of their choice, and follow the individual selection process of the particular institution to qualify for admission. Apart from Kochi, the test centres include Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. The SNAP score of students will remain valid for all institutes under Symbiosis.

SNAP test broadly evaluates students in general knowledge, English and quantitative analysis.

Scripting’ a virtual career in films, television

Here is a unique opportunity for those who are on the look out to learn the art of scriptwriting for film and television from top faculty drawn from all parts of country. A 20-part virtual course on scriptwriting is being launched by University Grants Commission (UGC) from December 7 at Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMMRC), English and Foreign Language University (EFLU), Hyderabad.

The flourishing film and television media sector has fuelled the growth and demand for courses in mass communication across the country. This demand for media related courses is also leading to a huge demand for talented teachers. However, students who are residing in far flung parts of the country find it hard to access top quality teachers.

“The course has been conceptualised in such a way that students from all parts of the world can access the faculty and course material simultaneously. The virtual course will be beamed through satellite to DTH platform of DD Direct Plus, Internet and DVDs. The course will also be aired on the UGC’s 24-hour higher education channel VYAS,” said EMMRC in-charge Director G. Krishna Rao.

Pre-recorded content

The virtual course will be conducted on worldwide basis and the course content is pre-recorded. However, students will be able to have live interaction with subject experts, who will be present in the studios of Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC), under which is the apex body for EMMRC. The 20-part video programme has been intensively designed for writing scripts for film and television and it will hone the talent of young wannabe writers. The scriptwriting will also be useful in many fields including films, television, multimedia and gaming. “The course deals with technical aspects such as shot breakdown, shooting script, writing the narration, writing for the news and current affairs and writing for documentary and fiction,” says Mr. Krishna Rao. Students can seek clarifications on the subjects from experts through SMS, fax and videoconferencing lines. “Students will be asked to come to EMMRC at a particular time between December 7 and January 22. The telecast of the programmes will be held from Monday to Thursday and experts will be present on every Friday to clarify doubts,” Mr. Krishna Rao added.

Eligibility

The minimum eligibility is 10+2 and mode of communication will be in English. After completion of the course, students will have to take a multiple choice assignment, which can be downloaded from the website (http://www.cec-ugc.org ). The registration fee is Rs. 500 for general category and Rs. 250 for BC, SC and ST students. Foreign students will have to register online and for them there will be no registration fee. For details contact: G. Krishna Rao, EMMRC (emrc_ran5@yahoo.com ; 040-2768-9400)

 A carer in food technology

 Here is some food for thought for those with a passion for food. Despite the unlimited scope and potential the exotic world of food science and technology offers, it is virtually untapped as a career option. And if experts at the Food World 2009 conference held in Mumbai recently are to be believed, India’s food industry is slated to grow to nearly $ 320 billion by the financial year 2020 from its current level of $ 180 billion.

The fact that India is not only one of the world’s largest producers but has a large domestic market base as well, underlines the role of the food industry in driving the nation’s economy. That opportunities for food science technologists and scientists are opening up can be gauged from the SWOT analysis on food processing sector conducted by the Central Government.

It went on to identify the opportunities: large crop and material base offering vast potential for agro-processing activities; establishing SEZ and food parks for providing added incentive to develop greenfield projects; rising income levels and changing consumption patterns; favourable demographic profile and changing lifestyles; integration of development in contemporary technologies such as electronics, material science, biotechnology etc which offer vast scope for rapid improvement and progress; and opening of global markets.

Again, the size of the urban food market alone is reckoned to be Rs.3,50,000 crore in India and is growing and yet, the industry has been described as “nascent” which means the demand for specialists in food industry will increase.

Vast opportunities

And what does all these indicate? Opportunities unlimited. But this calls for specialised knowledge and education in food science and technology and most universities offer related courses one way or the other.

The Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), which is a constituent laboratory of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is an internationally reputed institute which offers M.Sc in Food Technology. The course is of four-semester duration.

Admission is by way of entrance test and admission notification for the academic years 2010-12 will be published in April 2010 while the course commences in the third week of August every year. The degree is awarded by the University of Mysore.

The course with 16 subjects and electives in the final semester prepares the graduates for a career in industry or high-end research while providing the more entrepreneurial individuals with a sound footing in the food world to enable them to launch their own enterprise.

For the record, CFTRI has major technological milestones in the country’s quest for food security and the list makes for exhaustive reading. But it is suffice to point out that its formulation of Amul infant food is the basis for the flourishing baby food manufacturing industry in the country today.

And it is in these laboratories under the watchful eyes of highly-qualified scientists and specialised teachers as faculty members that students go through the academic rigour with a multi-disciplinary approach, the kind of which cannot be offered by most universities.

The admission criteria for post-graduate courses is a degree in Science with Chemistry as one of the major subjects with a background in mathematics at the +2 level. With its state-of-the-art laboratory and sprawling campus, CFTRI is also reckoned to be one of its kind in Asia and the world and it is no wonder that students completing its M.Sc course or scientists working in it are in demand not only in India but throughout the world.

Short-term courses

CFTRI also offers a post-graduate course in Food Science by research apart from several short-term specialised courses for working professionals keen to enhance their skills or update their knowledge base or those embarking on a career in food science from a related field.

Among the more popular ones is a residential course in Floor Milling Technology of 12-month duration.

Hundreds of professionals in the field of flour milling technology have graduated, including students from more than 25 countries.

This apart, CFTRI is a recognised centre for doctoral and post-doctoral research and for scholars pursuing their Ph.D.

For more details about the CFTRI and its full-time, short-term and special courses, log on to www.cftri.com

 Online course in biomedical research ethics

The Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, along with the University of Miami, is offering an online course in research ethics education for India and other countries in the region.

“The value of medical research ethics cannot be understated, especially at a time when India has emerged in the list of top destinations for clinical trials,” S.P.Thyagarajan, Pro Chancellor (Research), SRU, told The Hindu.

Currently, 150 clinical research organisations are directly or indirectly (in collaboration with multinationals) conducting trials in the country. Collaborations of this kind are all set to increase in the coming years, K.P.Mishra, president, Indian Biophysical Society, said.

The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) programme of the University of Miami will provide high quality web-based instruction in research ethics not only in India, but also in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding between the two varsities, it also envisages creating a Centre of Excellence at SRU and eventually, develop a course that will be appropriately tailored for Indian requirements, Paul Braunschweiger, Director, Office of Research Education, University of Miami, said.

Mr. Thyagarajan said universities, individuals and research institutions in any part of the country can apply to be part of the training programme. Contact 044-24765512/23860186 or email sptrajansrmc@gmail.com  for details.

 Options aplenty for DW professionals

Today’s businesses realise that to manage, maintain and accurately analyse the sea of data generated on an everyday basis, and then make various decisions to run the businesses better, is a challenge they have to cope up with.

The challenge is twofold: one, to collect the data required at one place and second, to analyse using various methods in quantitative and statistical analysis resulting in better decision making. Many studies have proven that decision-making on the basis of gut-feel or tribal knowledge will result in sub-optimal results. The foundation for these analytical systems is Data Warehouses, where the data across an organisation (and sometime external data) is captured, cleaned, stored and maintained. With most businesses automating their processes by means of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Human Resource Management (HRM) and other transactional systems, the competitive differentiation between them is getting lower by the day. This is when the next competitiveness is achieved through the use of Analytics.

“There will be a continual demand for Data Warehousing (DW) and Business Intelligence (BI) professionals, just like there was demand for business automation software like SAP for years to come, but the opportunities will open up to tackle the second challenge,” says Surya Putchala, vice-president of The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI) India chapter.

Top priority

A recent Global CIO study by IBM stated that 83 per cent of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) of companies identified business intelligence and analytics as their top priority for enhanced competitiveness. “Business analytics and optimisation is a $105 billion market that includes hardware, software and services and it is witnessing growth of 8 per cent.”

As Gary Cokins, an expert on advanced cost management and performance improvement systems put it on Information Management Online portal, “Using analytics that include statistics is a skill that is gaining mainstream value due to the increasingly thinner margin for decision error. It is necessary to gain insights and inferences from the treasure chest of raw transactional data that so many organisations have now stored (and continue to store) in a digital format. Organisations are drowning in data but starving for information.”

Ambuj Goyal, General Manager for information management software at IBM (Software), on internetnews website, recently cited a report from IBM Market Intelligence that says that the demand for business optimisation will grow at a 7.8 per cent compound growth rate between 2009 and 2012, compared to a 3.3 per cent compound growth rate for the much larger business automation market.

Like a tsunami

With such facts staring in our face, Mr. Surya notes that the field is like a tsunami which is going to come our way. “But only that it is a job tsunami, which is a good problem to have.”

So what is it that an aspiring Enterprise DW/BI professional needs to have and what tools should they be equipped with? Jim Walch, who built an entire EDW for Microsoft and is currently the General Manager (IT) at the company’s global headquarters says any EDW/BI professional, should have a passion to deal with raw data, be very analytical, able to deal with ambiguity and be flexible. One also needs to have aptitude for problem solving, analysis and abstract thinking. “EDW/BI is more a business challenge than a technical challenge. Hence there is more focus on understanding the business process and domain and on understanding all technical aspects of building DWs” he said in a recent interview to The Hindu Education Plus.

Mr. Surya suggests students to take subjects like Database Management systems, Quantitative Analysis, Operations Management, Mathematics and Statistics, Data mining, Software Engineering in their curriculum seriously. “It will help if they do their projects in BI/DW area, learn as much about this subject and give/attend seminars while in college,” he says.

If there is an opportunity, learning about functional areas such as Finance, Accounting and Manufacturing will do a lot of good. He says the best way for them is to reach out to the chapters such as TDWI and DAMA and get connected to practitioners for advice and career guidance in this area.

Websites

Students may refer to the following websites to know the latest: www.tdwi.org , www.dama.org , www.tdan.com , www.dmreview.com , www.bettermanagement.com , www.b-eye-network.com  and www.intelligententerprise.com .

 Test Track –AIEEE 2010

AIEEE 2010

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has invited applications for the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) 2010 to be held on April 25, 2010 for admission to BE/B.Tech./B.Arch./ B.planning courses conducted at several institutions including National Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Information Technology and Deemed Universities. In Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode will be the test centres.

Entrance test consist of two papers. The first paper consists of three parts-physics, chemistry and mathematics-of equal weightage with objective type questions for BE/B.Tech. courses. The second paper consists of mathematics, aptitude test and drawing for B.Arch. and B.planning.

The aptitude test is designed to evaluate candidate’s perception, imagination, observation, creativity and architectural awareness (of candidates). There will be negative marks for wrong answers. For each inncorrect response, one-fourth of the total marks scored would be deducted. The entrance examination will start from 9.30 a.m. on April 25, 2010. Both the papers will of three-hour duration. The second paper will start from 2 p.m. the same day. Students can take three consecutive chances, one every year, to appear for this entrance examination.

On the basis of performance in entrance test, separate rank lists will be prepared for BE/ B.Tech and B.Arch / B.Planning. Score card indicating All India rank and State rank with total marks and marks in each subject will be sent to all candidates appearing for AIEEE–2010.

Those who have passed Plus Two or equivalent examinations with physics, chemistry, mathematics are eligible to apply. Three-year engineering diploma holders may also apply. Those appearing for the final-year qualifying examination in 2010 may also apply. There is no mark restriction in Plus Two for BE/B.Tech. courses.

For admission to BE/ B.Tech. courses the applicant should have studied physics and mathematics and any one of chemistry/biotechnology/ computer science/biology. For admission to B.Arch / B.Planning, applicants should have studied mathematics and should have at least 50 per cent marks in aggregate in the Plus Two/equivalent examination. Applicants should have been born on or after October 1, 1985. In the case of SC/ST and physically-challenged, should have (been) born on or after October 1, 1980.

How to apply

Application can be submitted either online or in the prescribed application form.

Online application facilities are provided through the website www.aieee.nic.in  up to December 31.

Candidates applying online should keep a photocopy of confirmation wtih registration number and a copy of mode of remittance of examination fee.

Printed application forms and information bulletin for the entrance test can be obtained from designated branches of Syndicate Bank between December 1 and December 31 on payment of Rs.450.

Those who desire to appear for both BE/ B.Tech and B.Arch / B.Planning examinations should send their filled in applications along with (the) additional fee in the form of a demand draft of Rs. 300 drawn in favour of Secretary, CBSE, payable at New Delhi.

Candidates opting for examination centres in foreign countries should pay an additional fee of Rs. 550.

To obtain information bulletin containing application form by post, candidates should send their request to the Assistant Secretary (AIEEE), Central Board of Secondary Education, PS1-2, Institutional Area, IP Extension, Patparganj, New Delhi – 110092 along with a bank draft of Rs. 500 (Rs. 275 for SC / ST ) in favour of the Secretary, CBSE, payable at New Delhi and a self-addressed envelope (12”x 10”).

For more details visit www.aieee.nic.in .

Test Track-JEST 2010

JEST 2010

Online applications are invited from students with good academic record for Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST– 2010) for enrolment to Ph.D. programme in physics (including various inter-disciplinary research areas), theoretical computer science at any of the participating institutions including Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai; Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad; Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam; Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore; Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali and Pune; Indian Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore; National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, TIFR Pune; National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar; Raman Research Institute , Bangalore; Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, and Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata. Apply online through http://jest2010.aries.res.in  on or before December 14.

For eligibility criteria and other details visit http://jest2010.aries.res.in  or contact Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, 263129 .

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Central Florida Future – Article Online  

Three new programs launch at media center

By Cassie Turner

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Published: Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Updated: Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Emre Kelly

UCF’s Center for Emerging Media in Downtown Orlando celebrated the addition of three new programs, increasing student options and solidifying key concepts: partnership, collaboration and replication.

About 12,500 square feet of remodeled space is now dedicated to UCF’s MFA in Studio Art & the Computer; Flying Horse Editions, UCF’s non-profit fine arts press; and Citylab-Orlando, a University of Florida graduate-level architecture program.

These programs join several other high-profile programs at the center: The Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, UCF’s graduate video-gaming school; Vicon Entertainment’s House of Moves, one of the largest motion-capture studios on the East Coast; and the soundstage and editing suites of Studio 500.

“The Center for Emerging Media’s mission is to expand programs, access and opportunities for upper-level undergraduate and graduate emerging media students in Orlando, while furthering the city’s vision for a creative village that will connect professionals with students to help them land high-paying jobs upon graduation," said Chad Binette of UCF News & Information.

Rogier van Etten, a software engineer at 360Ed and 2007 graduate of FIEA, said they are instrumental in securing employer interviews for students. 360Ed focuses on games with high educational content. 

"The best thing you get from FIEA is teamwork: how to be an effective collaborator; how to be an effective communicator; how to be a valuable member of a team," said van Etten. "The skills you can get other places — it’s the team aspect that really stands out."

"We want to replicate what happens in the industry. Collaboration between students, departments and the community is the idea behind the entire building," said FIEA’s communications and admissions director, Todd Deery.

Professors encouraged Brittany Metz, a second-year MFA studio art & the computer graduate student, to get out of her box and focus on different mediums. Metz said she joined the program because the focus is concentrated on your own artwork, and the digital media aspect allowed flexibility and broad-range artistic expression.

"I’m drawn to whimsical, childlike, nostalgic things,” Metz said, “things I can create a story out of or that recall the past. 

Adding to the community learning and work experience environment, Flying Horse Editions brings in visiting artists who provide students with critiques and real-world experience lectures, said director Theo Lotz.

Beginning fall 2010, a creative partnership with Valencia Community College and the University of Florida will allow students to obtain a bachelor of design in architecture degree.

Michael Kuenstle, associate professor at the UF school of architecture, said the symbiotic relationship benefits students, faculty and community.

"Architecture is an urban endeavor. Students will gain a professional degree, immersed in the subject they are studying, while still living in Orlando, and we are able to teach in an urban environment, using the city as a library and teaching tool," Kuenstle said.

According to the UCF Web site, through a 2+2+2 program, students earn an associate’s degree through Valencia, a bachelor’s degree at UCF and a master’s at UF. The program aims at preparing students for careers in professional architecture, construction management and industrial design.

In the meantime, UCF undergraduate students and graduate students will be able to take elective courses at Citylab-Orlando and collaborate with top design, construction and planning faculty members from UF, said Binette.

Currently, Citylab-Orlando is working on a local urban redesign project to address different uses for future public space beneath Interstate 4 in Downtown Orlando.