News, News, News

ESGP Welcomes New Program Coordinator and Says Goodbye to Sarah Straley.

Sarah Straley sends her fond regards and best wishes to all the ESGP students, faculty and alumni, with whom she has had the pleasure of working. She has taken a new job in the renewable energy sector helping central Ohioans install solar electric on their homes and businesses. You can find her at Ecohouse Solar in Grandview, OH.  She welcomes staying in touch and invites you to contact her at sarahstraley@yahoo.com.

Michelle Smith joined the ESGP team as Graduate Program Coordinator on June 18th. She has been with the School of Environment and Natural Resources since May of 2013, and has worked at the university since October of 2010. You can visit her visit her office in 3138A Smith Laboratory and contact her at smith.7346@osu.edu. She is looking forward to working with you all!

Jobs and Internships

New Ph.D. in Environmental Science: Large River Ecosystems Program, Western Illinois University (WIU)

We are pleased that the University's first Ph.D. program has been approved and that students can begin their studies in Fall 2014," said WIU President Jack Thomas. "Students in Western's environmental science doctoral program will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to find solutions to regional, state and national environmental problems."

WIU also currently offers a doctoral program in educational leadership (Ed.D).

The degree will allow WIU to advance its position as a leader in environmental research on the upper Mississippi River, noted Provost Ken Hawkinson.

A multidisciplinary committee of WIU faculty members developed the proposal for the new program. They are affiliated with geography, biological sciences, mathematics and the WIU College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office. The committee was assisted by a number of organization representatives, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and River Action.

"It is a great honor to host this program, its students, faculty and staff in our new Riverfront facilities," said Vice President for Quad Cities and Planning Joe Rives. "We are grateful for the community support and partnerships as Western Illinois University continue to grow, innovate and thrive in the Quad Cities."

Roger Viadero, director of the WIU Institute for Environmental Science, will direct the new Ph.D. program. In addition to faculty assigned full-time to the ES doctoral program, other WIU teaching and research faculty lend their expertise in support of the program.

For more information on the new degree program, visit the Western Illinois University website.

Short-Term Clean Water Supply Fellow, Great Lakes

ORGANIZATION: American Rivers

The Clean Water Supply Fellow, Great Lakes will work to move Great Lakes communities toward a sustainable and integrated approach to water management while providing program support for the American Rivers’ Clean Water Supply Program in the Great Lakes. The Clean Water Supply Program focuses on ensuring communities and their rivers have enough clean water by promoting sustainable and decentralized water management practices such as green infrastructure (rain gardens and green roofs), water efficiency and reuse. Working with local, state, federal, and nonprofit leaders and officials, Clean Water Supply staff support the implementation of smarter water management policies and practices.

The Fellow will conduct research on green infrastructure planning efforts, stormwater modelling tools, and municipal consent decrees, and develop written material to be used for white papers and reports. The Fellow will support and help coordinate the efforts of the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Task Force in Toledo, OH. The Fellow will plan and coordinate workshops in the Flint River watershed in Michigan as well as cultivate relationships with municipal staff and partner organizations in the Cuyahoga River watershed in and around Cleveland, OH. The Fellow will also identify facilities managers and engineers who may be contacted at commercial/industrial sites for Best Management Practice retrofit consultation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Fellow will report to the Director, Clean Water Supply Great Lakes and will be located in Toledo, OH.

Full Article

Director of Development, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University

Reporting jointly to the Associate Dean for Development and the Director of the Center on Global Energy Policy, the Director of Development leads the efforts to create more philanthropic support for the Center on Global Energy Policy. The Director of Development oversees all fundraising activities, and conceptualizes, plans, and executes a strategic and coordinated program of fundraising within the framework of top funding priorities for the Center on Global Energy Policy. The Director of Development also directs start-up fundraising activities and leads the expansion of a donor base related to the Center. Activities include: creating a fundraising plan for the Center; soliciting alumni, corporate and foundation support for the Center; providing strategic direction and management of the Center's top donors; and activating the engagement strategy for high-level advisory board members. The fundraising goal focuses on current use funding, with the long-term goal of raising endowment support.

The Director of Development will use the Columbia University platform and pod for development. The Center offers many avenues for development initiatives including: research programs, for example based on subjects or regions as fellows programs, education naming opportunities, etc.

The successful candidate will be energetic, poised in dealing with constituents, and able to communicate persuasively with donors.

Preferred Qualifications

An advanced degree is preferred. Prior experience in a not for profit or similarly complex organizations is a plus. Understanding of energy policy and the energy market and relationships in the energy field would be highly advantageous. Comfort with Columbia University structure and cultures are strongly preferred.

Kindly send nominations or expressions of interest to:

Lisa Byala, Principal, ByalaSearch LLC T: (212) 547–9536

Isaac Lustgarten, Principal, ByalaSearch LLC, T: (212) 547-9536

Assistant Professor / Instructor of Conservation Law Enforcement and Environmental Policy, Unity College

Application Deadline: Friday, August 1, 2014

Unity College invites applications for an Instructor or Assistant Professor to teach for the Conservation Law Enforcement and Environmental Policy degree programs. We seek an individual with demonstrated interest in teaching and mentoring future conservation law enforcement professionals; supplemented with a strong background in environmental law and natural resource policy.  The successful applicant will be instrumental in the delivery of one of the largest degree programs at Unity College, and will support the overall mission and vision of Unity College under the framework of Sustainability Science.  

The successful candidate will have expertise in environmental law enforcement principles and procedures, and be able to teach core courses in our conservation law enforcement and policy curriculum such as Courtroom Procedure and Evidence, Environmental Law, Natural Resource Policy, and Community Relations and Ethics. The candidate should also be prepared to teach theoretical aspects of law enforcement while incorporating personal experience as a field practitioner into the courses.  The position will be an academic year (9-month) teaching appointment with the additional expectations of sponsoring interns, advising, mentoring, and participating in academic service activities.

Qualifications: All candidates must possess a minimum of a Master’s degree and demonstrate competence in the profession as well as a commitment to the responsibilities of advising and mentoring undergraduate students. Rank of instructor or assistant professor will be determined based on the possession of a terminal degree, minimum time in rank, and/or experience.

Preferred qualifications:

• Terminal degree in a related discipline
• Experience in conservation law enforcement/ environmental regulation at state or federal level
• Knowledge of natural resource policy
• Teaching/training experience at a post-secondary institution
• Strong communication skills
• Commitment to cultural diversity and physical wellness
• Ability to assist with post-graduate and intern placement with federal and state agencies through established professional networks

About Unity College: Unity College is a private college in rural Maine that provides dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education that emphasizes the environment, natural resources, and the emerging framework of Sustainability Science.  The highly engaged student body, staff and faculty reflect a range of expertise characteristic of a liberal arts institution, and are united by their common interest in developing sustainable solutions to the pressing environmental problems of the 21st century.  Recently named to the top 30 of the Washington Monthly college rankings and Princeton Review’s Green Rating Honor Roll, Unity is rapidly becoming recognized as a national leader in Sustainability Science.

Additional Information:

SALARY/BENEFITS:  Salaried position.   This position is eligible for the following benefits: medical; dental; employer-paid STD, LTD, Life; flexible benefits plan offering medical and dependent care reimbursement accounts; voluntary life insurance; faculty medical leave, 403(b) retirement plan.

Application Process:  Review of applications will begin February 15, 2014 and continue until the position is filled. 

Applicants should submit the following documents electronically through Unity’s Interview Exchange:

1. Letter of interest
2. Curriculum vitae or Resume
3. Statement of teaching philosophy
4. Three professional references.

TO APPLY:  Apply online at www.unity.edu/jobs (receive a link to upload cover letter and resume). 

An Equal Opportunity Employer, minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Unity College seeks to attract employees who share a commitment to the environment and to human diversity, and who have an interest in helping students develop an understanding of the richness and complexity of individuals and society.

2015 NCSE Conference Intern, NCSE

The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) seeks a Conference Intern for its 15th National Conference and Global Forum to take place January 27-29, 2015.  This position is full-time and is scheduled to conclude on January 30, 2015. 

The Volunteer Intern’s duties will include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Coordinate email campaigns to recruit conference volunteers (including personalized emails to certain individuals as well as generic emails to be sent to large groups).
• Reach out to all universities and colleges in the DC area to recruit volunteers.
• Utilize online forums (e.g. Idealist.org, craiglist.org) as well as listservs to publicize volunteer opportunities.
• Assist in monitoring the conference emails and answering inquires.
• Maintain spreadsheet with volunteer information.
• Assist with training for individuals who will be taking notes during the conference breakout sessions. 
• Conduct inventory of conference materials leftover from last year and compile list of materials to order (no later than 2 weeks before the conference).
• Help with various post-conference duties as they arise by working directly with the Conference Program Coordinator and the Meetings Manager on general planning task.
• Assist with administrative task of other programs if needed.

The ideal candidate would be available to begin in August. 

Interested applicants should send their resume along with a brief cover letter to Christopher Prince at internships@ncseonline.org. This position will be open until filled.

Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry

Deadline: August 11, 2014

Announcement: early November 2014

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation seeks to further the development of scientific leadership in the field of environmental chemistry with a postdoctoral fellowship program. The Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry provides a principal investigator with an award of $120,000 over two years to appoint a Postdoctoral Fellow in environmental chemistry.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from principal investigators who have well-established research efforts in environmental science or engineering. These research activities need not be located in traditional departments in the chemical sciences, and collaboration across departments and institutions is encouraged.

Research Areas of Interest

Applications most likely to be of interest should describe innovative fundamental research in the chemical sciences or engineering related to the environment. The importance of the research should be explained. Examples include but are not limited to the chemistry associated with: the climate, the atmosphere, aquatic or marine settings, toxicology, soil or groundwater. Also of interest are chemistry-related energy research (renewable sources, sequestration, etc.), and new or green approaches to chemical synthesis and processing, both with a clearly stated relation to the environment.

Iowa State University - AGRICULTURAL SPECIALIST III

Job Description

The Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University is seeking candidates for an Agricultural Specialist III who will develop, coordinate, manage, and supervise research projects involving large, multi-year field studies addressing the impact of conventional and low-external-input cropping systems on soil characteristics, crop performance, energy balance, economic costs and returns, and weed population dynamics.

This position will also be responsible for developing, coordinating, and reporting research activities relating to the evaluation of new crops and new cropping systems for biofuel production in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field plots including the hiring and supervision of hourly employees and technicians; the training of graduate students in research procedures and methods; data collection, statistical design and analyses of experiments; and drafting journal papers on field and greenhouse experiments. In addition to developing and executing research activities, the Agricultural Specialist plays an instrumental role in preparing budgets and maintaining budget records, assessing the effectiveness of the research program, and implementing changes. This position also serves as the departmental Chemical Hygiene Officer.

Additional duties include devising, supervising, and conducting appropriate plant and soil sampling protocols for crop growth analysis and soil nutrient determinations along with summarizing and interpreting the results of these analyses. Further, this position coordinates, supervises, and conducts the laboratory analyses of plant materials, including C and N analysis and protein determinations, and summarizes and interprets the results of these analyses; supervises and coordinates weed seed dynamics experiments, crop yield trials, and cropping systems studies; calibrates, maintains, uses, and improves field plot planting and spraying equipment and has an extensive knowledge of farm machinery and farming practices. Other duties include providing oversight for the planting, harvesting, and maintenance of crops in research plots located on ISU farm sites; coordinatesing with on-farm personnel for planting and harvesting activities; maintaining field plots, including thinning, weeding, and cultivation; and advising and assisting with pesticide and herbicide applications.

The successful candidate will have excellent written and interpersonal communication skills to effectively interact with and inform staff, collaborators, and industry personnel. The candidate will have a strong ability to direct and guide employees, be detail-oriented, and possess the ability to manage multiple, ongoing tasks. The candidate will also be self-motivated and capable of working independently since much of the work will be conducted off-campus or independently in campus laboratories.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Crop Production, Plant Sciences, or related field and two years of experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience totaling six years. Experience or education must include crop production.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in Agronomy, Crop Production, Plant Sciences, or related field

Experience designing and conducting experiments

Demonstrated experience with technology and procedures for sampling seeds and roots in soil

Experience assessing plant growth and resource conversion efficiency

Demonstrated experience using statistical methods of analysis

Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with agricultural machinery, including calibration

of seed, fertilizer and pesticide applications

Experience maintaining and managing row crops or prairies

Supervisory experience

Salary

Minimum $38,047; commensurate with qualifications

Special Conditions

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university's verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check.

Application Instructions

To apply for this position, please click on "Apply for this Vacancy" and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2. Letter of Application/Cover Letter
3. Contact information for three references

If you have questions regarding this vacancy, please email Ms. Lisa McEnaney, lisakay3@iastate.edu, or Dr. Matt Liebman, mliebman@iastate.edu.

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485

Seminars and Courses

Renewable Energy on Institutional Property Webinar Series

Security and Sustainability Forum

Registration is Open for All Eight Session

Government and institutional facility managers are being tasked with alternative energy reduction mandates for environmental, security and financial reasons.

SSF’s free webinar series centers on successful case studies and guidance for designing and implementing renewable energy technology and energy efficiency programs on military bases, national parks, government buildings, college campuses, medical complexes, prisons and other institutional property to meet government and institutional energy utilization program goals.

Registration is open for the entire series as we continue to finalize the panelists. The first event was on June 2nd 2014 and dealt with renewable energy policy.

Here is the remainder of the lineup. Click the webinar name to register.

July 10th Webinar #2 – Renewable Energy Technology Applicability:  This session will provide an overview of technology applications, cost competitiveness of alternatives and their feasibility for government and campus environments. Seasoned industry and government officials will provide guidance on what is working and what is not working.

July 24th   Webinar #3 – The Effective Marriage of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in an ESCO Contract for Municipalities, and Educational and Hospital Campuses:  The value of Energy Services Company (ESCO) contracts have been well documented after 30+ years of deployments. Until recently, renewable energy has been too expensive with long paybacks which did not line up with traditional energy conservation measures. However, the recent reduction in cost combined with technological performance advancements makes renewable energy, such as solar PV, desirable in ESCO contracts. Our panel, comprised of industry, finance and government leaders, will break down an actual case study and provide insight on the advantages and pitfalls.

August 7th 1:15 to 3:45 PM ET-   Webinar #4 – The Intersection of the Microgrid, Renewable Energy, and Storage:  Microgrids save money and increase resiliency and reliability; but how do you achieve a successful, economic deployment and do it using private capital? Our case study is led by industry and academic leaders who have successfully deployed area-wide microgrids.

August 21st 1:15 to 3:45 PM ET-   Webinar #5 – Public Private Partnerships (PPP): Using private capital to own and operate systems on government and institutional property is an attractive model for cash-strapped entities that want the benefits of lowering energy use and reducing costs without any upfront capital. Our panel of finance and procurement experts breaks down both a recent successful PPP and a project that did not achieve financing.

September 4th 1:15 to 3:45 PM ET-    Webinar #6 – The Leading Edge of New Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technologies Coming to the Market: Leadership from DOE and other research centers will provide the latest information on where renewable energy technology is headed and the implications for profitable deployment. 

September 18th 1:15 to 3:45 PM ET- Webinar #7 – Developing the RFP:  Energy efficiency and renewable energy contracting is a new art for many government and institutional entities. Whether a direct purchase or in a third-party owned and operated public private partnership, procuring these highly valuable cost reduction systems requires new ways to navigate legal, regulatory and functional challenges. Our panel of contract and finance experts from federal and state agencies, finance organizations and higher education discuss their RFP process to provide insight into what has worked well and provisions to avoid.

Workshops and Conferences

2014 Earth 2100 Conference

Saturday, July 26, 2014 (All day) to Sunday, July 27, 2014 (All day)

George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia

The 2014 Earth 2100 Conference is rapidly approaching and we need your help to make it a success! This year’s conference will take place on July 26 & 27 at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. In the last month before the conference, it is especially important that we can continue to count on the support of our friends and followers.

We have speakers coming from the White House, EPA, Worldwatch Institute, Natural Resources Defense Council, and more! If you haven't already, please register! If you register TODAY, you can use the following discount code for a 20% discount: 20percent.

One of the most exciting aspects of last year’s conference occurred when participants came together to create project action plans to implement after the conference. There will be more action planning this year, but with the added support of collaborating organizations that will act as mentors and take on volunteers for existing and new projects. So far, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Environment Virginia, Going Green Today, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have all enthusiastically agreed to play this role!

We will also announce a new project at the conference this year: the Global 2100 Project. This will in effect be a huge expansion of the Youth Plan B. We have begun discussing the project with a few people, including former President Jimmy Carter, who has sent an enthusiastic letter of support.

We have kept the registration fee very low, which includes not only conference admission but also breakfast each day from MOM's Organic Market and lunch each day from Woodlands Vegan Bistro. It also includes free parking and a MOM's Organic Market tote bag!

This conference will empower you with the connections and the information you need to make a real impact on your local, regional, and global communities. So, please register today and help spread the word! If you haven’t already, please “like” Our Task on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. Then, share our posts!

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have about the conference.

Thank you for your continued support,

Martha Nowlan, Deputy Director and Conference Organizer

martha@ourtask.org

240-529-8642

Funding and Papers

Call for proposals CLOSES July 18th for National Conference and Global Forum

For climate change, this is a time of urgency, big ideas, and hope. Human energy use accounts for three quarters of greenhouse gas emissions globally and an even higher share in the United States. Transitioning to a new "low carbon" and "climate resilient" energy system lies at the core of any response to climate change.  This new system will need to sustain prosperity in many countries and lift many out of poverty around the world.

The 15th National Conference and Global Forum on Science, Policy and the Environment: Energy and Climate Change, organized by the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE), will take place January 27-29, 2015.  It will engage over 1,200 key individuals from diverse fields of science and engineering, government and policy, business, and civil society to develop solutions, partnerships, and initiatives.

We invite you to submit proposals for sessions.

Sessions consist of a 90-minute symposium and a 3-hour breakout workshop.

• Symposia will take place Tuesday afternoon, January 27th and Wednesday morning, January 28th, and will provide focused discussion on how to implement climate actions on critical cross-cutting topics. There will be three sets of 12 concurrent symposia, each 90-minutes long. The purpose of the symposia is to enable conference participants to become engaged in significant efforts to tackle climate change and its impacts.
• Breakout workshops will take place Wednesday afternoon, January 28th, and will be 3 hours long. The workshops are the core of the conference and are an opportunity for participants to generate outcomes with new strategies, tools, and partnerships that will be carried forward from the conference.   Workshops should identify desired outcomes and how they will be advanced through the conference. The plans will be shared with conference participants, decision makers, and funders.

The conference will operate under "Chatham House Rules." Participants can speak freely and constructively without restrictions.

We strongly encourage sessions that:

• connect science, technology, and education to financing and policy;
• scale up innovative solutions;
• engage diverse communities; and
• overcome barriers to action.

We seek both domestic and international approaches.

Conference themes:

• A new energy "system":  includes a new "low carbon" and "climate resilient" energy infrastructure; new technologies and their relationship to economics, deployment, and jobs; smart grids and efficiency; changes in distribution of energy sources as a result of climate change; reframing utilities; low carbon transportation; carbon-based sources of energy such as unconventional oil and gas, regulating emissions, sequestration, and storage; and low/non-carbon sources of energy such as renewables and nuclear power
• Energy, climate, and sustainable development: includes the nexus of climate, energy, and water; and energy access for all
• Financing and markets: includes carbon markets and financing climate solutions
• Achieving progress: includes ideas for the Convention of the Parties (COP21), building public understanding, and roles for individuals and institutions

Energy and Climate Change - How to Apply

Deadline: July 18, 2014

Click here to submit a session proposal through ProposalSpace.

Once you create a ProposalSpace account, you will be connected to the "Start a Proposal" page. (If it does not, visit your Account Home, click on "Start a Proposal", and select the "Energy and Climate Change" proposal.

2015 Clean Air Excellence Awards

Applications deadline: September 12, 2014

As you know, our Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) established this awards program in 2000 at the recommendation of the CAAAC.  Through this program, OAR recognizes and honors individuals and organizations whose efforts have helped make progress in achieving cleaner air.  The award recipients are selected for developing innovative, replicable, and sustainable programs; serving as pioneers in their fields; and improving air quality either directly or indirectly through reduced emissions of criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and/or greenhouse gases. 

The five awards categories are: (1) Clean Air Technology; (2) Community Action; (3) Education/Outreach (4) Regulatory/Policy Innovations; and (5) Transportation Efficiency Innovations.

In addition to these five award categories, the Clean Air Excellence Awards Program includes two special awards: (1) the Gregg Cooke Visionary Program Award, honoring former EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke, is given to the air quality project or program that successfully blends two or more of the five award categories; and (2) the Thomas W. Zosel Outstanding Individual Achievement Award, honoring a former member of the CAAAC and environmental leader at 3M, recognizes one individual for their outstanding achievement, leadership, and lasting commitment to promote clean air and achieve better air quality.

From improving indoor air quality in tribal communities in the Northwest to installing solar panels in Tennessee, past award winners have demonstrated a commitment to improving the air that we breathe, addressing climate change, educating our communities, and making our cities and towns more sustainable. The application guidelines and entry form can be found at the EPA website.  EPA senior officials will present the awards at a celebration in 2015 in Washington, DC (date to be determined).

Smith Fellows 2015 Call for Proposals Announced

Application deadline: September 12, 2014

The Society for Conservation Biology is pleased to solicit applications for the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship Program. These two year postdoctoral fellowships enable outstanding early-career scientists to improve and expand their research skills while directing their efforts towards problems of pressing conservation concern for the United States.

Each Fellow is mentored by both an academic sponsor who encourages the Fellow’s continued development as a conservation scientist and a conservation practitioner who helps to connect the Fellow and her/his research to practical conservation challenges. Fellows may be administratively based at either their sponsoring academic institution or conservation organization, typically the location of either their academic or practitioner mentor. We encourage applicants to consider being based at the non-academic institution as that is the world less familiar to Fellows.

Fellows will spend up to three weeks per year during their fellowship attending Program-sponsored professional development retreats each year. These retreats provide opportunities to cultivate skills typically not covered during their academic education including: leadership, communications, professional and funder networks, and to gain better understanding of policy making and application of research.

The Program especially encourages individuals who want to better link conservation science and theory with pressing policy and management applications to apply. We envision that the cadre of scientists supported by the Smith Fellows Program eventually will assume leadership positions across the field of conservation science. Fellows are selected on the basis of innovation, potential for leadership and strength of proposal.

The Program expects to select four Fellows in January 2015 for appointments to start between March and September 2015. Fellowship awards include an annual salary of $50,000, benefits, and generous travel and research budgets.

Detailed Proposal Guidelines

Questions may be directed to Shonda Foster, Program Coordinator, by emailing sfoster@conbio.org.

Miscellaneous

4-H Natural Resource Judging

Hi TREE Members,

I’m looking for someone to come to the Franklin County Fair on Sunday, July 13, 4:00pm, to be an interview judge for some of our natural resource 4-H projects. We need someone that is capable of reviewing 4-H projects including Bee Keeping, Ohio Birds, Rocks, and Astronomy. You don’t need to be an expert in these areas but willing to look at the what the youth has done in their project and interview them about it (kind of like judging a science fair). The judging takes place at the fairgrounds in Hilliard and the fair board provides the judge with a $40.00 honorarium for their time. If you are interested, please reply to me. We’d love to have you!

Thanks,

Beth