Environmental Workforce: Innovative Problem Solvers for Environmental Challenges

1. Environmental Workforce diverse innovative problem solvers environmental challenges HACU March 26&27, 2012 Brandon Jones, PhD EPA Fellowship Programs Manager EPA’s National Center for Environmental Research (ORD)

2. Environmental Protection Agency(protect Human Health & the Environment) Undergraduate Graduate Post-graduate

3. 7-8% funded ~28% funded

4. Program Details – GRO (Undergrad)http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2012/2012_gro_undergrad.html • Last two years of undergraduate study • Students must attend a GRO eligible institution (<$35M in R&D) • Provides up to $48,900 over 2 yrs Up to $10,000 for tuition and fees $7,200/yr = stipend $2,500/yr = expense allowance $9,500 = 12 wk summer internship • 40 selected in Fall 2011 • 2012 Topic Areas Natural and Life Sciences Environmental Science and Interdisciplinary Engineering Social Sciences and Decision Making Physical Sciences Mathematics and Computer Science

5. Program Details – STAR (Graduate)http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2012/2012_star_gradfellow.html 2-yr financial support for students for Master’s students 3-yr financial support for Doctoral students Provides up to $42,000/yr Up to $12,000/ yr for tuition and fees $25,000/yr = stipend $5,000/yr = expenses • 110 selected Fall 2011 • 80 – 100 for Fall 2012

6. 2012 STAR Fellowship Categories ACE HHRA Environmental Entrepreneurship Information Science Green Engineering/Building/Chemical Products & Processes/Materials Development  Social Sciences Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology Nanotechnology Pesticides and Toxic Substances Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology Aquatic Systems Ecology Built Environment and Land use SSWR Tribes and American Indian /Alaska Native/Pacific Islander Communities CSS Public Health Risk Assessment and Risk Management SHC Clean Air Global Change Green Energy/Natural Resources Production & Use Drinking Water Emerging Areas Coastal & Estuarine Processes Hydrogeology & Surface Water

7. STAR Fellowship Categories + Agriculture Information Science Social sciences – communities, farmers, GMOs Clean Air – CAFO issues Global Change – precipitation patterns, storms Green Energy – biofuels, wind farms, fracking Green Materials Pesticides Public Health – allergenicity in foods Drinking water – use Coastal – ecosystem impacts Hydro & surface water – impairment Ecology – ecosystem impacts Land use Tribal communities

8. Review Criteria for External Peer Review: Criteria I. Comment on the Scientific Merit of the Applicant's Proposed Area of Inquiry. Criteria II. Comment on the Applicant's Demonstrated Commitment to an Environmental Career. Criteria III. Comment on the Potential for Broader Societal Impacts. Criteria for Internal Programmatic Review: Comment on the Relevance to EPA's Mission of Protecting Human Health and the Environment. Comment on the Potential for Broader Environmental Application.

9. Outcomes – case studies Dr. Ashanti Johnson Turner (Education impact) http://www.epa.gov/ncer/events/news/2009/07_10_09_feature.html Dr. Cyrus Wadia (Economic and Energy impact) http://www.cyruswadia.com/prof/Home.html Dr. Erica Holloman (Community based & EJ impact) http://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/holloman_epa_care_grant.php