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Research Project Description

Postgraduate Internship Project
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Air and Radiation
Washington, D.C.

EPA-OAR 2009-05

Project Description:

The Climate Change Division (CCD) is one of four divisions in EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Programs. CCD works to assess and address global climate change and the associated risks to human health and the environment. The intern will report to CCD’s Climate Science and Impacts Branch (CSIB).

CSIB is responsible for:

  • Leveraging climate change impacts research to support economic analyses and integrated assessments,
  • Assessing issues and options for adaptation to the impacts of climate change in key sectors, particularly sea level rise,
  • Conducting analytical work and participating in interagency and international processes for emerging issues such as the role of aerosols in climate change and development of geologic carbon sequestration technologies,
  • Integrating information produced through scientific and impacts research into broader analytical frameworks, and
  • Coordinating and communicating with other EPA offices, government agencies, external stakeholders, and the public on climate change issues.

Specific Tasks:
The intern will learn about and support CSIB’s impacts and adaptation efforts, with particular attention to communications activities.

Public Education and Outreach - The intern will have access to various aspects of EPA's climate change education, outreach, and communications programs spanning CCD. Observations may include creating new outreach materials for CSIB programs, developing responses to public and media inquiries, website-related tasks, identifying existing educational tools, and supporting CCD as it interacts with the public.

Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation – The intern will be mentored by CSIB staff as they analyze the impacts of climate change. The intern will observe the analytical process; learn about identifying research documents, presentations, and correspondence; attend meetings and briefings as an observer; learn about organizing important literature; and gain knowledge about interaction with a variety of staff and management in EPA, other federal and state agencies, and non-governmental organizations. The intern will also be exposed to work being undertaken by CCD staff to respond to comments received on a recently issued climate science assessment. The intern will gain an in-depth knowledge of climate change science information, and also learn about the public comment process. Expected Results: This project will expose the intern to a broad range of environmental and policy issues surrounding climate change impacts, mitigation, and adaptation. The intern will learn about various efforts being undertaken by CCD, and support CSIB staff on specific analytical projects and outreach/communication efforts.

Stipend and Length of Appointment:
The appointment will be full-time for six months. The weekly stipend will range from $875-$950 depending on level of education and experience. The participant does not become an EPA employee. The EPA contact person for this project is Jamie Pumphrey. Her e-mail address is pumphrey.jamie@epa.gov.

For more information about CCD’s programs, please see http://www.epa.gov/air/ccd.html. Comprehensive information on climate change science and policy can be found at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/.

The Internship Program for EPA-OAR is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). Please reference Project # EPA-OAR 2009-05 when calling or writing for information. For additional information and application material contact: Internship Program – EPA-OAR, Attn: Betty Bowling - MS 36, ORISE, P.O. Box 117, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831 Phone: (865) 576-8503 Fax: (865) 241-5219 email: betty.bowling@orau.org

An application can be found at http://www.orau.gov/orise/edu/EPA/app-gugrgpd.pdf.