Cooperative Extension Specialistin Air Quality Specialist
Position Description: The Cooperative Extension Air Quality Specialist will focus on the science underlying the cause and consequences of air pollution in California.A Ph.D. in atmospheric science, biogeochemistry, or a related field (civil engineering, physics, chemistry, ecology) with an emphasis on understanding regional air quality is required. Proven ability to work with the diversity of stakeholders involved in regulating and managing air quality is highly desired. Supporting unit would be the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley.
Justification:Recent federal and state legislation focuses on regulation of ozone and particulate matter concentrations and greenhouse gas emissions, yet there are many uncertainties regarding emission, production and loss processes of these pollutants, and their effects on ecosystems. The interactions between agricultural practices and emissions are also not well enough understood. In addition, there is a need to understand the links between air quality and indoor air pollution in both urban and rural communities. ANR has critical interests in providing expertise to commodity boards, state regulatory agencies such as the California Air Resources Board, regional air quality districts, and concerned community organizations onthe importance of emissions from agricultural practices for regional air quality and greenhouse gas inventories, and the impacts of air quality on ecosystem health, human health, and agricultural productivity.
California is home to some of the nation’s worst air pollution with more than 90% of the population breathing unhealthy air. The geography and meteorology of the state contribute to air pollution problems, as well as strong primary emissions from biological, mobile and geogenic sources. Poor air quality in much of the state, including most of the Central Valley, portions of the Sierra Nevada, and regions within the air shed of the Los Angeles basin, has significant negative impacts on ecosystem health in addition to the well-documented hazards to human health. These impacts on ecosystem health have direct economic consequences for California’s diverse agricultural industries. Moreover, “outdoor” air pollution is a contributor to the exposure of both urban and rural communities to indoor air pollution.
An Air Quality Specialist would help sustain California’s natural ecosystems as well asenhance the health of Californians and California’s agricultural economy. The Specialist would provide science-based solutions and balance conflicting interests with knowledge, targeted research, and local education regarding the relationships between air quality and energy supply, agricultural operations/productivity, climate change, ecosystem health, and human health. California is the most innovative, diversified and efficient agricultural producer in the world, yet productivity can be reduced by poor air quality in both managed and natural ecosystems.
This position will directly contribute to three of ANR’s strategic initiatives, namely: Sustainable Food Systems; Sustainable Natural Ecosystems; and Healthy Families and Communities. The interface of agricultural and natural resource management activities with the atmosphere has a direct affect on human health, and the long-term sustainability of these industries. The program developed by this CE Specialist, and the resulting broadened input by UC scientists, will improve the understanding of the link between management practices and air quality; increase the effectiveness of proposed policies to mitigate these impacts by developing a stronger scientific underpinning; and will result in reduced costs of health care in highly impacted airsheds, especially in the San Joaquin Valley.
Extension: The Air Quality Specialist is expected to build a strong outreach program with foci that may include: the interaction between air quality and agriculture in California; the impacts of air pollutants on ecosystem and/or human health; the source and biogeochemistry of greenhouse gases, ozone, particulate matter, and their precursors. The Specialist is expected to develop assessment tools and to improve the reliability of information supporting control of air quality. The Specialist will use a variety of existing outreach methods and develop new methods to effectively communicate this information to agricultural producers, policy makers, land use planners, natural resource professionals, landowners, and environmental interest groups.
Research: Key research questions the Specialist will be expected to address could include the interactions between air quality and agriculture activities, greenhouse gas fluxes in natural and managed ecosystems, impacts of ozone on California’s agricultural production. The Specialist is expected to publish in peer-reviewed journals, but also contribute to technical and semi-technical literature and provide information to policy makers. Strong speaking as well as writing skills are requisite, and the ability to work as an intermediary in the policy arena is helpful, for example, to clarify essential aspects of the relevant science. The Specialist will also recognize research needs through interactions with agricultural, policy, and environmental groups.
ANR Continuum: The position provides a critical link between campus-based faculty, members of the Agricultural Experiment Station, and county-based Cooperative Extension. The Specialist will be housed at the Berkeley Campus appointed as an academic member of the Ecosystem Sciences Division within the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. The Department possesses considerable strength in basic research support for atmospheric science. Biogeochemist Allen Goldstein focuses on sources, chemistry, and fate of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, ozone and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Biometeorologist Dennis Baldocchi researches turbulent transfer of carbon, water, greenhouse gases, and energy at the biosphere-atmosphere interface. Atmospheric Scientist Inez Fung investigates global scale biospheric emission and atmospheric transport processes associated with climate change and climate variability. Ecosystem Ecologist Whendee Silver investigates production and loss of greenhouse gases and oxides of nitrogen in soils. Other faculty with related expertise who would likely interact with the incumbent include Rachel Morello-Frosch (health risks associated with air pollution among diverse communities), John Harte (climate change and ecosystem processes), Scott Stevens (wildfire, prescribed burning), Mary Firestone (microbial ecology of trace gas production), among others. The successful candidate will become a member of the Berkeley Atmospheric Science Center, providing support and direct links with more than a dozen atmospheric science faculty members across many departments at UC Berkeley. California has been a leader in air quality research for decades. The Specialist can also interact with strong atmospheric science programs on several other UC campuses, as well as other institutions within the state. As a Specialist, the individual will be expected to develop relationships with outside groups and entities, and act as a resource for Cooperative Extension personnel.The appointee will also be encouraged to form ties at the county level with leaders such as Jeff Dahlberg (Director, Kearney Agricultural and Research Extension Center) and Advisors (Maxwell Norton (Merced) and Shannon Mueller (Fresno and Madera). The formal assignment of an academic CE Specialist will dramatically increase the effectiveness of the local CE offices to address critical air quality policy issues, and improve the effectiveness of the research effort in reaching key constituents.
Support:The Specialist will be provided office space, lab space, and communication services including telephone and Internet access. A startup package will be provided to begin research, and the College of Natural Resources will provide an annual allocation for program support consistent with support provided to all CE Specialist programs. The Specialist will be expected to garner extramural funding for projects and travel.
Other support: Research support for this area of work is very strong with grants and contracts available from the California Air Resources Board, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, US Department of Agriculture, US Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, among others.
Location: An Air Quality specialist embedded in the cutting-edge research community of atmospheric scientists at UC Berkeley would be ideally suited to provide research and outreach to California stakeholders in these critical areas.
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