STRATEGIC OVERVIEW

The National Council for Science and the Environment conducts programs that will increase the number and quality of people capable of bringing science to bear on the many environmental challenges facing the world. This requires:

• scientists capable of addressing environmental problems in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary manner;
• environmental professionals who bring a holistic approach to environmental challenges;
• individuals who can communicate technical knowledge in a manner that non-specialists can understand;
• citizens and policy makers who appreciate the value of science and are prepared to be guided by it to extent that it is relevant;
• tapping the latent talent of people in every community, especially those traditionally underrepresented in environmental fields; and,
• programs that help all members of society to have the skills necessary to develop or use science-based information.

The Council's programs include: 

• The University Affiliate Program , which builds stronger, more effective, and sustainable programs 150+ member institutions that provide to provide successful career paths for its students and faculty. Affiliates range from large private and public research institutions to smaller liberal arts institutions. 
  
  The Affiliate Program includes t he Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (CEDD) - a professional society for the environmental leaders. CEDD has emerged as the leading organization working to improve the quality, stature and effectiveness of interdisciplinary environmental programs on the nation’s campuses. It has programs on addressing interdisciplinary tenure and career development of faculty, understanding and advancing interdisciplinary curicula, student career paths, best practices in corporate sustainability, international collaboration, and others. The Council of Environmental Deans and Directors holds two meetings each year to network and explore issues of interest.
  
  The Affiliate Program also includes participation in the annual  National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment ; promoting funding for environmental research and education; University-Federal dialogue; campus-wide subscriptions to  Greenwire, Energy and Environment Daily , and  Land Letter ,  access to  The Handbook on Federal Funding for Environmental R&D , paid student internships at the Council , and office space in Washington, DC.

• EnvironMentors  which establishes metoring relationships between high school students from underserved communities with environmental professionals and college students. Working together, students and mentors design and carryout environmental science research projects over the course of the academic year. EnvironMentors also coordinates college preparation courses, supports college admissions, and provides scholarships to facilitate students’ entry into science and environmental college degree programs. The program concludes with the EnvironMentors Fair and Awards Ceremony at which students present their projects to judges and winners are awarded college scholarships.  Building on a highly successful program in the District of Columbia, the Council is establishing EnvironMentors Chapters through out the United States.

• Campus to Careers   which supports young environment professionals on their first steps toward environmental careers through fellowships, internships, and other short term paid positions (three months - two years) with federal agencies conducting field and lab research, analysis, and other activities.

Goals for the Strengthening Education and Career Development Initiative over the next five years are:

• Grow the membership of the University Affiliate Program to 250 schools.
• Facilitate CEDD initiatives on curricula, work force, best practices, interactions with community colleges, international partnerships and other areas.
• Create linkages between other NCSE programs and the appropriate CEDD schools.
• Increase the funding for university-based, peer-reviewed environmental science.
• Establish 20 local EnvironMentors chapters.
• Support and facilitate programs to advance environment professionals through fellowships, internships, and other means.
• Enhance programs that link universities to business needs through science and training.
• Create membership services for individual faculty and professionals that may grow into a professional society or include an online journal.
• Facilitate creation of K-16 environmental programs that are models for the rest of society.