James Dearing, Brandt Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication, has been selected to join the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Board of Scientific Counselors beginning March 2022.
The EPA Board of Scientific Counselors is a federal advisory committee that provides independent scientific and technical peer review, advice, consultation, and recommendations related to research on (1) air, climate, and energy, (2) chemical safety for sustainability, (3) health and environmental risk assessment, (4) homeland security, (5) safe and sustainable water resources, and (6) sustainable and healthy communities.
“It is an honor to join the board,” said Dearing. “Social science research has an important role to play in mitigating the effects of environmental disasters and support resilience in our local communities. I am looking forward to sharing my input.”
Previously, Dearing has been principal investigator for funded research sponsored by the EPA’s Office of Research and Development about university-based technology transfer to corporate and government scientists, university-community technical assistance, and the diffusion of environmental waste management training programs to state-level environmental managers. Dearing also leads a study concerning climate change innovations for communities and co-leads a project assessing the implementation of Project ECHO at 40 sites in North America. Dearing is a fellow of the International Communication Association.