Transforming EPA Science to Meet Today's and Tomorrow's Challenges

Shahzeen Attari was part of a committee to write the consensus report on Transforming EPA Science to Meet Today's and Tomorrow's Challenges.

This report calls for EPA ORD to pursue all of its scientific aims in a new framework—to apply systems thinking to a One Environment − One Health approach in all aspects of ORD work. To accomplish this, the report provides actionable recommendations on how ORD might consider incorporating emerging science and systems thinking into the agency research planning, so that ORD can become an increasingly impactful organization. The report concluded by stating that shifting to a systems-thinking approach will require renewed support from science leadership, enhanced strategic planning, investment in new and broader expertise and tools, and a reimagined and inclusive commitment to communication and collaboration.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Transforming EPA Science to Meet Today's and Tomorrow's Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26602.

Shaz on sabbatical!

Starting this May, I will be taking a year long sabbatical and will be back in August 2023. Faculty are eligible for these once every 7 years to use the time to think creatively and deeply about new ideas. I will be slow to respond over email and politely decline all service requests.

Wishing you all the best as we finish up another semester. Keep reading, making the world better, and finding the cracks. As Leonard Cohen said, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in”.

New paper: Young adults face the future

There are a variety of current challenges that will shape our future, such as climate change impacts, socio-economic disparities, the role of technology in society, and changing population dynamics. As ideas about the future influence actions taken today, it is important to study what possible futures young adults anticipate and how they believe those futures could be realized. In 2019, using an in-person paper survey, we asked students (N = 193; ages 18-26) to describe their best, most-likely, and worst possible futures for the United States in either the year 2050 or 2100. Participants were also asked questions to explore what would need to happen to achieve these futures and the actors who have influence in shaping the future. Here we explore their description of these future scenarios and pathways. Our participants’ images of the future are heavily infused with concepts related to environmental sustainability, technology, and social dynamics. Further, participants frequently expressed the belief that governance, technological developments, and individuals were key factors that will determine the contours of the future. The images of the future collected by our work can help to engage productively with young adults in addressing today’s pressing challenges.

Campus catalyst award for excellence in teaching

In their nomination letter, my student stated: “Her teaching style blended academic research, PowerPoints, talks from change makers in the world (both local and far away), and guided experiences in determining and creating sustainable change in the world while still an undergrad. Sometimes to a fault, she always pushed us to do better, do more, and just get out there and make something of a difference.” <wow>

Keynote at Indiana Academy of Science on March 26, 2022

“Since 1885, the Indiana Academy of Science has supported the scientific research and science education of our state’s scientists and science students. It is one of the oldest scientific professional membership organizations in the United States, the only multidisciplinary scientific organization in the state of Indiana, and is dedicated to promoting scientific research, diffusing scientific information, improving education in the sciences, and encouraging communication and cooperation among scientists.” Shahzeen will be the 137th Annual Academy Keynote Speaker. See you there.

Meet the Northern saw-whet owl

My wonderful colleague and friend Vicky Meretsky took me owl banding on Wednesday. What a treat to stay still and hear the many sounds of the Northern saw-whet owl (barks, hoots, and we used a lure that sounded like a backing-up truck…). Above is a beautiful female about 2 years in age with razor sharp talons and gorgeous eyes. I also learned that Northern saw-whet owls have “porphyrin pigments in their flight feathers. When exposed to a UV light the ventral side of the wing, the feathers will fluoresce a neon pink. This is used in order to estimate molt and age in adult northern saw-whet owls” (read on wikipedia to get the details right). Vicky describes them as being “about the size of a coke can”. What a treat. Happy Thanksgiving all.

New paper out - Moderating spillover: Focusing on personal sustainable behavior rarely hinders and can boost climate policy support

More evidence it is not *either* behavior or policy, but we (need and) can have both. Or as Elke would say: “Three cheers for silver buckshot”

Abstract: A successful climate movement must make progress on two fronts: widely adopting behavior changes to reduce emissions and achieving structural changes through climate policy. Some research has suggested people might see sustainable behavior as a substitute (rather than a complement) for climate policy. Does reflecting on sustainable behavior strengthen or undermine climate policy support? In the present research we find that reflecting on sustainable behavior rarely harms policy support. It only occurs when policies are framed as having costs fall on individuals (rather than industry) and when reflection on one’s behavior is not connected to one's values or identity. Here, people may reject a policy because they feel they already are taking action. Conversely, reflecting on behaviors in connection to one’s values or identity actually increases climate policy support, and leads people to feel that policies like a carbon tax, even if personally costly, reflect their values and identity.

Work with Gregg Sparkman and Elke Weber.