Forum for Undergraduate Environmental Leadership, fall 2019 -- Chemicals in CA
Sponsored by
Woods Institute for the Environment
Funding:
See maximum funding amount and funding details below
Open To:
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Autumn
Applications closed
Applications closed on May 28, 2019
The Woods Institute FUEL program seeks to provide a real world primer on critical issues of environmental concern, by opening up conversations with policymakers and professionals in careers at the forefront of solutions. The fall 2019 FUEL program “Chemicals in California” will again focus on pollution and pollution policy: toxic substances in our air, water and land, and local and state responses given the environmental health threats they pose.
While issues of climate change have rightly moved to the fore, toxic chemicals in our environment broadly – pollutants and their consequences for health, the driving motivation for the modern environmental movement, our clean air and clean water protections, and EPA oversight – have not gone away.
Nor have threats to scientific guidance and regulatory protections. As we see in real time, even as the science on toxics and environmental health effects becomes more clear, national agencies have appeared more inclined to suppress this information than engage in new debate over best policy courses in light of improved scientific understanding.
Threats to protections are not only national, and we need not look to communities as far as Flint, Michigan. Look at Bayview and Hunters Point, in San Francisco. Look at Richmond or to Salinas and the Central Valley. The threats mandate state and local responses, as well.
What are the environmental health threats in CA? How is CA responding? What environmental challenges do our local communities face, and how are local actors responding? How are municipalities leading? How does science weigh?
The 2019 program will consist of a set of Friday afternoon salons with invited speakers. The first will provide an overview of existing legal and regulatory frameworks regarding toxic substances and environmental health protections. In other salons, we will meet with professionals engaged in various aspects. We are also planning two community and policy field visits.
The Woods Institute for the Environment offers the FUEL program at no cost to students.
Short application.
What you will do
visit to Richmond to meet Communities for a Better Environment and participate in their “Toxic Tour” and discussion. Visit joint with and organized by the “Introduction to Environmental Justice” course. (Date TBD, maybe Wednesday, October 2 or 9)
on-campus salons, Fridays: October 4, 11 & 18 from 12:30-2:00pm (Y2E2 383, lunch provided)
local and state stakeholders and policy responses, October 24-25 (overnight in Sacramento)