PROGRAM TITLE: Education, Global Change ACTIVITY STREAM: Processes SCIENCE ELEMENT:Biogeochemical Dynamics, Climate and Hydrologic Systems, Ecological Systems and Dynamics DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DESCRIPTION: Numerous studies have identified the needs for well-trained scientists and engineers to advance progress in science, technology and global competitiveness. During FY 1991, the Department of Energy (DOE) initiated a Global Change Educational Program (GCEP) to strengthen the human resource base in science and technology and to provide highly trained and educated individuals to advance the cross-disciplinary science of global change. The major emphasis of this educational program has been to award competitive postdoctoral and graduate-level fellowships for training the next generation of scientists with the interdisciplinary skills necessary for conducting global change research. Since the program began, DOE has awarded 38 two-year postdoctoral fellowships and 64 four-year graduate-level fellowships. Presently, 26 postdoctoral fellows are conducting research at 21 different DOE, university, and other CEES-Agency Laboratories which allows them to gain access to outstanding professional staffs, and state-of-the-art scientific equipment. Presently, the DOE GCEP is also supporting the tuition, fees, and stipend to train and educate 60 graduate students at 31 different universities with the scientific skills necessary for conducting global change research. The DOE GCEP requires these graduate fellows to spend at least six weeks at CEES-Agency Laboratories to acquaint themselves with ongoing multidisciplinary research programs in global change. STAKEHOLDERS: The DOE GCEP has been developed and implemented in concert with the US/GCRP and, therefore, addresses the objectives, activity streams, and science elements of the Global Change Research Plan. Both Postdoctoral and Graduate-Level Fellows are encouraged to interact with the scientific staff of the various CEES-Agency Laboratories. About one-third of the DOE Postdoctoral Fellows are conducting research at NASA, NOAA, and USDA Laboratories, and the remaining two-thirds are at university and DOE Laboratories. Of the 45 DOE Graduate Fellows who have completed their six- week research experience at CEES-Agency Laboratories, more than half were at NASA, NCAR, NOAA, USGS, USDA, and other agency laboratories. The DOE CGEP emphasizes a wide suite of sciences, laboratories, and stakeholders because, the global change problem, like many challenges in industry, is exacerbated by the need for cross-disciplinary training. SHORT-TERM POLICY PAYOFFS: Broad-based education and training strengthens the interdisciplinary problem-solving and modeling skills that are necessary for addressing science, technology, and policy issues. During FY 1993, the DOE GCEP is sponsoring a workshop entitled "New Research in the Science of Global Change: A Multidisciplinary View," that will provide a forum for the DOE Postdoctoral Fellows to begin assessing their research results and addressing these issues. As more of these graduate fellows receive their doctoral degrees and apply their cross-disciplinary and problem-solving skills within the science of global change, our Nation's human resource base in science and technology will be enhanced and our policy decisions to ensure the future integrity of the earth's environment will benefit. PROGRAM CONTACT:Curtis R. Olsen, DOE, ER-74, Washington, DC 20585, 301-903-5329