A New Beginning
ORD's initiatives with respect to research
grants and graduate fellowships fulfill two of the
recommendations that emerged from a recent
study of EPA laboratories (Research,
Development, and Technical Services at EPA: A
New Beginning — Report number EPA/600/R-
94/122, July 1994). Companion initiatives also
are underway in response to other
recommendations. For example, ORD is
reallocating more of its funds to long-term
projects — with a view toward achieving a
50:50 split between short-term and long-term
projects within a few years. At the same time,
ORD is realigning its headquarters offices,
laboratories, and field units to focus its research
primarily on reducing uncertainties associated
with risk assessment and risk management.
These achievements will play a major role in
moving EPA toward a goal of excellence and
national leadership in science that will be
essential as the country enters a new generation
of environmental protection.
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Research and
Development
EPA/600/F-94/045
December 1994
Expanding the
Scope of Research
Grants and
Graduate
Fellowships
The Office of
Research and
Development's
Commitment to
Excellence
For More Information
To get additional information about ORD's
expanding grant and fellowship programs,
contact:
By telephone:
By Internet:
202-260-7473
World Wide Web address:
HTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV
EPA Gopher address:
GOPHER.EPA.GOV
FTP address:
FTP.EPA.GOV
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Science Missions at EPA
The mission of the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), and its unique role, is the joint
protection of environmental quality and human
health. As effective environmental policies rely
on sound science, EPA's Office of Research and
Development (ORD) is committed to providing
the best possible products in the areas of
research, development, and technical support.
By cultivating an efficient, interdisciplinary
research program that emphasizes integration
and close cooperation with the public and private
research communities, ORD will excel as the
science arm of the Agency.
Rationale for Expanding EPA's Investment
in Extramural Research
To promote excellence in environmental
science and engineering, ORD is establishing a
new, national program of graduate fellowships
and substantially increasing its support for
investigator-initiated research grants.
Historically, most of ORD's funding for
extramural research has been devoted to
contracts, interagency agreements, and
cooperative agreements to address targeted,
often short-term, environmental needs. The
increase in funding for grants (with reliance on
quality science and peer review) and for
graduate fellowships (to support the education
and career development of future scientists) will
provide for a more balanced, long-term capital
investment in improved environmental R&D.
Expanded Grants Program
Over the next three years, ORD plans to
expand its program for extramural research
grants selected from competitive, peer-reviewed
proposals from the scientific community outside
of EPA. The funding level for the program will
be an estimated $44 million in fiscal year 1995
(up from $22 million in 1994) and is expected to
grow further in subsequent years with the goal
of achieving an annual funding level of $100
million by 1997. EPA also is working with the
National Science Foundation (NSF) to jointly
solicit and evaluate proposals under this
program, and it is anticipated that this
partnership with NSF will lead to both agencies
providing funding for innovative research in
environmental science and engineering.
In addition, EPA's research grant regulation
will be revised based on recommendations from
the community of academic and other not-for-
profit institutions. The goal is to publish a final
regulation for use during fiscal year 1996 that
streamlines and simplifies grants administration
for both the recipient community and EPA.
Graduate Fellowship Program
ORD will also be establishing a nationally
competitive, peer-reviewed graduate fellowship
program in academic disciplines at the forefront
of environmental science and technology: the
physical, biological, and social sciences;
mathematics and computer science; and
engineering. Both the public and the private
sectors will need a steady stream of we 11-trained
environmental scientists and engineers if our
society is to meet the environmental challenges
of the future. The goal is to fund at least 100
fellowships in 1995, 200 in 1996, and 300 in
1997. These fellowships will defray most of the
costs associated with advanced study leading to
the masters or doctoral degree and thereby
should attract outstanding students.
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