Three UC Berkeley students awarded Switzer environmental fellowships

Three University of California, Berkeley, students have been awarded the 2010 Switzer Fellowship. The Switzer Fellowship is given to outstanding environmental scholars who are pursuing graduate degrees in a variety of ecological disciplines.

The UC Berkeley recipients are:

• Stacy Jackson, Ph.D., Energy and Resources Group. Jackson is pursuing research in the area of climate change science and mitigation policy. She is working to increase the public’s knowledge of climate change.

• Rachel Smith, Ph.D., Environmental Science, Policy and Management. Smith is a firefighter who studies the role of collaborative planning in wildfire risk abatement. After graduating, she will help communities develop sound fire policies.

• John Urgo, M.S., City Planning. Urgo focuses on land use, transportation and pricing policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars. He hopes to use his degree to help local governments reduce their energy use.

“The Switzer Foundation makes strategic investments in individual leadership to improve environmental quality,”” said Lissa Widoff, executive director of the foundation, in a prepared statement. The UC Berkeley recipients will join 21 other students from California and New England and will receive $15,000 each to complete their degrees.

In addition to the Switzer Fellowships, UC Berkeley is also the recipient of a 2010 Switzer Grant. The UC Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry and Switzer Fellow Mike Wilson, Ph.D, have been awarded $30,000 for their work in chemicals policy.

The grant awards organizations with a Switzer Fellow on projects that aim to improve the quality of our environment. UC Berkeley was the only University of California campus to receive a grant this year.

This is the 24th year of the Switzer Environmental Fellowship Program of the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation, which recognizes the achievements of environmental leaders.

Additional information about the Switzer Fellows class of 2010 or the fellowship program, is online.