sustainability news (continued) 34The Military Engineer ? July-August ? 2010 zation; a ?exible framework for agencies; and evaluation. In October 2010, the task force will report to the president on the development of do- mestic and international dimensions of a U.S. approach to climate change adapta- tion and what federal agencies are doing to support this effort. The task force also will recommend additional aspects to consider in the development of a comprehensive na- tional strategy. In preparing its October 2010 report, the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force will re?ne recommendations around structural issues like improving the integration of science into policy develop- ment and developing a framework for fed- eral agency adaptation. It also will continue to work on cross-cutting topics like water resources management and international adaptation. The task force will establish additional workgroups, including those to inform the national strategy in the areas of communications, coordination and collab- oration across government and with part- ners, evaluation and other priority issues. In addition, the task force will hold a se- ries of regional outreach meetings, conduct pilot activities and accept public comment on its interim progress report for 60 days on the CEQ website at www.whitehouse.gov/ ceq/initiatives/adaptation. (Contributed by CEQ) UTEP Announces Ph.D. Track in Energy Science and Engineering The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is gearing up to meet the current energy re- search demands for the 21st century. UTEPs Mechanical Engineering Department in May began offering coursework for the new Energy Science and Engineering (ENSE) doctoral track within the interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Environmental Science and Engineering. During the last two decades, the U.S. en- ergy research and development enterprises have experienced a ‘missing generation of energy engineers and professionals, said Ahsan Choudhuri, Ph.D., Chair of UTEPs Department of Mechanical Engineering. There are simply not enough graduate stu- dents enrolled in energy disciplines at U.S. universities to replace the engineers and scientists who plan to retire within the next ?ve to eight years. This has now become a serious workforce crisis and poses a serious threat to Americas energy security and sus- tainability. The goal of this new program is to create unique interdisciplinary energy research and educational opportunities for students and to bring UTEP to the forefront of creat- ing diversity in the energy R&D workforce, Choudhuri said. Next generation energy engineers must innovate transformational technologies for affordable, abundant and low-carbon energy and lead entrepreneurial ventures to commercialize those innovations, said Richard Schoephoerster, Ph.D., Dean of UTEPs College of Engineering. This new doctoral track evolves from our vision of educating a new pedigree of quali?ed engi- neers with the ‘soft skills, business acumen
If you would like to view publication without flash plugin, please click on link below
