2024 State Science Policy Fellow Host Offices

Potential Host Offices

Three offices are seeking to host potential State Science Policy Fellows in 2023. These include:

• Office of the Vice President for Sustainability, University System of Maryland
• Climate Program, Maryland Department of the Environment
• Office of the Secretary, Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Office of the Vice President for Sustainability, University System of Maryland (USM)

Maryland is a leader in addressing climate change with a comprehensive program for mitigation and adaptation. The current goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030 and an intent for net zero by 2045. This goal is complemented by ongoing programs for coastal resilience, adaptation to more intense storms, more severe floods, extensive droughts and heat waves. These state-wide efforts are guided by the Maryland Commission on Climate Change (MCCC). The Science Policy Fellow will participate in the MCCC Science and Technical Working Group meetings as well as attend MCCC meetings. The Fellow will be able to participate in any STWG activity that suits their background and professional interests.

The Science Policy Fellow, working with experts within the University System of Maryland and Second Nature, will lead the development of a report describing conceptual pathways for the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (a graduate university for the environment distributed across 6 diverse locations and with research activities on every continent) to achieve net zero. In addition, the Fellow will collaborate with experts across USM to develop recommendations for tracking progress, sharing knowledge across the USM institutions and documenting practices that could be adopted by other organizations in Maryland and beyond.

The Fellow will report to the President of UMCES and Mark Beck, Director, Office of Capital Planning, University System of Maryland located in Cambridge, MD.

Climate Program, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)

The MDE Sea Grant Fellow will have the opportunity to complete a comprehensive study, analysis, and evaluation of its ecological restoration permitting process and provide a report to the General Assembly by June 1, 2024.  The study intends to:

1. Define ecological restoration, including measurable scientific objectives,
2. Consider how MDE should holistically consider the restoration of multiple ecosystem services over the restoration of individual resources,
3. Make recommendations on adaptive management applied to restoration permitting and
4. Make recommendations on the ecological restoration permitting process.  

The study shall be conducted in consultation and coordination with stakeholders, including state and local agencies, the restoration industry, environmental organizations and community groups.  The role of the Sea Grant Fellow is to assist in all aspects of the project and as a result, the Fellow will have the opportunity to apply scientific principles to inform environmental policy. MDE's office is located in Baltimore, MD.

Office of the Secretary, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

The Department of Natural Resources is a state leader in providing roadmaps to climate resilience through its technical and financial support to local governments and communities. Partnerships with other state agencies, federal funders, private sector, non-profits, and community organizations amplify these efforts and are critical for delivering comprehensive support to the people most affected by climate impacts. The Department focuses on nature-based solutions and recognizes that a comprehensive approach requires 1) spanning ecological and socio-economic considerations, 2) addressing both green and gray infrastructure strategies, 3) building upon existing implementation and partnership efforts, and 4) working closely at the community level to address locally driven goals. There are many efforts underway that need to be stitched together to create a comprehensive framework that will align existing efforts, attract new funding, and achieve landscape scale resilience.

This Fellowship will focus on advancing DNR’s climate resilience initiatives, including establishing climate adaptation goals, developing a Next Generation Adaptation Plan tracker, providing local government adaptation assistance, formalizing a community liaison program, and supporting adaptation policy change. This work will support the Maryland Commission on Climate Change’s Adaptation and Resiliency Working Group; Coast Smart Council; the Office of Resilience’s State Resilience Strategy; and be the foundation for working with a broad array of partners, local governments, and communities to achieve collaborative climate adaptation. DNR's office is located in Annapolis, MD.