Scheraga appointed Senior Advisor for Climate Adaptation  (January 2010)

Joel Scheraga has been appointed as the new Senior Advisor for Climate Adaptation in EPA’s Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (OPEI) in the Office of the Administrator. He assumed this position on January 3, 2010. This position offers him an exciting opportunity to help EPA design and implement effective climate change adaptation measures to protect human health and the environment.

Study named one of Discover Magazine's 100 Top Science Stories of 2008  (January 2009)

The EPA's Global Change Research Program, managed by Joel Scheraga, released a report in July 2008 that focuses on the impacts of climate change on human health, welfare, and settlements. In January 2009, Discover Magazine named the report #25 in its list of 100 Top Science Stories of 2008. The magazine called it a "substantive report" which concludes that "a warmer climate could affect U.S. residents both directly (through droughts, heat waves, and increasingly intense hurricanes) and indirectly (through greater incidence of disease transmitted by mosquitoes and other carriers, decreased air quality, and rising pollen counts).

Scheraga receives EPA Bronze Medal  (September 2008)

Joel Scheraga was awarded a Bronze Medal for Commendable Service, along with the other members of EPA's Climate Change Workgroup, on September 17, 2008. The award cited Scheraga’s contribution “playing a leadership role coordinating and integrating climate change activities across EPA, and increasing awareness of the implications of climate change to the Agency’s mission.” The award ceremony took place in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

Scheraga speaks at Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting (June 2007)

On June 14, 2007, Joel Scheraga spoke at the Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting in Newport, Rhode Island. He spoke on "The Potential Health Impacts of Climate Change." He stated, "We have the ability to identify what the risks to public health are due to a changing climate... We have the technological know-how in this country, as well as in other countries, to deal with those risks and take advantage of the opportunities. But we've got to figure out how to adapt effectively." (Click here to link to the summary of comment posted by the Metcalf Institute.)

Scheraga speaks at 2007 National Summit on Coping with Climate Change (May 2007)

On May 8, 2007, Joel Scheraga spoke at The National Summit on Coping with Climate Change, held at the University of Michigan. The National Summit brought leading scientists and scholars together with key decision makers in a structured discussion that addressed the options available to institutions, firms, and societies in the United States for adapting and responding to climate change. Scheraga identified adaptation needs in the area of water quality. The summit was part of the Clinton Global Initiative, a non-partisan catalyst for action, established by former President Bill Clinton and the William J. Clinton Foundation for the purpose of bringing together global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to pressing world challenges. (Click here for a copy of the official press release from the University of Michigan.)

Scheraga speak at 2007 Alaska Forum on the Environment (February 2007)

On February 12, 2007, Joel Scheraga spoke at the 2007 Alaska Forum on the Environment. His presentation on "Planning for a Changing Climate in Alaska" described how the Alaskan landscape is already changing due to climate change. He suggested that anticipating and preparing for climate change offers an opportunity to shape the future of Alaska. But he also acknowledged that permanent losses may be inevitable given the magnitude and rate of climate change to which we are already committed due to out past actions. Scheraga presented nine fundamental principles that should be considered when developing adaptation strategies. (A copy of the presentation can be found in the "Presentations" section of this website.)

Scheraga among authors of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment honored with 2005 Zayed Award  (December 2005)

On December 9th, 2005, a report entitled, Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Health Synthesis, was released by the World Health Organization as part of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Dr. Joel Scheraga is one of the report authors. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment was called for by United Nations' Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2000 in recognition of the fact that population growth and economic development are leading to rapid changes in our global ecosystems. The Health Synthesis represents an attempt to describe the complex links between the preservation of healthy and biodiverse natural ecosystems and human health.

On December 19th, the 1,360 scientists from 95 countries whose research contributed to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - including the authors of the Health Synthesis - were honored with the prestigious 2005 Zayed Award for Scientific and or Technological Achievement in Environment. The citation says that the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is a "landmark study on the condition of the world's ecosystem services from fisheries and freshwaters up to the carbon capture of the world's forests ... It also underlines the economic importance of natural or nature's capital and demonstrates that the degradation of ecosystems is progressing at an alarming and unsustainable rate." The citation added that the Assessment is not only a remarkable scientific achievement, but one that is "commanding political attention while shaping the environmental agenda of the 21st century, especially in the challenging area of ensuring nature's capital is given real value alongside financial and human capital."

Scheraga promoted to Senior Executive Level "ST" position at EPA... National Program Director for both Global Change and Mercury Research Program   (March 2005)

Dr. Joel Scheraga was promoted to the Senior Executive level position of Scientific and Professional (ST) National Program Director at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in March 2005. The promotion follows a year-long national competition for the Senior Executive level position. With the promotion, he assumed responsibility for the EPA’s Mercury Research Program, as well as the Global Change Research Program, in the Office of Research and Development (ORD). Dr. Scheraga has been the National Program Director for the Global Change Research Program since 1998.

Dr. Scheraga is responsible for providing high-level scientific leadership of the Mercury and Global Research Programs, and is the primary interface between these programs and the EPA’s Program Offices and Regional Offices, EPA clients, and the national and international scientific communities. He leads the planning and development of the Global and Mercury Programs, and helps set program priorities, resource levels and budget allocations. He is responsible for ensuring that both programs perform the most relevant and highest quality research in support of the EPA’s mission.

Dr. Scheraga now reports directly to ORD’s Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science and Deputy Assistant Administrator for Management.

Scheraga awarded first annual Horace Mann Award by Brown University Graduate School  (February 2004)

The Brown University Graduate School recently presented its inaugural Horace Mann Distinguished Graduate School Alumni Award to Dr. Joel D. Scheraga. The award is given to Graduate School alumni who have made distinguished contributions to society through their scholarship and related professional activities. Dr. Scheraga, EPA's Global Change Research National Program Director, was recognized for his work on global climate change, energy policy, environmental economics, public policy, and applied microeconomics and microeconomic theory, as well as his efforts to integrate science and policy in multidisciplinary programs. Brown President Ruth J. Simmons and Graduate School Dean Karen Newman presented the award to Scheraga who holds an A.B. degree in geology-mathematics/physics, an M.A. in economics, and a Ph.D. in economics – all from Brown University.

World Health Organization (WHO) publishes book on climate change and human health  (December 2003)

This book, published by WHO in collaboration with UNEP and WMO, describes the context and process of global climate change, its actual or likely impacts on health, and how societies and their governments could respond, with particular focus on the health sector. Joel Scheraga co-edited the book along with A.J. McMichael, D.H. Campbell-Lendrum, C.F. Corvalan, K.L. Ebi, A. Githeko, and A. Woodward.