INTRODUCTION

A great array of environmental and economic challenges confronts residents of California at the end of the current century, challenges that affect air and water quality, future prosperity, and natural habitats for the diverse biological resources of the State. Continuing population growth in California virtually ensures that there will be continuing conflicts over allocation and management of resources. Natural resource issues, once a top priority in many public policy opinion polls, now compete for the attention of the public and decision makers with such issues as safety from crime, immigration impacts, and the effect of defense reductions on the State's economy. The troubled condition of the State budget has resulted in fewer public resources for the management, conservation, and enhancement of California's natural resources.

The significance and far-reaching implications of current environmental and economic challenges necessitate new partnerships and sharing of resources among public and private organizations in addressing critical natural resource issues. A promising new partnership was formalized in May, 1994, in a Memorandum of Understanding between the California Resources Agency and the University of California, Davis. An important element of this agreement, designed to foster cooperation on applied scientific and technological research, public education, and public policy analysis, is an exchange program for professionals in departments of the Resources Agency and members of the faculty and academic staff at UC Davis: the UC Davis-California Resources Agency Natural Resources Fellowship.

Today more than ever the complexity and interconnectedness of environmental and economic problems demand that we move beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries in seeking solutions. Applications are particularly encouraged for projects which explore more integrated approaches to natural resources issues, attempt to make connections across the disciplines, and fit the specific research or analysis into larger patterns of the California environment and economy.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Fellowship is open to resource professionals in the California Resources Agency and all entities of the Agency and UC Davis faculty members and academic staff, including post-doctoral fellows. Applicants are asked to propose a schedule of work which may vary from part time to full time for a period of three to six months (one or two academic quarters). Agency Fellows will reside in a UC Davis department to work on a research problem or policy analysis relevant to the Agency and to lecture as appropriate. University Fellows will join an Agency department to work on a research project or an analysis of a current environmental policy issue. Host departments in each organization will provide a work station and incidental support for Fellows. Salaries and benefits remain the responsibility of each employee's principal organization. Agency Fellows will be granted UC Davis academic privileges during the Fellowship, including library access and card, and capacity to audit courses and participate in seminars. Each Fellow is expected to prepare a brief report on the nature and substance of his or her work, or a draft of a publishable paper, at the conclusion of the Fellowship.

OBJECTIVES

Specific objectives of the Natural Resources Fellowship include:

1) Provide an opportunity for each Fellow to consider a problem with a fresh perspective, in a new setting, with colleagues in another organization.

2) Develop new working relationships and connections between the organizations that may continue well beyond the length of each Fellowship.

3) Contribute toward the solution of a significant natural resources issue in California.

APPLICATION PROCESS

A maximum of six Fellowships in each organization will be awarded in each phase of the Program.

Applicants should submit:

a brief (three to five page) statement of proposed work,

a proposed schedule of when the work will occur, which may vary from part-time (two-three days/week or other schedule by arrangement) to full time for a period of three to six months,

a current resume,

names of at least three references, and

a letter acknowledging approval by the applicant's department chair or supervisor.

Applicants should indicate a specific host department and colleague contact in the other organization if one is known.

Each applicant should specify a preferred starting date for the Fellowship and any commitments in his or her schedule that would preclude a Fellowship during a specific time of the year. Fellowships in this phase will begin typically in Fall quarter, 1998. To be considered for this phase of the Program, applications must be received by June 1, 1998. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the Steering Committee of the Resources Agency-UC Davis MOU. Successful applicants will be notified by July 10, 1998.
Applications for future phases of the Program will be solicited annually.

To apply for a Natural Resources Fellowship or if you have questions or comments on the Program, please contact one of the following:

Janine Stenback
Research Coordinator
California Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 653-5656 FAX 653-8102
email: janine@resources.ca.gov

or

Public Service Research Program
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616
(916) 752-7823 FAX 752-7748
dfpendleton@ucdavis.edu