Over the past eight years, I have studied air pollution of the United States and other countries around the world. My career has been centered around using high-performance computer models to identify the biggest air pollution offenders. The air pollution research community is well aware that the U.S. diesel truck fleet has the potential to spew hundreds of thousands of tons of air pollutants each year, if left uncontrolled. Read more >
UCS's Latest Posts

Taking Action for Public Science: Re-Imagining Iowa’s Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
March 27, 2018 4:53 PM EDT
On a snowy February morning at the Iowa state capitol in Des Moines, students, farmers, community members, scientists, food system employees, and advocates gathered for a press conference and advocacy day. Their efforts came almost one year to the day after the state legislature voted to defund and shut down the Leopold Center, for 30 years the state’s pre-eminent institution for research, learning and practice on sustainable agriculture. Read more >
A Shout-Out to Government Scientists: Have You Completed the UCS Federal Scientists Survey?
March 15, 2018 11:18 AM EDT
“I can’t afford to make any wrong moves,” a PhD scientist and career federal worker recently confided to us, adding grimly, “they are watching us closely.” Normally cheerful and extroverted, she now often appears tired and frazzled. She is not alone—not by a long shot. As federal science and technology (S&T) budgets are being squeezed, and key programs and offices are being zeroed out altogether, federal government employees are becoming fearful of losing their jobs, which are becoming increasingly stressful. Read more >

Collaboration Between Ranchers and Scientists Leads to Rangeland Management Opportunities
March 7, 2018 10:18 AM EDT
When I arrived in Utah four years ago to start my new research position, I was worried that the political climate would make any form of collaboration among ranchers, government managers, and scientists difficult. I was wrong. Read more >

Building Relationships to Promote Science-Based Decision Making
March 2, 2018 5:02 PM EDT
In an era when “fake news” has become a common phrase, it is more important than ever to make sure our policymakers are making decisions based on the best available information.