Myron Mitchell, a SUNY-ESF professor emeritus, was appointed to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Board of Scientific Counselors earlier this month to advise the agency on its research programs.

Mitchell said he would be lending his expertise by commenting on and suggesting changes on reports for EPA programs that cover the areas of air, climate and energy.

“I have the ability to comment on EPA policy,” Mitchell said. “I have a specific role and my role is to give advice. And, hopefully, that advice would be unbiased. It’s based on my knowledge and recommendations.”

BOSC provides recommendations to the Office of Research and Development, which conducts scientific research within the EPA, according to the agency’s website. The ORD has six research programs that assess environmental health research needs.

Mitchell said the Air, Climate and Energy research program is currently focusing on developing new ideas related to research program plans. In the summer, the team will discuss the plans and meet in the fall to provide feedback on the plans to the EPA.

“As far as I am aware of, I am the only ESF or (Syracuse University) faculty member which is currently serving on this particular subcommittee,” Mitchell said.

Though Mitchell no longer teaches at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, he’s still involved in some research areas and is an adviser to graduate students.

According to a SUNY-ESF press release, Mitchell is an internationally recognized biogeochemist and ecologist. His research involves terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems processes, sulfur and nitrogen cycling, acid precipitation in the Adirondacks, and Hubbard Brook long-term research, according to the press release.

Mitchell participated in research in the Canadian Rockies, Catskills, Florida, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Japan, South Korea, central Europe and New Zealand, per the press release. He served on the SUNY Research Foundation Board as vice chair and serves on the National Science Foundation funding panel.

There are only 12 members on the Air, Climate and Energy subcommittee. Other subcommittees of BOSC are Chemical Safety for Sustainability, Sustainable and Healthy Communities, Homeland Security, and Safe and Sustainable Water Resources.

“We are very excited about Dr. Mitchell’s position on this EPA advisory committee,” said Mark Lichtenstein, chief of staff and chief sustainability officer of SUNY-ESF, in an email. “I’m sure it’s not the first time ESF has had a faculty member receive an honor like this, but it is very unique and says a lot about the quality of our faculty, their scientific work, and how highly regarded they are.”

Published on February 26, 2018 at 9:05 pm

Contact Jessica: jlandreo@syr.edu