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U.S. EPA, UC Riverside, to engage students in agency’s green agenda through a new partnership

Release Date: 04/06/2010
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815, Cell (213) 798-2804 [email protected]

(04/06/10) LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the University of California, Riverside today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to increase EPA’s outreach to diverse and underserved communities by offering internships, joint projects, and scientific research opportunities to students and faculty.

"I am thrilled that EPA is partnering with the University of California, Riverside. EPA will benefit from the tremendous pool of talent, energy and environmental commitment offered by these students," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA Regional Administrator. "From developing innovative climate change solutions to helping inner-city communities improve their environmental health, this EPA/UC Riverside partnership promises a bright future for both students and the planet."

The University of California, Riverside is widely recognized as one of the most ethnically diverse research universities in the nation. UCR's current enrollment is over 19,000 students, with a goal of 21,000 students by 2020. The campus is in the midst of a tremendous growth spurt with new and remodeled facilities coming on-line on a regular basis.

The University of California, Riverside is one of 10 universities within the prestigious University of California system, and the only UC located in Inland Southern California.

“UC Riverside excels at providing research opportunities for our students, and the kinds of internships that will add to their career options,” said Dallas Rabenstein, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at UC Riverside. “We look forward to the new opportunities that we are establishing today with the EPA.”

The agreement between EPA and the University of California, Riverside presents numerous benefits for both partners including:
* EPA internships during summer and the academic year;
* Agency participation in career fairs to make students, faculty and alumni aware of employment opportunities at EPA;
* Faculty and student participation from UCR in public policy forums, presentations, and other events at EPA;
* EPA staff participation in lectures, conferences, and other events at Riverside;
* Provision of EPA expertise and/or resources for environmental curriculum development and teaching at UCR;
* Riverside faculty serving as visiting scientists at EPA, joint research projects and EPA staff members serving as mentors or coaches for UCR students.

UC Riverside offers leading-edge research and education in fields that will change the future of health, energy, public safety, and the quality of our air, water, and land. By blending theory and practice in all its disciplines, the university recognizes that the students solving classroom problems today will be the employees solving the real-world problems tomorrow.

UC Riverside is a nationally recognized leader in the fields of Environmental Science and Chemical and Environmental Engineering; core educational backgrounds for many EPA employees. A significant number of UC Riverside students pursue careers in public service. This MOU will help encourage students of diverse backgrounds to pursue degrees in environmental fields of study and help EPA to attract a workforce as diverse as the public EPA serves.
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