Oct. 28, 2015

Anne Kapuscinski, a professor of sustainability science in the Environmental Studies Program at Dartmouth College, assumed the chairmanship of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) board of directors today. She is the first woman to serve in this role.

“Anne is a pioneer in her field and we are thrilled she will be channeling her vast intellect and creativity into this position,” said UCS President Ken Kimmell.

Kapuscinski is a leader in sustainability science, or the interactions between the natural world and social institutions such as economics and policy, and how those interactions support the goals of meeting present and future generations’ needs, reducing poverty and conserving the planet’s life support systems. Kapuscinski’s research focuses on integrated food and energy systems.

Kapuscinski, who joined UCS’s board of directors in 2002, replaces Jim McCarthy, a professor of biological oceanography at Harvard University and past president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, who served as UCS board chair for six years.

Kapuscinski has been a scientific advisor to the U.S. secretary of agriculture under three administrations as well as to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization, European Union Food Safety Agency and state of Minnesota. She has served on several U.S. National Academy of Sciences committees and received numerous awards for her work.

Kapuscinski says she’s excited to help connect UCS with a younger generation of scientists, whose enthusiasm for sustainability she witnesses firsthand in students’ research. “I’ve seen a major upswing of student involvement in these issues,” she says. “I feel I’m well-positioned to give feedback as UCS staff expands their reach to younger scientists.

”I deeply value how effective UCS is — synthesizing the best science, conducting insightful analyses, communicating incredibly well and making science-driven recommendations. It’s a combination that leads to significant, needed changes in the policy arena.“

Dartmouth Professor Anne Kapuscinski is available to comment at Anne.R.Kapuscinski@dartmouth.edu.

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