News Releases from Headquarters›Office of the Administrator (AO)

EPA Scientists Receive Highest Honor from the White House

WASHINGTON- President Obama has named two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scientists as recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). This award, which is being given to EPA's Dr. Alex Marten and Dr. Rebecca Dodder, is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Awardees are selected for their pursuit of innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology and their commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, or community outreach.

"I am pleased and proud to see two members of the EPA family recognized with this prestigious honor," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "Through their innovative research, Drs. Marten and Dodder have helped paint clearer pictures of the social costs of greenhouse gas pollution and the impacts of our energy choices on the natural world."

Dr. Marten was nominated for his innovative economic research applying global integrated assessment models for calculating the social costs of greenhouse gases (GHGs), including carbon dioxide (CO2) and, importantly, other less well-studied gases including methane and nitrous oxide. His research has helped guide the ongoing discussions about how the United States government values the economic benefits of rulemakings that reduce GHG emissions. In addition to his innovative economic research, Dr. Marten was recognized for his leadership in various mentoring, teaching, and community outreach activities.

Dr. Dodder was nominated for her innovative approach to evaluating current and emerging environmental challenges and opportunities related to energy production and use in the United States. Her research assessing, translating and modeling the impacts of energy choices on air, water and climate provide a basis to factor a broader range of environmental impacts into energy-related decisions. Dr. Dodder's other passion has been to develop and lead science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) outreach activities to share her knowledge for protecting public health and the environment with the next generation. She co-created and taught two curricula for Citizens School North Carolina and developed Generate - a game that lets players explore how energy choices affect the environment.

Dr. Marten and Dr. Dodder were two of 105 researchers across the Federal Government who were recognized with this honor. They will receive their awards at a ceremony this spring in Washington, D.C.

The PECASE award was established in 1996 to encourage the development of science leaders and highlight the importance of science and technology. Five scientists from EPA have previously received the PECASE.

For more information about EPA's air, climate and energy research and the educational outreach activities Dr. Dodder helped to develop, visit: http://www.epa.gov/air-research and http://www.epa.gov/air-research/hands-activities-and-other-resources-air-quality-and-climate-change-teachers

For more information about EPA's National Center for Environmental Economics and the Agency's work to estimate the climate benefits of rulemakings that Dr. Marten's research helped inform, visit: www.epa.gov/ncee and http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/EPAactivities/economics/scc.html