The next generation of ecologists and organismal biologists will be called upon to link their basic-science focus with other skills necessary to solve major environmental and social problems. These skills--in public policy, environmental law, management, and scientific communication-- are severely lacking in our current graduate training. We propose a cross-disciplinary training program that will provide students with a rigorous introduction to the methods of environmental science and exposure to the tools necessary to apply the fruits of their research to attack major social and environmental issues. Before initiating their diqsertation research, students will complete a two year curriculum consisting of new lecture, seminar and field courses. Field and management courses will draw on personnel and resources of the Conservation Research Center of the Smithsonian Institution. Seminar courses on scientific communication, current environmental issues, and environmental law and policy will draw on faculty from other graduate schools at the University of Pennsylvania and other professionals actively involved with these issues. These courses, together with basic science research will provide trainees with exposure to the methods needed to affect scientific and social solutions to environmental problems.
