Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources
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| Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources | |
|---|---|
| Name | Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources |
| Established | 1999 |
| Type | Interdisciplinary graduate program |
| Location | Stanford, California, United States |
| Parent | Stanford University |
Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources is a graduate program at Stanford University that integrates environmental science, policy, and management through interdisciplinary training. The program prepares students for careers spanning science, policy, law, and business by combining coursework, research, and professional development with engagement across campuses and external institutions. Emmett graduates work in academia, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and industry, often collaborating with leading scholars and practitioners.
History
Founded in 1999, the program was developed during a period of institutional expansion at Stanford under the presidencies of Gerald R. Ford (note: historical context) and later leaders such as John L. Hennessy and Marc Tessier-Lavigne who oversaw research initiatives and interdisciplinary growth. Early program design drew on models from programs at Harvard University, Yale University, University of California, Berkeley, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and aligned with initiatives at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Smithsonian Institution. Influences included landmark reports and agreements such as the Brundtland Report, the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, and the Kyoto Protocol, which shaped curricular emphasis on sustainability and global environmental governance. The program’s evolution paralleled the founding of centers such as the Wright Center for the Study of the Presidency (contextual institutional trend) and partnerships with agencies like the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Bank.
Program and Curriculum
The curriculum emphasizes core training across natural science, social science, and engineering domains with specialized tracks reflecting expertise hosted by affiliated departments such as Department of Biology (Stanford University), Department of Earth System Science, Stanford Law School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and School of Engineering (Stanford University). Core courses reference frameworks from influential texts and institutions linked to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and scholarship from scholars at Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and Precourt Institute for Energy. Students may draw on faculty associated with School of Medicine (Stanford University), Hoover Institution, and labs collaborating with NASA centers like Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA Ames Research Center. The program supports elective engagement with seminars connected to Council on Foreign Relations, Brookings Institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and specialized training from Environmental Defense Fund, World Resources Institute, and Natural Resources Defense Council.
Research and Centers
Research activities intersect with centers across Stanford and partner institutions, including Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Precourt Institute for Energy, CISAC (Center for International Security and Cooperation), Hoover Institution, Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, and the Bill Lane Center for the American West. Collaborative projects have been conducted with external research organizations such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, US Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and international partners like CERN grants in data science contexts. Research themes mirror global agendas promoted by United Nations, World Health Organization, International Energy Agency, and Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services collaborators.
Admissions and Funding
Admissions follow graduate procedures coordinated with Stanford Graduate Admissions and affiliated schools such as Stanford Law School, Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, and Stanford Graduate School of Business. Applicants typically present backgrounds similar to alumni from Rhodes Scholarship, Fulbright Program, Marshall Scholarship, and competitive fellowships administered by institutions like National Science Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Gates Foundation. Funding packages frequently combine support from department fellowships, grants from agencies such as National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, and project funding from foundations like Rockefeller Foundation and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Professional development leverages internships with partners including World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations Development Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, and NGOs such as Conservation International.
Notable Faculty and Alumni
Faculty affiliates have included scholars linked to major awards and institutions such as Nobel Prize laureates in related fields, fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and recipients of honors from National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering. Alumni have held positions at organizations like United Nations, European Commission, World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Google, Microsoft, Tesla, Inc., and academic appointments at Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, and University of Oxford. Prominent collaborators and visitors have included scholars and practitioners from Al Gore, Jane Goodall, James Hansen, Elinor Ostrom, and policy figures with affiliations to United States Department of State.
Collaborations and Partnerships
The program maintains formal and informal partnerships with Stanford entities and external institutions: cross-listings with Stanford Law School, joint appointments with School of Engineering (Stanford University), cooperative research with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and exchange relationships with universities such as University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, ETH Zurich, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Australian National University. Program students engage with multilateral organizations including United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, and bilateral programs with agencies like United States Agency for International Development and Department for International Development in project placements and policy internships.
Impact and Recognition
The program’s impact is reflected in alumni influence on international negotiations such as meetings under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, contributions to assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and applied research informing initiatives by International Energy Agency and World Bank. Recognition includes collaborative grants and awards from entities like Guggenheim Fellowship, MacArthur Fellowship, and project funding acknowledged by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The program’s interdisciplinary model is cited in comparative reviews alongside programs at Harvard Kennedy School, Yale School of the Environment, and Columbia University for integrating science-policy training and translational research.