Muskie Environmental Fellows and Alumni Influence Policy

Achieving responsible environmental management and sustainable development requires creative approaches from all sectors of society.  As the varied backgrounds of the Muskie environmental fellows suggest, these leaders arrive in the US prepared to build on their professional experience by learning more about the role that democratic processes play in forming environmental policy.  From the statehouse to the forest, Muskie environmental fellows are experiencing environmental management and policy in action.

LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT

“Because of our teamwork, we started thinking a bit bigger,” commented 2009 Muskie fellow Dayanch Hojageldiyev when asked about the results of his research efforts in the Masters of Arts in Environmental Studies program at Brown University.  In the fall semester of 2009, Dayanch and his fellow classmates completed a group research project on the effects of climate change in Rhode Island.  Not satisfied with simply submitting the required class assignment, the students drafted legislation designed to prepare Rhode Island for future challenges posed by a changing climate.  Recommendations made by Brown students were introduced to the Rhode Island State Legislature and ultimately passed this June in the form of the Rhode Island Climate Risk Reduction Act of 2010.

After experiencing the democratic process in action, Dayanch is inspired to continue influencing policy both in the US and in Turkmenistan.  As an intern at Brown University Department of Public Health, Dayanch completed research on air quality in Rhode Island schools and is planning to use that research in policy recommendations to the Rhode Island Department of Education.  Dayanch hopes to use this experience to improve environmental policy in Turkmenistan, noting that he will, “bring this knowledge of regulation to change something in my country."

FOREST MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE

2009 Muskie fellow Any Haykuni’s summer internship took her away from the classroom and into the forest.  Ani Haykuni interned this summer in the Adirondack Mountains at the Huntington Wildlife Forest where she contributed to the creation of a new forest management plan and conducted an in-depth inventory in one portion of the forest.  Building on her first year of study in the Masters of Professional Studies in Forest Resources Management program at SUNY’s College of Environmental Studies and Forestry (SUNY-CESF), Ani was able to create a template for future forest management projects at the Huntington Wildlife Forest.

SUNY-CESF professor Ralph Nyland, commented positively on Ani’s influence, remarking that, “her work laid a critical foundation for a project we will continue through the next several months.”   Dr. Nyland also noted that, “the internship helped Ani to consolidate her past and recent studies and experience, and also pushed her to explore new technical and personal possibilities.”  Ani is already looking forward using this experience in Armenia, noting that, “I believe there will be many opportunities for me to apply my knowledge and experience into development of my home country.”

COMMUNICATION WITH POLICY-MAKERS

As a student in the #1-ranked Master of Public Affairs program at Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs*, 2009 Muskie fellow Natalya Panchenko has been able to augment her prior experience working for the United Nations Development Program in Kazakhstan with courses on environmental management, law, economics and policy.  This study was instrumental to Natalya’s success this summer as an intern at the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) in Washington, DC.

Through the creation of two reports aimed at Eurasian policy-makers, Natalya supported IMT’s mission of promoting energy efficiency and green building.  The experience at IMT helped Natalya to understand how her study in the US can translate to policy changes in her native Kazakhstan.  Natalya commented on the professional skills that she gained, “I feel like I have a better sense of how to communicate with government employees and use their language.  It’s an important shift.”

EXTENDED COLLABORATION

Muskie alumni are optimizing the impact of their environmental studies by sharing the knowledge they’ve gained with other professionals.  2006 Muskie fellow Khatuna Gogaladze is using her experience as an environmental fellow at Indiana University to influence policy in Georgia.  Last fall, Khatuna applied for and received a Muskie Mentor/Advisor Exchange (MAX) award to bring Matthew Auer, professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, to Tbilisi to facilitate a workshop on the relationship between environmental management and economic growth.

Eighteen heads and deputy heads of departments in several Georgian ministries and the Tbilisi City Administration attended the 2-day workshop.  Workshop participants examined the role of the public sector in promoting environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources.  They also discussed the regulations and economic tools necessary to ensure sustainable development at a national level.   Khatuna noted that the event, “promoted dialogue on very sensitive environmental issues among the participants and strengthened professional ties.”  She and Dr. Auer hope to collaborate in the future as Khatuna continues her work advocating for sustainable development in Georgia.

Current Muskie environmental fellows are gaining skills and new perspectives through classroom and internship experiences while recent alumni are building on connections made during their fellowships to influence policy at home.  The result of their increased knowledge and connections is ultimately a more nuanced and experienced approach to solving environmental challenges.

* Source: US News and World Report, “Project Specialty Rankings: Environmental Policy and Management”