Oil and Ecology-The Need for a New Outlook
Authors: Perrine R.L. 
Published: December 2007

Introduction

Current ecological concern, unlikely to diminish soon, deeply involves petroleum activities. As originally presented, this paper consisted, in great part, of the presented, this paper consisted, in great part, of the background and history of a petroleum-related environmental decision. The problem was typical in that it was controversial, multidisciplinary, and not yet solved. Many such environmental problems lead to a common conclusion: a new breed of professional is needed to resolve them. A committee of faculty at The U. of California at Los Angeles, representing many departments and disciplines, has prepared an academic proposal for a new graduate degree program in Environmental Science and Engineering. Although formal approvals have yet to be completed, selected students whose needs fit within existing rules already are following the framework of the new program. This paper outlines the program, noting several truly novel paper outlines the program, noting several truly novel aspects, and catalogs a few of the goals we hope soon to achieve.

The Environmental Science and Engineering Program

Environmental science and engineering apply knowledge from chemistry, geophysics, zoology and other basic disciplines, but the problems faced are multidisciplinary. There is no environmental science discipline. Thus the environmental problem-solver must combine some sound disciplinary base with understanding and breadth extending into related areas. Emphasis in higher education has been placed on specialization and research. Most doctoral-level programs require original research and a dissertation, to prove creative abilities. It is "experts" who are asked to satisfy the needs of society. A student with broad interests and outstanding ability seldom has been rewarded for using all his capabilities. In fact, the good student who does not pursue a specialized degree pays high costs in both pursue a specialized degree pays high costs in both time and money. The nature of the proposed Environmental Science and Engineering program differs from this. Our program is based on the belief that with wise use of program is based on the belief that with wise use of current knowledge and technological tools, many present environmental problems can be solved and future ones foreseen and avoided. While applied research is not new, there has been a lack of manpower trained for this purpose within the environmental sciences. Our goal is to help supply this much-needed manpower by educating students, through the doctoral level, to predict, to evaluate, to consult on and to solve all predict, to evaluate, to consult on and to solve all aspects of environmental problems. This requires a broad background extending into many disciplines. A student needs courses and experience with experts in a variety of fields. His efforts should not be directed toward specialization within an already specialized discipline, but rather toward understanding how his discipline interacts with others. This is an important difference in outlook. Since the program differs substantially from traditional PhD-degree programs, it merits a new degree.

JPT

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