Location:Room 301, Old Geology Building
Topic:MERCURY, COAL, AND POWER: How Environmental Policy Evolves in the United States and in the World
Introduction of Speaker:
Dr. Donald Barnes is retired after more than 20 years of service at the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in Washington, DC, where he was a member of the Senior Executive Service serving most recently as the Director of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) of USEPA. Under his leadership, the SAB produced hundreds of reports and conducted hundreds of public meetings examining the scientific and technical underpinnings of USEPA regulations designed to protect public health and the environment. Prior to leading the SAB, Dr. Barnes enjoyed ten years as Senior Science Advisor to the Assistant Administrator for Pesticides and Toxic Substances. During his career, he was three times award the Gold Medal for Outstanding Service, the USEPA’s highest award, for a range of accomplishments in scientific risk assessment and the scientific basis for regulation of dioxin compounds. Prior to joining USEPA, Dr. Barnes taught at St. Andrews Presbyterian College, for ten years, where he rose to become the Chair of the Division of Mathematical, Natural, and Health Sciences. He received a PhD in chemistry (with a chemical physics focus) from Florida State University for research conducted at the University’s Institute of Molecular Biophysics.