1. Roberto Mera NCSU/UNCA August 28 th, 2008 An Update on the Development of an MS in Climate Change and Society (CC&S)

2. Partners UNC-Asheville NCDC NC State University UNC-Wilmington Oak Ridge National Laboratory Appalachian State University WildSouth Progress Energy The Nature Conservancy CC&S Associations

3. Research areas covered this summer Will there be opportunities available for graduates of the program? What skills sets are the application sectors looking for from graduates of the program? What input can other educational institutions provide? Identifying prospective students CC&S

4. Research Projects and Internships The CC&S program will include either a research project as a capstone at the end of the degree or an internship with an identified industry or government / non- profit organization Every contact available wanted to be a part of the CC&S project

5. CC&S Internships & Opportunities A list of 30-40 internships have been identified from the following: –NCDC, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Forest Service, NC State Climate Office, Unison Engine Components, Volvo North America, Mission Hospitals, Henderson Co., Durham Co., Orange Co., Town of Chapel Hill, City of Asheville, Biltmore Estate, Nature Conservancy, Progress Energy, Land of Sky, NC State Energy Office, SRC, AquaTerra, WildSouth

6. CC&S Skills sets Views varied according to the application but tended to overlap as well In summary: –For non-profits/government: communication skills, legislative policy, marketing, politics, economics, basic science, planning, GIS, social marketing –For industries: basic science, engineering, working knowledge of models, economics, GIS, technical knowledge

7. Input from other Educational Institutions A number of institutions were contacted to get additional information for CC&S Institutions included WCU, NCSU, UNC- Chapel Hill, Northern Illinois, Univ. of South Carolina, Univ. of Arizona, Duke CC&S

8. Input from other Educational Institutions Input varied from support to suggestions such as: –Start with a local base of partners –Exchange of information, classes between institutions –Faculty and curriculum CC&S

9. Prospective students Undergraduate students Mid-career students 10-15 potential students Backgrounds vary from economics to environmental sciences, visual arts, non-profit organiza- tions, engineering, meteorologists, planners, government, business administration, ecology CC&S

10. Finalizing work To summarize all interviews and work done for CC&S, I have created a database that includes contact information for all parties, number of internships available, future opportunities, prospective students, as well as skills and curriculum suggestions CC&S

11. Database Layout

12. Credits Marjorie McGuirk, Sandra Byrd, Fred Semazzi, Gerard Voos, Sharon LeDuc, Tami Houston, Jim Fox, Lenny Bernstein, Ray Denny, Scott Shuford, Mary Carol Koester, Bill Jackson, Susan Fox, Matt Hutchins, Jeff Hicks, Wayne Faas, David Easterling, Tom Peterson, Greg Wilson, Dave Brown, Greg Hammer, Eileen Shea, Max Lennon, Rick Robinson, Steve McNulty, Ryan Boyles, Alan Thornburg, Paul Hudspeth, NEMAC team, Southern Research Station Team, Team NCDC, and my wife CC&S