The Leopold Leadership Program at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University invites mid-career academic environmental scientists from North America (Canada, Mexico and the United States) to apply for the 2008 fellowships that provide scientific leadership, communications and outreach training.

Through a competitive process, the Leopold Leadership Program selects up to 20 Fellows to participate in an intensive training program designed to build and enhance the skills of academic environmental scientists to communicate with policy makers, media representatives, businesses, non-profit organizations, and the general public. The program's mission is to advance environmental decision-making by providing academic environmental scientists with the skills and connections needed to be effective leaders and communicators.

The program seeks candidates with terminal degrees from a broad range of disciplines including biological, physical and social sciences (e.g. economics, political science) and technical, medical and engineering fields (e.g., wildlife veterinary medicine, environmental health, hazardous waste management) related to the environment.  Applicants must be employed by an academic institution in North America, be at mid-career as a tenured or tenure-track professor (associate professor or professor level or equivalent), and be active in teaching and research. Every applicant must demonstrate:

.  a reputation for excellent science, interdisciplinary research, application within their area of professional specialty, and good judgment;

.  a record of making direct connections between defining issues and applying science in ways that support sustainability of the earth's ecosystems;

.  interest, willingness, and an appropriate professional position to actively synthesize, interpret, and communicate the results of their work to their peers, policy makers, the media, and the general public;

.  passion and capacity to exercise leadership in the environmental science and sustainability arenas, and enthusiasm to promote the importance of scientific understanding for improved environmental policies and practices;

.  commitment to participate in the entire two weeks of training and contribute to the program as well as take advantage of its benefits;

.  intent to share what is learned in the training program with students and colleagues and other stakeholders through courses, workshops and broader outreach efforts;

.  ability and desire to remain an active member of the Leopold Leadership Network after the conclusion of the Fellowship year.

The 2008 training schedule is:

 Session I                                                          Session II

Trinity Conference Center, CT                              Washington, D.C.

June 22 - 29, 2008                                              September 12 - 19, 2008

The training is offered in English and focuses on U.S.-based institutions, audiences, and policy making.   Full details and application documents are available online at: www.leopoldleadership.org 

Support for the Leopold Leadership Program is provided by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.