27
February
2009
|
09:58 AM
America/Los_Angeles

Victoria Fabry Selected as 2009 Leopold Leadership Fellow

Victoria Fabry Selected as 2009 Leopold Leadership FellowDr. Victoria Fabry, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, has been awarded a Leopold Leadership Fellowship for 2009. Based at Stanford University's Woods Institute for the Environment, the Leopold Leadership Program was founded in 1998 to help academic scientists make their scientific knowledge accessible to decision makers. Each year the program selects up to 20 mid-career academic environmental scientists as fellows. They receive intensive communication and leadership training to help them deliver scientific information more effectively to journalists, policymakers, business leaders, and the public.Dr. Fabry was chosen for outstanding qualifications as a scientist, demonstrated leadership ability, and strong interest in communicating science beyond traditional academic audiences. Her current research is on the impact of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems. Each fellow participates in two week-long training sessions that include practice media interviews and testimony at a mock congressional hearing. The fellowship also offers peer networking and mentoring through the Leadership Network of program advisors, trainers and past fellows."Academic scientists work hard to understand environmental problems and to develop potential solutions, but actually solving problems requires a two-way flow of information and communication between scientists and decision makers" said Pamela Matson, dean of Stanford University's School of Earth Sciences and scientific director of the program. "The Leopold Leadership Program trains academics to close the gap between knowledge and action."The Leopold Leadership Program is funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.