BATTELLE'S PAUL KIRSHEN NAMED TO CLIMATE ADAPTATION EXPERTS COMMITTEES

DUXBURY, Mass.—When it comes to climate change and its impacts, Battelle’s Paul Kirshen, PhD, is at the forefront of study and leadership. His work since starting with Battelle more than a year ago has led to his inclusion on two important committees.

 

Kirshen, a Research Leader in the Environmental Solutions product line of Battelle’s Energy, Environment, and Material Sciences Global Business, works on climate change adaptation. Because of his important work, he has been named a Lead Author for a chapter of the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which is due in 2014. The IPCC is a United Nations body that is charged with developing comprehensive science around climate change and how to adapt to its impacts and how to mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases that are causing change.

 

Kirshen also has been appointed to a committee of the ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability Organization. The ICLEI, founded in 1990 as the “International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives” is a leading non-government association addressing climate change and sustainability. Kirshen has been named a member of ICLEI’s Climate Adaptation Experts Advisory Committee. The new committee, whose strength comes from its broad range of expertise, will provide direction and guidance to ICLEI’s Climate Resilient Communities™ program (CRC) and will enhance the program’s ability and mission to help local governments become more resilient to climate change.

 

“Having Paul work with us and also devote his time to this important work is a valuable way to confront these important issues,” said Tracy Stenner, Vice President and Product Line Manager of Environmental Solutions for Battelle.  “Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time,” she said.

 

A civil engineer, Dr. Kirshen’s work historically has focused on what’s known as the “built” environment, as opposed to the “natural” one. His work at Battelle, including internal research and development programs, now also focuses on collaborating with environmental scientists to address those “natural” systems for clients ranging from municipalities to federal agencies to the United Nations. In addition, he is part of an Environmental Assessment and Measurement group that has a Battelle internal research and development grant on climate change management.
 
“For me, these nominations provide an avenue for learning more about these topics,” Kirshen said. “It’s a reciprocal process—my work at Battelle makes me a better candidate for work like this, and work like this helps me at Battelle.” 

 

Conducting consulting and research on climate change since 1988, Kirshen also is an internationally recognized expert in integrated water resources management.

 

As the world’s largest, independent research and development organization, Battelle provides innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing needs through its four global businesses:  Laboratory Management; National Security; Health and Life Sciences; and Energy, Environment and Material Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $6.5 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization.  Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 22,000 employees in more than 130 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories which Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a nuclear energy lab in the United Kingdom.

 

Battelle also is one of the nation’s leading charitable trusts focusing on societal and economic impact and actively supporting and promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

 

Media contacts: Katy Delaney at (614) 424-7208, delaneyk@battelle.org, or T.R. Massey at (614) 424-5544, masseytr@battelle.org.