ACE

Category: Black History Month

  • Warren Washington – Environmental Policy

    Image source: https://www.popsci.com/warren-washington-nobel-prize-of-climate-change/

    Warren Washington is a brilliant and celebrated atmospheric scientist whose efforts have garnered him a multitude of prestigious awards, including the National Medal of Science and the Nobel Peace Prize. Washington was born in Portland, Oregon in 1936, a time in which African Americans comprised only 1% of the state’s entire population. Although he was the target of racial discrimination throughout his life, Washington never let those difficult barriers hold him back. After becoming the second African American to earn a Ph.D. in atmospheric science, Washington went on to work for the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Over the years, he has worked to develop highly advanced atmospheric models aimed at better understanding the effects of climate change. His never-ending research dramatically expands our knowledge of the world around us, and Washington continues to be an inspiration to all. 

    Learn more:

    1. https://www.cgd.ucar.edu/staff/wmw/
    2. https://www.popsci.com/warren-washington-nobel-prize-of-climate-change/
    3. https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/warren-morton-washington-41
    4. https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/medalofscience50/washington.jsp

    This blog post was written by Clarisse Goetzen, an ACE Student Fellow at the University of California – Davis. Clarisse’s work at ACE focuses on environmental policy.

  • Margie Richard – Environmental Policy

    In 2004, Margie Richard, a powerful and persistent environmental activist, became the first African American recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize. Born and raised along a region of the Mississippi River often referred to as “Cancer Alley,” Richard watched as many in her community developed health issues ranging from bronchitis to bacterial infections to cancer. After recognizing that many of those ailments and deaths were linked to pollution from the nearby Shell power plant and oil refinery, Richard knew she had to take action. Over the next few years, Richard led a community campaign against Shell. Despite it being a long and difficult battle, Shell finally agreed to reduce its emissions, provide a $5 million community development fund, fully relocate all residents within Richard’s neighborhood, and more. This Black History Month, we honor Richard’s hard work and extraordinary accomplishments for both people and the environment.

    Learn more:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20101022054404/http://www.goldmanprize.org/node/100

    https://www.goldmanprize.org/recipient/margie-richard/

    https://multiplier.org/2017/02/black-history-month-honoring-marjorie-richard/

    This blog post was written by Clarisse Goetzen, an ACE Student Fellow at the University of California – Davis. Clarisse’s work at ACE focuses on environmental policy.

  • Dr. Robert D. Bullard – Environmental Policy

    Image from: https://www.jodisolomonspeakers.com/speaker/robert-bullard

    Dr. Robert D. Bullard is widely recognized as the father of environmental justice, and one of the most prominent environmental activists of the last century. Bullard began examining systemic environmental injustices in the late 1970’s after noticing that every landfill in Houston was located in predominantly black neighborhoods, despite African Americans only accounting for 25% of the city’s population. Since then, Bullard has gone on to publish a wide variety of books addressing environmental issues, serve as a Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University, and even contribute towards Bill Clinton’s 1991 Executive Order ensuring that all federal agencies include environmental justice as part of their overall missions. This Black History Month, we congratulate and sincerely thank Bullard for his significant contributions towards a more environmentally equitable future.

    Learn more:

    1. https://drrobertbullard.com/biography/
    2. https://www.unenvironment.org/championsofearth/laureates/2020/robert-bullard
    3. https://grist.org/article/dicum/

    This blog post was written by Clarisse Goetzen, an ACE Student Fellow at the University of California – Davis. Clarisse’s work at ACE focuses on environmental policy.

  • Celebrating Black History Month

    ACE is celebrating Black History Month by recognizing Black achievements in our fields of research. From environmental policy to public health to foreign policy, achievements by Black Americans often do not receive the attention they deserve.