2012 Climate Geoengineering Analyst - Howard Holme Position Title: 2012 Climate Geoengineering Analyst Employer Name: Howard Holme Paid Position: Yes Address 1: 5833 Montview Blvd Address 2: City: Denver State: CO Zip: 80207 Phone: 720-838-0200 Fax: Email: HHolme@gmail.com WebAddress: Contact/Supervisor: Supervisor e-mail (if different): Alternate Contact/Supervisor: Alternate Contact's e-mail: Student from previous year (if applicable) : Teng Huang, James Kernochan, Caitlin Fitzpatrick > Student from previous year's email (if applicable): Teng Huang , James Kernochan , Caitlin Fitzpatrick Brief Description of Agency or Firm's Mission: This summer project is to study fertilizing the ocean with iron to reduce global warming, to develop hypotheses to test potential benefits of doing that, and to write articles for publication or persuasion to scientists to test the hypotheses. People have released very large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and we see very rapid increase in temperature, melting of the polar ice cap, and melting in Greenland's ice sheets. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that "most of the observed increase in globally-averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic GHG [Green House Gas] concentrations." Alleviating climate change and reducing global warming may become one of the world's highest priorities. Many scientists have been reluctant to consider geoengineering approaches to alleviating global warming, and expressed concerns about potential unforeseen and undesirable consequences, especially for projects involving the profit motive. However, conferences at Woods Hole and Harvard have considered and endorsed increased geoengineering research and experiments on fertilizing the ocean with iron and approaches such as releasing sulfur compounds to increase albedo or cloud reflectivity. Describe the value of the proposed Internship to the Agency/Firm: The project is to benefit the public and the student, and is sponsored by Howard Holme, Stanford '67 AB in History with distinction and Honors in Humanities, Yale '72 Law. I have been very interested in this topic for about ten years. I want to work with a science or engineering student who is very capable, determined personally to reduce global warming, and planning a career in climate science or related fields. I believe we can develop new or untested hypotheses worthy of publication, or consideration by international or national research groups, or commercial or other groups planning iron fertilization. Describe the value of the proposed Internship to the Intern: A paid position with substantial freedom to develop and promote hypotheses or solutions to deal with one of mankind's most important problems. Work on one or more articles that may be published or may influence important groups. At the least, the work should provide a major start on a senior thesis. Job Description (should include: hours of work, job responsibilities, reporting structure -- chain of command, a description of the intern's "typical" day): The student should be favorably inclined toward, or at least open to, using iron fertilization to benefit the ocean, plankton, biodiversity, fish, fishing, carbon sequestration (sometimes adding an atom of Iron to the ocean can lead to the fixation of more than 100,000 atoms of carbon), and open to reduce the increase in ocean acidification, increase cloud formation, increase sunlight reflection, and reduce global warming. The student should be inclined to using iron fertilization in ways that will maximize net long term benefits--not by eliminating all potential harms but by recognizing potential harms, planning for potential harms, and avoiding or minimizing potential harms while maximizing net long term benefits. Before arrival in Denver, the student will need to have read most papers arising from the dozen international experiments already done on iron fertilization. The student should have given substantial thought to the opportunities and critiques of iron fertilization, and be developing hypotheses to test both. The summer will include about 35 hours per week working closely with and under the supervision of Howard (and preferably with two or three consultations with a university professor to be organized by the student). The student will do very substantial additional work beyond office hours in studying global warming, iron fertilization, and related problems. The work will be primarily research and writing, with discussions with Howard and reaching out to learn from and discuss with experts. Papers of different types and purposes will be written. The student should try to arrange authority from his college for full web access to scientific literature. The work will probably include correspondence and calls with experts, trade groups, environmental groups, lobbyists, nongovernmental and governmental organizations. Management Goals: (should include: role of supervisor, frequency of intermediate reviews, expectations of intern, and an explanation of how the intern fits into the organization's goals -- please indicate whether supervisor works full-time or part-time): Thoroughly to understand, qualitatively, and quantitatively to the extent studied closely by the student, the past scientific literature dealing specifically with iron fertilization of the ocean. Generally to understand the past scientific literature on closely related topics. To develop useful hypotheses for advancing the field, and to communicate them effectively. Daily supervision and discussion is expected. The student is expected to be passionately interested, highly capable, and to want to use this as an opportunity to begin creating an extremely important career. Special Job Requirements (i.e. transportation, language, technical or other skills): Graduating seniors or graduate students are preferred, juniors or seniors are required. Along with the normal application, please submit copies of high school and college transcripts; report SAT scores, computer hardware and software courses, certifications, and skills. Submit one suggestion, and your reasons, for a hypothesis to test a potential benefit from the use of iron fertilization of the ocean. These should be submitted to hholme@gmail.com Additional Information: Transportation is the responsibility of the intern. nternational Students: You will need to apply for permission from immigration to work off campus (Optional Practical Training) to engage in a BAA internship. OPT applications can take up to three months for immigration to process, so advance planning is required. These applications must be submitted through the Office of International Students and Scholars. For full information on the OPT application process go to http://www.yale.edu/oiss/immigration/common/f1students/opt.html or contact monica.weeks@yale.edu.