RADFORD – Skip Watts, interim chair of Radford University’s Department of Geology, is part of a team of environmental specialists and earth scientists who have authored a transition document aimed to provide a blueprint for president-elect Barack Obama in critical areas of energy, natural resources, environmental quality and natural hazards.

The document, Critical Needs for the Twenty First Century: The Role of the Geosciences, outlines policy actions needed to face environmental challenges with the help of the science community. Seven specific needs crucial to future world health and well-being are identified in the blueprint document: energy and climate change; water; waste disposal; natural hazards; infrastructure; raw materials; and education and workforce.

Among the recommendations for the incoming is the immediate establishment of a natural resource advisor within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. This person would advise the president on stewardship of natural resources, and encourage investing in research and development to understand earth processes “because sustainable consumption and conservation of resources, enhancement of environmental quality and resilience from risk depend on living with our dynamic planet,” Watts said.

Critical Needs for the Twenty First Century was created by the Governmental Affairs Advisory Committee of the American Geological Institute, a coalition of 45 professional associations representing more than 100,000 earth scientists. Watts has represented the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists on this advisory committee since 2003.

Watts was named a Congressional Science Fellow by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Geological Society of America for 2001 and 2002. During that time, he served on U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman’s staff as a science and technology advisor for transportation, telecommunications, and natural hazard issues. Watts later was named the 2003 national Jahns Distinguished Lecturer on Science and Public Policy.

The 20-page final transition document can be accessed at www.agiweb.org/gap/trans08.html.