Synopsis

Thirty years of international experience in environmental science and policy, especially in the development of innovative methods to model and simulate the regional and global environment. 

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Overview 

Joseph Alcamo is Director and Professor at the Center for Environmental Systems Research of the University of Kassel, Germany where he leads the development and application of global environmental models. He is an American, and received his doctorate in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Davis.

He is a Coordinating Lead Author of the most recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (Weltklimarat) on climate change impacts. He was responsible for coordinating the chapter on climate impacts in Europe. Alcamo has worked for 14 years with the IPCC and has been a lead author of many of its reports, including the report published in 2000 in which the IPCC presented scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions. For nearly a decade, these scenarios have been a central basis for calculating future climate change. In 2007, the IPCC and Al Gore were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

He has published five books on global environmental themes including the 1998 book “Global Change Scenarios of the the 21st Century” (Pergamon Press). His fifth book, "Environmental Futures", has just been published by Elsevier and is the first book-length description of the methodology of environmental scenario analysis.

He is co-founder and co-Chair of the Global Water System Project, set up by four international global change research organizations to promote a global perspective on water research and policy. He is has also been a leading author of the global report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and UNEP`s recently published report on the worldwide environment entitled “A Global Environmental Outlook - 4.”

For his contributions to the development of global modeling, and for his applications of global models to policymaking, Alcamo was co-winner of the 1998 Max Planck Research Prize, an international prize jointly awarded by the Max-Planck Society and Humboldt Foundation of Germany. He was the first environmental scientist to win the award. 

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International Scientific Management. Extensive experience in leading international groups of researchers. Leadership of complex scientific projects in four countries (USA, Austria, the Netherlands and Germany). Director of major environmental research center - Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel, Germany. (Volume of outside funding: approx. 1.5 million euro per annum). Coordinator (with J. Kämäri) of major European Union project to study the future of Europe's water resources (23 project partners from throughout Europe; project volume: 10.3 million euro over four years.)

Integrated Modeling of the Environment: One of the main developers of a new method for analysis of the environment - integrated modeling. Played a key role in developing some of the best known examples of these models including the RAINS model of acidification in Europe, the IMAGE 2 model of global environmental change, and the WaterGAP model of global water use and availability.

Global Modeling and Assessment of Water Resources: Led development of first global model describing water availability and water use with river basin resolution, the WaterGAP model. Played major role in global water assessments of the World Water Commission, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, and other international studies. Co-founder and Chair (with C. Vörösmarty) of Global Water System Project of the Earth System Science Partnership.

Linkage of Science with Policy: A main advocate of using models to support international environmental policy -  The RAINS model has been used to develop an international treaty for reducing acid rain emissions in Europe; The IMAGE 2 model was used by many delegations in negotiations leading to the Kyoto Protocol of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. Co-developer of concept of safe emissions corridors, which is frequently used in global climate policy discussions to estimate "acceptable" global greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental Scenario Analysis.  A main promoter and developer of new scenario analysis techniques as a way to bridge science, policy, and stakeholder interests. Developed "Story and Simulation" (SAS) approach to scenario analysis which combines storylines from stakeholders with quantitative scenarios generated by modeling groups.

Global Change Science and Climate Impact Studies: Contributed to the understanding of the processes of global environmental change, including findings on changes in the global water system, large-scale land cover change, and the regional linkage between acidification and climate change, and the impacts of climate change on food and water supply.

Eastern European Environment: Very active in promoting East-West cooperation in studying air pollution problems in Europe, and helping to set priorities for dealing with environmental problems in Eastern Europe after the political changes in 1989. 

Awards and Honors

Max Planck Research Prize (Category: physics & geoscience). International prize jointly awarded by the Max-Planck Society and Humboldt Foundation of Germany. Awarded for contributions to global modeling, and the use of global models in international policy. (1998)

Active member and contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. (Coordinating Lead Author 2005-7 and 1994-5; Lead Author 1999-2001 and 1998-2000; Contributing Author 1995).

Elected member, German National Committee on Global Change Research (NKGCF); (2006-10).

Director's Prize for Research, National Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, Warsaw (1986). 

Scholarship for Young Scientists Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria (1981).

Academic awards during study: U.S. EPA Traineeship Scholarship for Graduate Study (1974-5); Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities (1971-3); N.Y. State Regents Scholarship (1969-73).

Education

Ph.D., Civil-Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis; atmospheric science and systems analysis

Masters, Environmental Engineering, Manhattan College, N.Y. mathematical modeling of water quality, water quality management

Bachelors, Civil Engineering, Manhattan College, N.Y. water supply and pollution control

1996 - Present

UNIVERSITY OF KASSEL,  GERMANY

Director,  Center for Environmental Systems Research.  The Center has 4 research groups working in the following areas: global and regional modeling of the environment;  simulation of human behavior and the natural environment;  methods of watershed management; and product life cycle analyses and environmental balances.

Full University-Professor (C4) -- Chair of Environmental Systems Science and Engineering.

Leader, Group on Global and Regional Dynamics within the Center for Environmental Systems Research. Steering the development of a new integrated models of global water use and availability and global land use change. Developing new approaches to global integrated modeling, and for providing advice to international climate policymakers as part of on-going climate negotiations.

Founder and President (Sprecher) of Graduate Center for Environmental Studies and Research, the first graduate school for the environment in Germany.

1992-1996

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (RIVM), The Netherlands

Leader, Project on Modeling Global Climate Change (IMAGE 2 Model)

Major effort of Dutch government and scientific community (25 scientists) to build an integrated assessment model, IMAGE 2, for the global environment and climate change. The model is currently being used in IPCC Working Groups I, II, and III, and for national and international analysis of scientific/policy issues concerning the Climate Convention. The IMAGE 2 model "is an important step towards an integrated approach to global change science" (T. Rosswall, Exec. Director, IGBP quoted in Journal of Water, Air, Soil Pollution, 1994, Vol. 76, Nos. 1-2).

1982-1991

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED SYSTEMS ANALYSIS (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria

Leader, Project on Toxic Pollution and the European Environment.

Developed first European-scale model of toxic metals in the atmosphere in order to study transboundary transport of these substances. Coordinated International Task Force on "Environment in Eastern Europe", and prepared recommendations on "Emergency Environmental Protection in Eastern Europe" (see publications list).

Co-founder and Deputy Leader, Acid Rain Project

Developed the successful integrated, scientific model of acid rain in Europe, RAINS, which has been used in negotiations of a major European treaty to control acid deposition. The RAINS model has been called "one of IIASA's outstanding achievements" (Ambio, 1990, Vol. 19(5):270).

1990

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, POLAND  Warsaw

Scientific Advisor

Advised senior ministry officials regarding: air pollution episode prediction in cities; transboundary air pollution impact of Poland; planning largest air quality management study ever undertaken in Eastern Europe.

1981

LAWRENCE BERKELEY LABORATORY  Berkeley, California

Guest Research Scientist

Participated in first in-depth analysis of energy conservation potential of Kenya's economy.

1980

SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS, INC.  San Rafael, California

Staff Scientist

Analysed and reviewed the capabilities of an urban air quality model for the Electric Power Research Institute.

1975-1980

HYDROSCIENCE, INC. Walnut Creek, California

Project Engineer and Manager

Supervised and conducted a wide range of water quality studies, including the development and application of mathematical models to rivers, estuaries, and coastal regions.

Western Nigeria -  Co-designed, supervised oceanography study of Nigeria's coastal zone, coordinated development of water quality model of inland and coastal waters, co-designed water quality management plan for Lagos area.

San Francisco Bay Delta; Suisun Bay - Tested and improved state-of-the art ecological models for analysing water quality impacts of hydrologic projects.

San Joaquin River, CA;  Jordan River, Utah; Indian Creek, Idaho - Developed, tested, and applied river models to assess impact of water pollution sources and to develop water quality management plans for river basins.

1975

NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES, INC. Manchester, New Hampshire

Environmental Engineer

Developed and applied water quality model of Merrimack River to assess impact of water pollution sources

1974

TIPPETS, ABBOT, McCARTHY, STRATTON  New York, New York

Environmental Engineer

Evaluated noise pollution of proposed highways.

1973

COLIN A. HOUSTON & ASSOCIATES Mamaroneck, New York

Environmental Engineer

Developed pollution control guidelines for household product manufacturers.

Selected
Scientific
Activities

Chair (with C. Vörösmarty) of Scientific Steering Committee of the Global Water System Project (Joint Project of IGBP, IHDP, WCRP, Diversitas). (2004-present). Chair of Framing/Planning Committee (2003-2004) 

Visiting Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore, India (October, 2005 - March, 2006). 

Coordinating Lead Author, Global Environmental Outlook - 4,  United Nations Environment Programme (2005 - 2007)

Elected Member, German National Committee on Global Change Research (NKGCF), (2006-10).

Member of Scientific Steering Committee of the Land Use and Cover Change (LUCC) Programme of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Change (IHDP) and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). (2002-2004). 

Co-founder, Member of Executive Committee, and Professor of International Max Planck Research School for Earth Systems Modeling (2001-present).

Coordinating Lead Author, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2002-2006).

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (1993-present) including Convening Lead Author of European Assessment in Working Group II (2004-2006), Lead Author in Working Group III of the Third Assessment (1999 to 2002), Lead Author of Special Report on Emission Scenarios (1997-2000), and Convening Lead Author of Evaluation of IPCC Scenarios (1993-1995).

Guest Lecturer and Scholar, Institute for International Studies, Center for Environmental Science and Policy, and Earth Science Faculty, Stanford University, California (September, 2000 - March, 2001).

Public Policy Scholar, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C.  (October, 1999).

Member of Editorial Board,  Environmental Science and Policy, Regional Environmental Change, Journal of Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change (1999-2002).

Referee for the following international journals (partial listing): Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment; Ambio; Atmospheric Environment;, Climatic Change; Ecological Modeling; Global Environmental Change;  Water, Air, and Soil Pollution.

Member of Steering Committee, European Forum for Integrated Environmental Assessment.

Co-leader of contributions to Core Projects "Global change and terrestrial ecosystems" and "Land use and cover change" of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program.

Co-founder (1986) and Officer (1989-1997) of European Association for the Science of Air Pollution (EURASAP), one of the first East-West scientific associations concerned with the environment.

Member of Balaton Group, international network of environmental scientists concerned with cooperation in global environmental studies (1985-present).

Service on Review Committees

Chairman, Evaluation Panel of the SENSE Research School, a national environmental research and doctoral program of seven universities in the Netherlands. (2007)

Chairman, Evaluation Panel of Environmental Research Program of the Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria. (2006).

Member of National Selection Committee for Executive Director of Max Planck Institute of Biogeochemical Cycles, Jena, Germany. (2004-5).

Reviewer of PhD. proposals for Institute of Environmental Research (WIMEK) of University of Wageningen, the Netherlands. (2005)

Member of national panel responsible for comprehensive review of environmental research of the Helmholz Research Organization, Germany. (2003)

Member of national panel responsible for reviewing research proposals under the ATMOS program of the German Research Ministry. (2000-2003).

Member (and chairman) of several selection committees for faculty positions at the University of Kassel, Germany (1998-on).

Member of international review panel of Finnish national climate change research program (1996). 

Member of international review panel of Finnish national acidification research program (HAPRO) (1989).

Member of Advisory Committee of the International Atomic Energy Agency on analysis of Chernobyl data (1987-88).

University-Related Activities 

Founding President (Sprecher) of  the first graduate school for environmental studies in Germany.  "Graduate Center for Environmental Studies and Research, University of Kassel". This institution coordinates 13 Masters' programs and 3 doctoral programs in the environmental area. (2006-present).

• Environmental informatics
• Global energy situation and its environmental consequences
• Earth systems modeling
• Global environmental problems
• Scenario analysis
• Introduction to environmental and systems science

Service on Committees at the University of Kassel

Chair, Standing Doctoral Committee (Promotionsauschuß für Dr. rer. Nat.),  Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics

Member, Standing Curriculum Committee of the Engineering Management Program, Faculty of Economics.

Member of University Committee on Ethics

Member of University Committee on Internationalizing the Universit

Supervisor of 14 doctoral students (status: 2009)