Air Quality & Climate Change Planner
B.S. EAS 2004
D'Onofrio
David
Atlanta Regional Commission
Atlanta, Georgia
What is your favorite part of your current position:
My job helps bridge the divide between public administration and the environment. I really enjoy making sure environmental impacts are considered as part of the transportation project decision-making to help improve air quality. I also get to spend time on air quality and climate change related research projects of my choosing which keeps the job from getting redundant.
How did your EAS education prepare you for your current job?:
Most importantly, EAS gave me a solid background in the scientific process which improved my critical thinking skills. My job involves transportation emissions modeling and knowledge about atmospheric chemistry has been helpful there as well. Research experience I had as an undergrad helped develop a foundation of methodologies that I still use today to work on air quality and climate change related research projects at ARC.
What do you wish you had known as an EAS undergraduate in order to land the job of your dreams?:
I think the w+E24:G25orld needs many more people that can serve as scientific interpreters; helping to ensure science-based decision-making is operationalized across all levels of governments. [I decided to go into the] public sector, where I could apply science to help inform decision-making [after obtaining a] Masters in City Planning.
