2009-2010 Mark Coleman Fellowship on the Environment
Application deadline: April 8, 2009
“Wind Energy: The future for Oklahoma?”

Many experts are predicting that wind generated electricity will be the next major growth opportunity in the Oklahoma energy industry.

• What are Oklahoma's assets that drive this prediction?
• What are the obstacles to the growth of the wind industry in Oklahoma?
• Who are the winners as this industry develops?
• Are any stakeholders losers in this process?
• What are the potential role and economic niche for distributed vs. centrally generated electricity?

In order to address the question in depth, the Coleman Fellow will need to explore the ecological and environmental impacts of power and transmission, the associated technical and engineering issues, demand and markets for wind power, as well as the legal and regulatory issues. To do this, the Fellow will conduct archival research, including such sources as local newspapers and environmental agency regulations and publications. The Fellow will visit various wind and energy related agencies, boards and commissions, engineers, business leaders, attorneys, and activists, and identify and interview key stakeholders and players.
Through this research, the Fellow will develop an understanding of the history of wind power production and energy transmission in Oklahoma, the geographic and ecological context of Oklahoma's wind sources, socio-economic aspects underlying wind power, and the laws and regulations pertaining to use and management of wind power.

The Fellow will work with Professor Deborah W. Dalton and the Advisory Committee to further refine and focus the topic into a written proposal during the Fall semester, and develop the final paper and presentation during the Spring semester.

Length of Fellowship
The Fellowship period runs for the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters. The Fellow must be able to put in time doing research during both semesters. The Coleman Fellow will also be expected to continue working actively on the project through the winter break.

Eligibility Requirements
All full-time, regularly enrolled undergraduate OU students from any major are eligible to apply. You must be scheduled to graduate no sooner than May 2010 and no later than May 2011. You will need to be able to travel to other parts of Oklahoma -- this means having the time and access to a vehicle. Travel will be reimbursed at the current OU mileage reimbursement rate.
The successful applicant will be the student who demonstrates curiosity about how complex problems are viewed from different approaches and has the ability to make connections between them. Strong writing and research (both archival and Internet) skills, as well as the ability to travel, are important. The ability to work independently, follow through, meet deadlines, and behave in a professional manner will be important. A background in environmental issues is not necessary.

Timetable
Spring 2009

• March 23, 2009 - Coleman Fellowship announced.
• April 8, 2009 - Completed applications (including letters of recommendation) are due ELECTRONICALLY to Prof. Deborah W. Dalton by 5:00 p.m.
• April 15 to 24, 2009 - Interviews of those selected for the short list will be conducted. Applicants must be available for the interview.
• May 1, 2009 - The Coleman Fellow will be announced.

Fall 2009

• The Coleman Fellow will enroll in 1 credit hour or IPE 3810 for Fall 2009 and begin work.  (Note: Fellowship will reimburse student for tuition/fees for 1 hour of IPE 3810 at in-state rate in June 2010.)
• The product for the end of the Fall semester will be a detailed written proposal to guide the work in the Spring 2010 semester.

Spring 2010

• The Coleman Fellow will enroll in 2 credit hours of IPE 3810. (Note: Fellowship will reimburse student for tuition/fees for 2 hours of IPE 3810 at in-state rate in June 2010).
• The public presentation must be given no later than the first week in April, 2010.
• The final paper is due no later than the last day of exams in May, 2010.
• Coleman Fellow receives stipend and reimbursements by the end of June, 2010.

How to Apply
All applications must be sent via email to Prof. Dalton at dalton@ou.edu and include the following information:

• Your name
• Your OU Sooner I.D. number
• Your local address
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Your major
• Your anticipated graduation date
• The names of two references who will then send their letters of recommendation addressing your research and writing skills and work ethic via email directly to Prof. Deborah W. Dalton at dalton@ou.edu
• a resume listing work and academic experience;
• a writing sample (e.g., a copy of a paper or research project written for a course)

On a separate page(s), please submit via email to Prof. Dalton (dalton@ou.edu) a personal statement explaining how specific aspects of your work and academic experience demonstrate that you possess one or more of the qualifications listed for the Coleman Fellowship. Please limit your statement to 500 words.

Submission Details Recapped
To reiterate: to be considered, applications must include:

• the personal information listed above;
• a resume listing work and academic experience;
• a writing sample (e.g., a copy of a paper or research project written for a course);
• two letters of recommendation from professors familiar with your research and writing skills and work ethic. These letters should be submitted electronically directly from the professor to Dalton@ou.edu.

All materials must be submitted electronically to Professor Deborah Dalton at dalton@ou.edu no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 8, 2009.

The Purpose of the Coleman Fellowship

Its purpose is to demonstrate to students the value of a multidisciplinary approach to environmental issues. The program emphasizes the role that a number of different professional perspectives play in the resolution of actual or potential environmental disputes. The student becomes familiar with various categories of stakeholders that often are involved in environmental issues, their differing interests, and also styles of communicating those interests that each may employ. The student should come away with an appreciation of the need for effective communications among stakeholders from different backgrounds and exhibiting different interests. By interacting with professionals in the field and persons representing various environmental interests, the student could be expected to gain a first-hand appreciation of the challenges to and opportunities for effective communications among various interests.

The Mark Coleman Fellowship on the Environment was established by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Environment Program (IPE) in 2001 to honor the first Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. Funding for the Coleman Fellowship is provided primarily by ConocoPhillips and the Environmental Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association. The fellowship gives an OU undergraduate student the opportunity to research thoroughly all sides of an environmental issue facing Oklahoma.

The Fellow will be graded by the Director of the IPE Program based on the depth and quality of the background research, evaluations of interviews and observations, the written report, and the public presentation.