Photo of Robert C. Worrest in front of U.S. Capitol CIESIN logo

Robert C. Worrest

Senior Research Scientist
CIESIN, Columbia University
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive (MS-302)
Reston, VA 20192-0002 (USA)


Dr. Worrest (Senior Research Scientist, Columbia University and CIESIN's Associate Director for Washington Operations) is currently on detail at the U.S. Geological Survey serving as Chief Scientist for the National Biological Information Infrastructure. He has had more than 30 years of experience in ecological research and assessment related to environmental change and variability. He is a member of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Assessment Panel on Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion and has numerous publications regarding the effects of stratospheric ozone depletion on the biosphere. He contributed to the Climatic Impact Assessment Program related to potential impacts of SSTs on the ozone layer and was a member of the U.S. delegation for the UNEP Coordinating Committee on the Ozone Layer. In 1997, at the tenth anniversary celebration of the Montreal Protocol, he was awarded the UNEP Global Ozone Award for outstanding service for the protection of the ozone layer.

Before joining CIESIN, Dr. Worrest served as Program Manager for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Global Change Research Program and for the U.S. EPA Stratospheric Ozone Research Program. Prior to joining EPA, he was a Member of the Graduate Faculty, Oregon State University, Professor of Radiation Biology as final status.

The Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) is an Internet-based data and information center that specializes in research and development of data and data services related to human interactions in the environment. It became part of the Columbia University Earth Institute in 1998, with headquarters at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. The Center specializes in the integration of socioeconomic and natural science data, and facilitates the analysis and visualization of these data. It uses advanced information technology to develop tools for accessing and disseminating data, metadata, and information. It has won numerous awards for its innovative efforts to provide comprehensive, user-friendly data and information on the Internet. Drawing on the rapidly evolving capabilities of the information sciences and building on scientific research on data integration, the Center helps natural scientists and social scientists work together productively. Because of this work, CIESIN has been designated the World Data Center for Human Interactions in the Environment by the International Council of Scientific Unions. CIESIN operates the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) for NASA and the U.S. Global Change Research Information Office for the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the White House National Science and Technology Council. In addition, CIESIN is a designated NGO in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Dr. Worrest's past experience includes serving as Director of the U.S. Global Change Research Information Office (GCRIO), as well as U.S. EPA Staff Member of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984), and the Interagency Arctic Policy Working Group. He was a member of the U.S. delegation that planned and promulgated the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy and its attendant Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Plan. He also served as EPA Staff Member for Subcommittee on Global Change Research Task Groups, Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology; Member, Steering Committee, Joint Climate Project to Address Decision Makers' Uncertainties; Member, Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Directorate, U.S. Man and the Biosphere Program; President, Pacific Estuarine Research Society; Governing Board, Estuarine Research Federation; U.S. representative, WMO/UNEP Preparatory Meeting of Ozone Research Managers for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer; and World Health Organization Task Group on Environmental Health Criteria Document for Fully Halogenated Chlorofluorocarbons.

Dr. Worrest received his Ph.D. in Radiation Biology, Physiology, and Zoology from Oregon State University.

Publications


For further information, contact Robert C. Worrest at rworrest@ciesin.columbia.edu
Last modified 27 February 2004