On Thursday, July 25, 2024, the Environmental Justice Subcommittee of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy convened a half-day workshop to launch the Environmental Justice Science, Data and Research Plan. This plan was developed in response to Executive Order 14096--Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All. The effort was led by the White House and included all branches of the federal government.
SUP Program Director Dr. Sandra Whitehead and professor Dr. Michelle Hawkins were recognized at the event for their contributions to the plan. Dr. Hawkins, whose full-time job is Climate Resilience and Community Action Program Manager at NASA, spoke about how the agency is using satellite and weather data to inform projects and programs affecting communities experiencing environmental injustices--particularly those associated with climate change.
Dr. Whitehead received recognition for her contributions to the sections on assessing and addressing cumulative impacts associated with structural factors such as systemic racism and redlining. Her work on cumulative impact assessment stems from her service on the U.S. EPA's National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, where she co-chaired a work group on the topic.