Union of Concerned Scientists

Kevin Knobloch. Kevin Knobloch brings 32 years of experience in public policy, government, advocacy and media to his job as leader of Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). He is knowledgeable about a range of environmental and national security issues, including global warming, natural resource and clean energy economics, renewable and efficient vehicle technologies, nuclear weapons, forest management and corporate responsibility, as well… See full bio.

Lynn Pallotta Membership Manager Oct 21, 2010

The Union of Concerned Scientists seeks to apply the best available science to better understand the multifaceted challenges facing us, their potential solutions, and the complicated choices and trade-offs among policy pathways. We seek to identify and eliminate systemic obstacles… Read More.

Story: Founded in 1969, UCS was born out of a teach-in organized by a group of scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to protest the militarization of scientific research and promote science in the public interest. The gathering took place during the height of the Vietnam War—in the same year Cleveland's heavily polluted Cuyahoga River caught fire. Appalled by how the U.S. government was misusing science, UCS founders drafted a statement calling for scientific research to be directed away from military technologies to solving pressing environmental and social problems. To that end, UCS initially focused the spotlight on defense-related research, nuclear weapons, and nuclear power. Over the past four decades UCS has broadened its focus to encompass other critical science-related issues, including climate change, energy, transportation, sustainable agriculture, and scientific integrity in the federal government. Over that time UCS' influence on the public debate has grown. (Source: http://www.ucsusa.org/about/ucs-history-over-40-years.html)

Evidence of Impact Summary:

UCS helped craft and pass AB 32. They succeeded in pressuring the CA Public Utilities Commission to approve the largest solar energy program in US history. And, in the 1990s, UCS helped convince California to require SUVs and light trucks to meet the same tailpipe emission standards as cars. Eventually they won higher fuel economy standards, expanding the use of clean, renewable electricity by passing renewable standards in 26 states.
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Organization Strengths Summary:

UCS has built up a strong reputation because so much of their work is scientifically based. They have great leaders, work very well in coalitions, keep costs low, and have been effective at marketing their information in an understandable way for all audiences.
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Areas for Improvement Summary:

Some experts believe UCS would be more effective if they were better at translating and marketing their high quality, scientifically based research to the public and communities. They should also focus more on at the grassroots level and try to collaborate more at the local level. It seems they have had trouble building and keeping sufficient staff members, so there's room for improvement in that category as well.
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Kevin Knobloch brings 32 years of experience in public policy, government, advocacy and media to his job as leader of Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). He is knowledgeable about a range of environmental and national security issues, including global warming, natural resource and clean energy economics, renewable and efficient vehicle technologies, nuclear weapons, forest management and corporate responsibility, as well as legislative strategy and procedure. Kevin was named President of UCS in December 2003, after four years as the Executive Director. Earlier in his career, from 1989 to 1992, he served as UCS’s Legislative Director for Arms Control and National Security. Kevin currently oversees all of the organization's programs and operations. He recently served as chair of the Green Group, a coalition of the CEOs of 32 national environmental organizations, and currently serves as co-chair of the Green Group Climate and Energy Committee. He led UCS delegations to the United Nations International Climate negotiations in Montreal in 2005, Bali in 2007, Poznan in 2008, and Copenhagen in 2009. During six years on Capitol Hill in the 1980s, Kevin was the legislative director for U.S. Senator Timothy Wirth (D-CO) and legislative assistant and press secretary for U.S. Representative Ted Weiss (D-NY). He later served as director of conservation programs for the Appalachian Mountain Club in Boston. He began his career as an award-winning newspaper journalist, writing for several Massachusetts publications. He recently completed eight years on the board of directors of the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) and serves on the Environmental League of Massachusetts board of directors. He is also cofounder and former president of the Arlington (MA) Land Trust. Kevin holds a master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, with a focus on natural resource economics and environmental management, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he concentrated in English and journalism. He is married to Nicole St. Clair Knobloch and has two teenage daughters, Tori and Molly.

Lynn Pallotta Membership Manager Oct 21, 2010

The Union of Concerned Scientists seeks to apply the best available science to better understand the multifaceted challenges facing us, their potential solutions, and the complicated choices and trade-offs among policy pathways. We seek to identify and eliminate systemic obstacles to the progress we need, and address emerging dangers in ways that connect with people’s lives—thus building support for strong and decisive action. Specifically, we will: • Expand our work safeguarding the integrity of science in federal policy making to encompass inappropriate corporate influence on government science • Prioritize phasing out conventional coal-fired power plants to improve human health and reduce global warming emissions • Clean up smog-forming pollution and global warming emissions from big-rig trucks and dirty fuels • Apply our scientific expertise to better understand the complex challenges of sustainable land use in the agriculture, forestry, energy, and conservation sectors, and promote choices that will protect our water resources, climate, and the long-term health of our agricultural soils • Underscore the growing risks of nuclear terrorism, as well as the urgency of reducing stockpiles of nuclear weapons We will amplify our work by engaging and expanding our networks of scientists, engineers, economists, and other experts, and bolster our relationships and engagement with the public health and medical communities. We will provide our staff with the tools they need to communicate more effectively with decision makers and the public. And, we will provide our members and supporters—the lifeblood of our organization—with the means to become more knowledgeable about our work and make meaningful contributions toward achieving our mission. The UCS approach combines independent science, practical solutions, compelling communications, effective engagement, and persuasive advocacy to achieve our goals. We have for more than forty years advanced innovative solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing humankind. We are deeply grateful for the support of members who make this work possible as we all work toward a healthier and safer planet.