Nationwide, only two doctoral candidates received dissertation fellowships this year from the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation of Tucson, Ariz. Lauren Patterson of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was one of them.
Lauren Patterson of West Lafayette, Ind., native will receive up to $24,000 in living and academic expenses over the next year.
The foundation considered 39 applications, seeking outstanding doctoral candidates who have achieved distinction in their scholarly research. A recipient’s dissertation must be relevant to national environmental public policy and/or environmental conflict resolution.
Patterson’s dissertation in geography will be titled “Interconnections Between Drought and Water Policy in the South Atlantic, USA.” She will look at drivers of water scarcity in the region and explore potential policy options. Her interest came in part from observing tensions between water conservation and economic development during a recent severe drought.
Patterson previously earned her master’s degree in geography at UNC, working with local governments on the effectiveness of flood policies and addressing sustainable financing strategies for watershed protection.
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