An ISU faculty member has received the Faculty Early Career Development Award from the National Science Foundation.

Clark Miller, assistant professor in political science, was awarded a $200,000 grant for his research in areas of environmental politics. “I am very excited not only to receive such a prestigious award, but also to be provided with a core level of funding for my research over the next years,” he said. “These awards are the largest awards they give out in this field, so it was very nice in that respect.”

NSF awards are given to young faculty members just starting out in careers to help support their new research programs and education initiatives. The foundation gives out approximately 300 awards each year across the country in all disciplines. Only one was awarded in Miller’s area of research.

“My research looks at the efforts to create indicators of sustainable developments along with ways of adjusting standard economic indicators to take environmental considerations into account,” he said.

Miller said the majority of his research, which is collected by conducting interviews from sources around the world, will ultimately be compiled in a book.

“I’m interested in finding out how different people are going about relating to indicators,” he said. “One piece of my project will look at local cities and communities around the United States involved in new initiatives to make their communicators sustainable.”

Miller said the second half of his project will examine the same factors within the United Nations and other global agencies. With the presidential elections Tuesday, Miller said one subject that has not been prevalent in the debates is environmental issues.

“It has received less attention in this election than in any others,” he said.

After the government signed a 1997 treaty about global warming, the treaty was never submitted to the Senate for ratification. Miller said the next president will have to make the decision whether to move toward ratification or make changes.

“It should be interesting to see how either Bush or Gore address these issues as well as political environment versus global issues,” he said.

James McCormick, chairman of political science, said he is “very delighted” that Miller was selected for the award.

“I think he reflects interests in the area of environmental politics and has a contributed a great deal toward the political science department and the university,” he said. “For Clark to win, it is a direct reflection on his capabilities and potential for his future.”