Hannah Safford
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Bridging engineering and
public policy to advance environmental solutions.
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Engineering
I believe deeply in the power of scientific and technological ingenuity to effect positive change. An engineer’s approach to problem-solving—breaking difficult problems down into manageable and logically ordered tasks—is one of the best strategies we have for tackling complex environmental issues.
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I have pursued rigorous formal education as an engineer. I hold a B.S.E. in Chemical and Biological Engineering and an M.Eng. in Environmental Engineering and Water Resources (both from Princeton University), as well as a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering (from UC Davis). I’ve applied my training to topics as diverse as characterizing water flows in the African savannah, predicting behavior of destructive locust swarms, and minimizing electricity consumption in airport terminals.
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My doctoral research focused on improving and applying methods for detecting viruses in wastewater. I collaborated with Dr. Heather Bischel on using flow cytometry—a laser-based analytical technique—for rapid, reliable, and online (i.e., real-time) detection and enumeration of waterborne viruses. Establishing this capacity will support safe and cost-effective recycling of wastewater into drinking water. This in turn will improve the sustainability, security, and resilience of water resources in the United States and around the world.
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Since August 2020, I was a member of the UC Davis COVID-19 Research Working Group, focused on wastewater sampling. I am one of four researchers working with Drs. Bischel, Karen Shapiro, and David Coil to continuously monitor wastewater and sewage samples as an early warning system for potential outbreaks of COVID-19.
Public Policy
Scientific research and technological development are necessary but not sufficient for addressing environmental problems. Sound public policy is needed to scale up technological solutions to maximize positive societal impacts and to support future scientific breakthroughs.
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As a researcher with the UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy, I engage with decision-makers to make science and environmental policy inseparable. I also advise the Policy Institute on communications and outreach. As Chair of the City of Davis Natural Resources Commission, I work with the City Council on preservation, management, and enhancement of the city’s natural resources.
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From 2019 to early 2020, I supported Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign as a member of the Pete for America Water Policy and Climate Literacy and Engagement Policy subcommittees. Later in 2020, I provided volunteer policy support for Joe Biden's winning presidential campaign. From 2014 to 2016, I served as a policy analyst at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) under President Barack Obama. My contributions included coordinating a Federal task force on green infrastructure in coastal areas and co-authoring the final task force report; acting as the OSTP liaison to the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality; co-organizing the first-ever White House Water Summit; and assisting on media and public engagement as a member of OSTP’s communications team. My policy experience also includes positions at the U.S. Forest Service and the San Francisco Department of the Environment.
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I was named to Pacific Standard magazine’s annual “30 Under 30” list for my contributions to environmental policy. I was also selected as one of 100 “Leaders of Tomorrow” to attend the internationally recognized St. Gallen Symposium in Switzerland. I regularly appear on Al Jazeera English as a specialist on environmental science and policy.
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I hold an MPA from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, with a certificate in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (STEP). Upon graduation, I received the Bradford Prize—an award for the STEP student who has achieved both a distinguished academic record and a record of service in the School.