Who We Are

Scientists associated with Harwell Gentile & Associates, LC have participated in a number of peer review activities.  For example, Dr. Harwell was the chair of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board Ecological Processes and Effects Committee (EPEC) for many years.  In that capacity, he and the EPEC staff organized and conducted a large number of peer reviews of research underway or proposed by the US EPA Office of Research & Development.  Topics ranged broadly from ecotoxicology, sediment criteria, use of ecological modeling, to many reviews of the EMAP program, climate change research, and advances in landscape ecology.  Subsequently, Dr. Harwell has participated in or chaired other peer reviews for US EPA, such as providing advice to the US EPA global change research program and reviewing the research program, staff, and facilities of the US EPA Gulf Ecology Laboratory in Gulf Breeze, FL.

Our approach to conducting peer reviews involves working closely with the client agency to develop a focused charge to the peer review panel; identifying appropriate range of expertise needed to address the topic of concern; identify appropriate individuals to serve on panels from academia, private institutions, NGOs, and governmental agencies, with attention to balance and ability to perform in a peer review context; organizing the peer review meeting, including developing the agenda, inviting presentations, etc.; conducting the peer review meeting, including reaching consensus whenever possible; preparing and finalizing the findings of the peer review panel; and working with the client agency in understanding and responding to the recommendations of the peer review.