Naomi Soderstrom, associate professor of accounting at the CU-Boulder Leeds School of Business, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to teach and conduct research at the Stuttgart Institute of Management and Technology in Germany during the 2003-04 academic year.
Soderstrom's research addresses environmental programs that reduce emissions and save companies money.
She will research the European Union's carbon-trading market, which allows corporations to trade the right to emit carbon. She currently is studying the U.S. sulfur dioxide trading market. In the United States, utilities must have permits to emit sulfur dioxide, a byproduct of electricity production. If a utility wants to emit more sulfur dioxide and does not have enough permits, it can purchase unused permits from other utilities. The approach allows the market to determine when and where it makes economic sense to reduce emissions.
"The utilities that sell their permits can make a profit from reducing sulfur dioxide emissions," said Soderstrom. "This way, the government gives utilities an economic incentive to reduce emissions."
Soderstrom is one of 800 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad through the Fulbright Scholars Program. The program builds mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries.
The Fulbright award is one of the highest honors bestowed on faculty members.
As a result of the Fulbright, Soderstrom will have the opportunity to interact with executives from top German corporations.
"Germany is very proactive on environmental issues and German corporations approach corporate social responsibility very differently from U.S. corporations," Soderstrom said. "I am very excited about learning more about their approach so I can 'internationalize' the materials for my class."
Soderstrom is teaching part of the Leeds School's new business and society curriculum, which provides students with a more holistic view of business and how it connects with society. She will incorporate her European experiences with environmental accounting into her curriculum.
While in Europe, Soderstrom will present her research at universities throughout Western Europe. "Presenting my research abroad allows me to interact with people throughout the world and gives me new insights into my work," she said.
Recipients of Fulbright Scholar awards are selected on the basis of achievement and extraordinary leadership potential in their fields. Fulbright Scholars include Nobel Prize-winning economists, CEOs and Pulitzer Prize winners.