Meet EPA Physical Scientist Stephen Dyment
Stephen Dyment is a physical scientist working as a Superfund and Technology Liaison stationed in EPA Region 8 which includes the states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and 28 Tribal Nations. He serves as a resource between regional program staff and the EPA research centers and associated laboratories around the country. In addition, Dyment spent 10 years as a technical support program manager, providing innovative solutions to hazardous waste program project managers facing complex environmental characterization and remediation challenges.
When did you first know you wanted to be a scientist?
As a child I definitely had a scientific curiosity about the world. I loved the outdoors and the Atlantic coastline of Massachusetts and Maine. Perhaps it was with my 9th grade science teacher Mrs. Donovan, who turned complex chemistry and physics concepts into fun research projects, where I first realized my interest as a scientist and researcher. It was those early projects studying elements like arsenic and the intricacies of gravity through research where I got the science bug.
How does your science matter?
As a Superfund and Technology Liaison (STL) stationed in Region 8, I serve as a resource between regional program staff and EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) research centers and associated laboratories across the United States. By providing access to ORD expertise and funding for applied research and direct project technical support we offer EPA, state and Tribal partners the use of the best available science and engineering to solve complex environmental challenges. The involvement of STLs in national research and technical support also allows a detailed understanding of partner and regional research needs at a local level to assist with ORD strategic research planning and product design most useful for our clients.
Tell us about your background.
I have a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and toxicology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. I spent 4 years in a commercial laboratory and 8 years as an environmental consultant working for federal, state, and private clients. I first entered EPA in 2005 as national program manager for technical support work. Over 10 years I provided technical support for characterization and remediation challenges at Superfund Sites in all 10 EPA regions, authored technical documents, and taught technical subject courses. I moved to ORD and the Region 8 STL position in 2015 and have focused much of my recent efforts on the challenges presented by mining and mineral processing sites in the region.
Describe the coolest day you have ever had at work.
Many of my coolest experiences have been in the field, amazed by the unique geology of Colorado and Utah; however, one of my coolest days was delivering a series of talks to a large international audience in Taiwan in 2014. In coordination with Taiwan EPA, I travelled to Taiwan to deliver a series of talks on x-ray fluorescence, incremental sampling design, and high-resolution site characterization. Delivering those talks with translators, 500+ attendees and regulators from 14 different Asian Pacific nations was a valuable experience and has led to relationships with international colleagues that continue today. In fact, the 2014 presentation on high resolution site characterization prompted the Working Group for Soil and Groundwater Pollution of the Asia and Pacific Region to request a 2-day workshop. In November 2021 I assembled a team of presenters from EPA, and we delivered a virtual 2-day workshop on high resolution site characterization tools, strategies, and case studies.
If you could have dinner with any scientists past or present, who would it be? What would you ask them?
Wow, there are so many great choices. I will go with Dimitri Mendeleev. He formulated periodic law which led to the periodic table and our ability to have a correct understanding of known element valence states, atomic mass, and to predict properties of undiscovered elements. He also did work on capillary action and spectroscopy that are the basis for many of our analytical lab techniques used today. Of course, my grasp of the Russian language is poor, but I would love to discuss his work on periodic theory and spectroscopy.
If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?
I enjoy hiking, fly fishing, snowboarding and all the great outdoor activities Colorado has to offer. I also enjoy cooking so you might find me as fishing guide or chef at a local restaurant.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the researcher alone. EPA does not endorse the opinions or positions expressed.