Since the release of Rachel Carson’ s Silent Spring in the 1960’ s, mankind has expanded its quest to come to grips with the competing virtues of human economic entropy and of maintaining the integrity and diversity of the natural environment. As awareness of environmental degradation has increased, so has the realization of the complexity of interconnected webs of relationships among organisms and the physical and chemical environment. With this awareness, we have also come to realize that environmental problems are not easily fixed by simply focusing on a single problem with no analysis of other issues.

This tendency to blindly solve environmental problems without understanding the full complexity of the problem was evident in the Environmental Protection Agency’ s (EPA) recent mandate that Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) be a required ingredient in gasoline formulas with the goal of increasing combustion efficiency. A fuel oxygenate, MTBE enhances the octane in gasoline and decreases carbon monoxide emission by increasing burning efficiencies. In its haste to declare MTBE as a required ingredient in gasoline, the EPA failed to consider a basic chemical property of MTBE and its long-term effects upon the environment. Because MTBE is highly water-soluble, it dissolves in water, leading to higher concentrations of MTBE in many lakes in the California Sierra Nevada mountains and in many groundwater supplies. Hence, by addressing only one component of a system separately, the EPA failed to see the ramifications of our apparent solution. This myopic approach to environmental remediation commonly subverts our good intentions to solve environmental problems and demonstrates a lack of understanding of how inter-related systems work. It is my goal to aid in our understanding of environmental pollution on a global scale by not only researching the fate and transport of contaminants, but also by analyzing how our current philosophies and policies affect these problems. By applying an interdisciplinary approach to both the specific scientific and technical aspects of a problem and by thoroughly analyzing social and cultural factors, I believe I can more effectively in analyze the true extent of our pollution problem and help to determine an appropriate response.

In preparation for this work, my undergraduate degree in environmental studies has provided me with a solid foundation in both the sciences and state and federal environmental policy. My undergraduate emphasis in hazardous materials has given me a broad knowledge of the types of chemical releases common in both developed and undeveloped countries and their chemical and physical effects upon the environment. Through graduate and post-graduate research, I hope to further enhance this knowledge by studying the effects of chemicals commonly used in industry cycles on specific environmental compartments such as bay wetlands and partitioning to other compartments such as XXXX. In my graduate study, I would also like to expand my undergraduate study of environmental law by increasing my knowledge of the law to the area of land use and its relationship to contaminant fate and transport.

In addition to my academic background, I believe that my work experience will also play a key role in helping me find success in my graduate and post-graduate studies. For the last ten years I have held a number of management positions in business. While these positions have not specifically related to environmental work, the experience has provided me with invaluable insight into how both large and small companies operate. The perspective of business management is badly needed in the environmental field where time and again we discover that environmental compliance can best be achieved by understanding business practices and tailoring compliance measures so that companies can remain profitable and be environmentally responsible.

In addition to understanding the perspectives of business management, my work experience has provided me with other skills that will contribute to my success in the graduate program. In 1986,I founded a retail product/services company, Bay Area Audio, which specialized in commercial media center design and installation. As the company’ s president over a six-year period, I was responsible for managing all aspects of operations, including marketing and customer relations. This experience provided me with the opportunity to conduct market research to cultivate new customers, engage in media relations, grow profitability while maintaining budget accountability, and manage large groups of people. As a result of the marketing campaigns that I developed, revenues increased from $100,000 in 1986 to over $2 million in 1991. I believe the experience in market research and media relations will be particularly helpful in the environmental field since many environmental issues involve public participation.

In 1991,I sold my interest in Bay Area Audio to gain experience in the high-technology sector. Since 1991,I have held a number of management positions for computer hardware and software companies. This experience has been invaluable in providing me the opportunity to be involved in leading edge Internet software technology. As the main purpose of the Internet and internet-related software is to enhance communications, I have played a key role in developing products that provide people with one of today’ s most valuable resources - information. Working in this market has also given me the opportunity to manage large software projects involving dozens of people. Of particular relevance to my pursuit of post-graduate environmental studies, is my experience developing global scale corporate websites for companies such as Silicon Graphics, UltraTech Stepper, and Philips Semiconductors. These projects involved working closely with the particular company’ s environmental, health, and safety departments to effectively communicate health and safety information to thousands of employees. I believe that the Internet will be an invaluable tool in both the research and implementation of environmental solutions and that my experience in the computer field will prove invaluable towards this end.

In conclusion, I believe that I have much to offer San Jose State’ s graduate environmental studies program. To successfully come to grips with environmental contamination, we must understand how a specific problem fits within a larger framework from both an ecological and social perspective. I believe that the combination of my educational background with my work experience will provide me with the essential tools to substantially contribute to workable and successful solutions. Given the opportunity to pursue graduate work in environmental studies, I will contribute to effectively bringing new information to light on environmental problems and their solutions, accounting for all related cultural, industrial and environmental factors. Overall, I believe that San Jose State can help me achieve my goals by providing the advanced tools and knowledge necessary to focus on environmental problems utilizing an interdisciplinary approach so as to have an overall positive net impact on protecting the environment for generations to come.

点评：

作为一篇研究生申请的PS，本文以其逻辑的清晰、内容的丰富和语言的平实给人留下深刻的印象。申请人已经有了10年以上的工作经验，但是却是从事传媒和计算机工作，可以说表面上看来与自己要申请的专业相距甚远，而本科的背景也可能在无关工作经验面前变得无足轻重了。但是经过申请人巧妙的安排，将劣势逐步转化为优势，这也是相同背景申请者要注意的问题。

文章以一本书来引出自己的观点，即是环境与信息量，与周围因素关联性的问题，随后举出实例---EPA对MTBE的要求来证明自己的观点，也就是单纯解决环境问题是不足够的，还要以一个全局的系统的眼光来考虑各种诸如社会、技术、网络等因素，从而顺理成章地引出自己的背景。在阐述了自己两阶段的工作，以及简要分析工作与环境保护的联系之后，直接紧扣要申请的大学谈自己可能会有的贡献，并且首尾呼应，组成一个完整的整体。可以说在逻辑清楚，主线明确，是很有说服力的。

不足之处在于谈论自身工作的时候，没有紧扣住擅长的地方作一个阐述，而是流于泛泛而谈；同时最后一段的收尾比较平庸，没有结合学校的特点，写得较虚，未免有头重脚轻之感。

译文：

自从雷切尔.卡森在20世纪60年代发表了著作《寂静的春天》，人们越来越倾向于掌握经济信息分布和保护自然环境完整性和多样性这二者间的竞争性因素。就在对环境恶化加深认识的时候，对于生物有机体、物理和化学环境之间关联复杂性的认知也在上升。基于这种认知，我们也会明白只解决一个单独的问题，而不考虑其他方面的联系，环境问题是不可能解决的。

这种盲目的只解决单个问题，而不考虑全局复杂性的观念还很普遍。例如，最近环境保护局（EPA）颁布规定，要求将甲基特丁基乙醚 (MTBE)添加进汽油，作为一种必要成分来提高燃油率。作为氧化燃料，MTBE的确能够提高汽油中的辛烷和减少一氧化碳排放量；然而同时，EPA却没有考虑MTBE的基本化学性质和其对环境的长期影响——MTBE高度溶于水，加州内华达山脉的众多湖泊和地下水就是因为这一点才备受关注。因此，EPA只考虑整个系统里的一个成分，却没能考虑到这一举措的可能影响。这一目光短浅的“环保”措施让我们追求环保的良好愿望落空，还说明该组织对互相联系的系统缺乏了解。我的目标就是通过研究致污物的源头和传输，以及分析我们现存哲学和政策对这个问题的影响，从而促进全球对环境污染的认识。我将使用跨学科方法来解决细节性的技术问题，并详尽地分析具体社会和文化因素，相信能有效地分析出问题核心所在，得出合理的解决方案。

我本科学习的是环境学专业，无论在理论知识掌握，还是在州际和联邦法律学习方面都打下了坚实的基础。本科学习对危险材料的强调扩大了我对各类化学材料在发达和不发达国家的传播情况和他们对环境的物理影响和化学影响的认识。通过研究生和博士生阶段的学习，我希望能通过研究工业上化学制品的一般应用，尤其是对于特定的环境如海湾湿地，或是其他xxx等来扩充自己的知识。同时，我也希望能继续我在本科期间学习的环境法学习，掌握土地使用法，以及环境与污染源头和传输的关系。

除了学术背景之外，我确信我的工作经验也有助于自己在研究阶段的学习。近十年中，我担任了多个管理职位。虽然这些工作经验未必全与环境问题挂钩，但是却从公司运作角度方面锻炼了我看问题的眼光和思考方式。环境研究很需要商业管理的角度，因为我们常常会发现只有从商业实践和具体措施的方面去考虑环境问题，公司才能在保持盈利的情况下培养出环保责任感。

除此之外，我还具备了一个技术优势。1986年，我创办了一个零售商品/服务公司，“海湾视听”，主要从事商业媒体设计和设置服务。作为最高管理者，从销售到客服，六年来我几乎参与了所有环节的工作，例如从事市场研究，发掘新的客户群，建立媒体关系，在保持预算的前提下盈利，以及成为许多人的领导。从1986到1991年，公司纳税额从10万美圆升到超过2百万。因为许多环境问题都有公众参与的因素，因此这一市场研究和媒介关系背景也将有助于我的学习。

1991年，为了在高科技部门历练，我离开海湾视听。从那时起，我在多家计算机硬件和软件公司担当管理职位，在网络软件科技的前沿阵线锻炼。由于网络和基于网络的软件主要目的是促进人际交流，因此我的主要职责就是开发产品，提供人们当今社会最宝贵的资源---信息。期间，我参与了许多大型软件工程，曾经为诸如Silicon Graphics, UltraTech Stepper, 和 Philips Semiconductors等公司开发了全球性的企业网站。在这些工程中，我与每个公司的环境、健康和安全部门进行了密切的与沟通，有效地与上千雇员传达和交换健康和安全信息。互联网无论是在环保研究还是措施执行上都发挥了巨大的作用，而我在计算机领域的经验也将更加促进这一趋势的发展。

总而言之，我相信我能为San Jose State的环境学硕士研究做出贡献。为了成功地控制环境污染，我们必须以生态和社会的眼光来分析具体问题在庞大的网络中的地位和影响。而我的教育背景和工作经验将充分地帮助我去研究出可行而有效的环保措施。如果我有机会攻读环境学的研究生，我将给环境问题的研究带来文化、工业和环境因素等新的信息。我相信San Jose State能提供给我先进的工具和知识来研究环境问题，掌握跨学科的方法，在为下一代保护环境的问题上形成一个积极的网络式影响。