2024 Events

April

April 5 – Data Science and Environmental Health Science Research Symposium

8:30-6:00 pm EDT, Hunt Library-Duke Energy Hall. The Data Science and Environmental Health Sciences Research symposium provided expert knowledge on state-of-the-art approaches in Data Science as applied to Environmental Health Research. This symposium promoted current research activities in Population Genomics, Genomic Driven New Approach Methodologies and Environmental Health Disparities and addressed approaches to handling “big data”. This meeting aimed to foster collaborative discussions through an interdisciplinary forum and advance the application of new methods in Environmental Health Science Research. Click HERE to lean more.

April 5 – SPAN Webinar: Special Career Panel-Government Sector

12:00-1:30 pm EDT, Webinar. During this call, we invited Ashley Vargas, Ph.D., Deputy Director of the Division of Extramural Research and Training at NIEHS and Miori Harms, Uranium Mine Reclamation Coordinator for the New Mexico Environment Department, to be part of a career panel focused on the government sector. This career panel series will span several sessions over the year as we are hoping to highlight professionals from various employment sectors, showing the breadth of opportunities post-training.

April 18 – ITRC: PFAS Beyond the Basics: Sampling, Analysis, Surface Water, & Air Occurrence Training

1:00-3:00 pm EDT, Webinar. This ITRC training course built upon PFAS sampling and analysis information presented in the PFAS 101 CLU-IN training. The ITRC PFAS Beyond the Basics class provided in-depth information on preparing for and implementing sampling events. Some detailed information and case studies were presented for sampling surface water and PFAS-containing foam that can form and aggregate at the surface water-air interface. The training included information about PFAS analysis and discusses alternative qualitative analytical techniques. The occurrence of PFAS in air information from the literature for outdoor air, indoor air, settled dust and precipitation was discussed. Click HERE for more information.

April 23 – ITRC: Beyond the Basics: PFAS Human Health, Ecological Effects and Regulations Training

1:00-3:00 pm EDT, Live Webinar. This training class built on the earlier information for introductory PFAS topics presented in the PFAS 101 CLU-IN training. It provided more in-depth information for human health effects, ecological toxicity and ecological risk assessment, PFAS regulations, and AFFF alternatives and replacement. Click HERE to lean more.

April 24 – CEHP-STEEP Joint Trainee Virtual Meeting

11:00-12:00 pm EDT, Virtual Meeting. As many of you know, STEEP investigators and trainees are studying the environmental and human health impacts of PFAS. Thus, STEEP and our Center have a lot in common and these joint meetings are a great opportunity for trainees to discuss their research findings, learn about novel research approaches, and expand their PFAS network.

April 25 – RETCC: Lessons Learned by Engaging Communities Surrounding Superfund

1:00-2:00 pm EDT. Virtual Meeting. Jackie Medcalf became a champion for public health when she discovered that toxic chemicals in her drinking water were making her family sick. She founded the Texas Health and Environment Alliance (THEA) to give others the tools to protect their own health. Since its founding, THEA has worked neighborhood-by-neighborhood to clean up toxic chemicals in Houston and Harris County. During that time, the organization has built a coalition of more than 58,000 residents and influenced more than $122 million in EPA-sponsored cleanup projects.

March

March 7 – RETCC: Duke Integrated Toxicology & Environmental Health Program’s Spring 2024 Series

12:00-1:15 pm EST, Livestream. Taylor Hoxie, PhD candidate, Duke University, presented “Assessing Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Indoor and Ambient Environment Utilizing Silicone Wristbands”. Research on exposure to PFASs has mostly focused on exposure via contaminated drinking water and food. However, PFASs exposure is not limited to dietary sources. Consumer products and building materials can also serve as sources of PFASs in the indoor and ambient environment.

March 10-14 – SOT 63rd Annual Meeting and ToxExpo

SOT returned to Salt Lake City for the first time in more than a decade for its 63rd Annual Meeting and ToxExpo. The 2024 meeting featureed five days of Featured and Scientific Sessions, poster presentations, and social events, as well as the popular three-day ToxExpo. Click HERE to read more.

March 18 – University Research Symposium

9:30-4:30 pm, Talley Student Union, Piedmont-Mountains Ballroom. The University Research Symposium (URS) was brought to you by the Research Leadership Academy and hosted by the Office of Research and Innovation. Theme: 21st Century Threats to Health | Bright Ideas to Real World Solutions. Leading experts on a vast array of topics spanning human health and food security presented at the event.

March 28 – RETCC: Communicating Science in a Crisis

3:30-4:45 pm EDT, Webinar. One of the world’s foremost oil spill scientists, Chris Reddy, Ph.D., discussed communicating science in a crisis. His recent book, Science Communication in a Crisis: An Insider’s Guide, was created from Reddy’s commitment to make the science behind his work accessible and meaningful to the public. Dr. Reddy shared lessons learned on the front lines of oil spills and other marine disasters — lessons that have application for scientists in all fields who wish to communicate effectively in times of crisis, as well as for journalists, industry professionals, and public servants whose work involves clear, informed crisis communication. Click HERE for more information.

February

February 7 – Superfund Redevelopment Program

12:30-2:00 pm EST, Webinar. Hosted by the EPA, this webinar showcased the economic benefits of Superfund Redevelopment for communities across the country. Participants heard about creative strategies used in redevelopment projects in New England and the Mid-Atlantic. They also learned about collaborative approaches that help position sites for reuse and advance local economic development opportunities. This webinar was free of charge and open to the public. Click HERE to for more information.

February 8 – Diversity in STEM Symposium

9:00-2:00 pm EST, Talley Student Union and Zoom. Our theme for this symposium was “Creating a Community of Care.” The event featured sessions on topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and well-being in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The 2024 symposium was offered in-person at Talley Student Union and streaming via Zoom. Admission was free and the event was open to faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, students, alumni and the general public.

February 20 – 8th Annual CHHE Symposium

8:30-5:00 pm EST, Talley Student Union. The 8th Annual Research Symposium: Perinatal Environmental Exposures and Later Life Disease: Biological Targets and Mechanisms. The symposium explored perinatal environmental exposures on later life disease, covering model systems, mechanisms, epidemiology, nutrition and socio- environmental stressors and featured invited speakers and CHHE member presentations on the topic. Dr. Antonia Calafat, with the Centers for Disease Control, was a guest speaker. Click HERE for more information.

February 21 – RETCC Seminar Announcement: The STEEP Challenge of PFAS

12:00-12:45 pm EST, Webinar. URI-STEEP hosted a talk by Prof. Rainer Lohmann, Professor of Oceanography and the Director of STEEP. The title of his talk was The STEEP Challenge of PFAS.

February 22 – 2024 NC PSI BRIDGE Symposium

1:30-5:00 pm EST, Plant Sciences Building. The N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI) implemented a new professional development opportunity for February 2024: PSI BRIDGE (Bridging Research Ideas for Greater Extension) Symposium. Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars from any department were encouraged to apply. Industry leaders (Novozymes, BASF, Inari, SAS and Bayer), NC Extension representatives and faculty across the university were in attendance. Click HERE for more information.

February 26 – PCBs: The State of the Science

10:00-11:00 am EST, Zoom. NC State Superfund Research Program (SRP) is part of a national network of Centers that focus on different types of contaminants and environmental health topics. We invited our counterparts in Iowa, who focus explicitly on PCBs, to participate in an open Q&A session by Zoom to help answer questions you might have about the science of PCBs. Click HERE for more information.

February 27 – Toxicology Seminar Series – Jesse Goodrich

4:00-5:00 pm EST, Toxicology Building. Dr. Jesse Goodrich, with the University of Southern California, was the guest speaker and gave a seminar on: ‘Emerging Carcinogens: Using Multiomics to Interrogate the Role of PFAS in Liver Cancer Development.’

The Toxicology Seminar Series is sponsored by a NIEHS T32 training grant “Molecular Pathways to Pathogenesis in Toxicology’. TGSA Career Exposures, includes a chance for all students to meet with the speaker. To learn more, click HERE.

February 28 – FRTR Presents…Recent Advances in PFAS Characterization Technologies

1:00-3:00 pm EST, Webinar. This webinar included live deliveries of two presentations from the recent FRTR Fall meeting, with updated information: “Best Practices for PFAS Sampling and Evaluation” and “Clean Water Act Methods: Overview of EPA’s CWA PFAS Method Activities”.

The science and technology of site characterization for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has advanced in the five years since FRTR last addressed the topic in 2018. This webinar allowed PFAS member agencies to share results of recent and on-going PFAS projects that are improving our understanding of PFAS characterization technologies. Click HERE for more information.

February 29 – ITRC PFAS Introductory Training

1:00-3:00 pm EST, Webinar. This training included emerging science on PFAS, and included topics such as Properties of PFAS, Fate and Transport, Sampling and Analysis, and Treatment Technologies. The technical presentations were focused on those who are relatively new to PFAS. The training lasted approximately 90 minutes and included time for questions. Click HERE for more information.

January

January 10 – Advancing the Science of PFAS Mixtures Assessment

3:00-4:30 pm EST, Webinar. Dr. Jason Lambert of the US EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) presented “Advancing the Science of PFAS Mixtures Assessment” that discusses features of a draft “Framework for Estimating Noncancer Health Risks Associated with Mixtures of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).” The framework was developed by the US EPA ORD and Office of Water.

January 16 – Toxicology Seminar Series – Jane Hoppin

4:00-5:00 pm EST, 2104 Toxicology Building. Dr. Jane Hoppin, Professor – Biological Sciences at NC State University, was the guest speaker and gave a seminar on: “The IARC Process of Evaluating Potential Carcinogens: Recent Findings for PFOA and PFOS”.

January 23-25 – The Science of PFAS: Chipping Away at the Details

7:30-5 pm EST, Sheraton Raleigh Hotel. The research around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to inch forward through the talents of all sectors working together to find answers and develop solutions. A&WMA continues this premier conference to bring together scientists, researchers, academics, practitioners, regulators, and the regulated community to further the conversation on the current state of PFAS science and solutions for the future. Click HERE for more information.