Arlene Blum, PhD

Presentation: “A Scientific Strategy towards Healthier People and Planet: Science + Communication + Decision Makers = Positive Change” Thursday, February 11th at 7:00pm

Arlene Blum PhD, working with the Green Science Policy Institute, has contributed to stopping the use of harmful chemicals in everyday products worldwide. This includes reducing the unnecessary use of flame retardants in furniture, baby products, bedding and electronic cases as well as PFAS chemicals in carpets, food packaging, and consumer products. Exposure to flame retardants and PFAS has been associated with adverse neurological, reproductive, immune and endocrine impacts as well as cancer. By limiting the use of entire classes of toxic chemicals, this work is contributing to healthier products, people and ecosystems. The Institute’s strategy is based on initiating innovative scientific research, communicating the results widely, and sharing with decision makers in business and government. During Blum’s illustrated talk, she will share some of her favorite stories illustrating scientific strategies for positive change.

Dr. Blum, is the Executive Director of the Green Science Policy Institute and a Research Associate in Chemistry at UC Berkeley. Blum’s research and policy work has contributed to preventing the use of flame retardants and other harmful chemicals in children’s sleepwear, furniture, electronics, and other products world-wide. Her current “mountain” is to educate decision makers and the public to reduce the use of entire classes of harmful chemicals in everyday products. More on Dr. Blum >>

Linda S. Birnbaum, PhD, DABT, ATS

Presentation: “Perils of PFAS: Our Health & Regulation” Thursday, February 25th at 7:00pm

Linda S. Birnbaum, PhD, DABT, ATS, is the former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and National Toxicology Program (NTP). Birnbaum led NIEHS from 2009 to 2019. Prior to leading NIEHS and NTP, she worked in research and administrative roles at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for nearly 20 years and as a toxicologist at NTP for 10 years before that. A toxicologist and microbiologist by training, she has authored more than 600 peer-reviewed papers on environmental contaminants and their health impacts, and is especially well known for her research on endocrine disruptors, particularly dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). More on Dr. Birnbaum >>

Christine Till, PhD

Presentation: “Fluoride and the Developing Brain” Thursday, March 11th at 7:00pm

Dr. Till is an associate professor of Psychology at York University, clinical neuropsychologist, and adjunct scientist to the Neurosciences and Mental Health Program at SickKids. She is the 2019 recipient of the President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award. Her research interests include children’s environmental health and understanding both protective and risk factors for cognitive decline following insult to the developing brain. She is the principal investigator on an NIH-funded grant focused on testing the effects of fluoride exposure during pregnancy on child neurodevelopment. Her team is involved in three different population-based cohorts to understand how environmental chemicals are implicated as underlying risk factors for emerging morbidities, including ADHD and thyroid disruption.  More on Dr. Till >>

Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP

Presentation: “Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: New Knowledge of Health Effects and Policy Implications” Thursday, March 25th @ 7:00pm

Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP is an internationally renowned leader in children’s environmental health. His research focuses on identifying the role of environmental exposures in childhood obesity and cardiovascular risks, and documenting the economic costs for policy makers of failing to prevent diseases of environmental origin in children proactively. He is perhaps best known for a series of studies published in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism that document disease costs due to endocrine disrupting chemicals in the US and Europe of $340 billion and €163 billion annually, respectively. More on Dr. Trasande >>