Social Science-Environmental Health Interdisciplinary Collaborations Conference
Northeastern University
May 21-22, 2015
The Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute, Silent Spring Institute, and the Puerto Rico Test Site for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT – Superfund Research Program) will hold a first-ever conference at Northeastern University on “Social Science-Environmental Health Interdisciplinary Collaborations,” funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. This conference will bring together scholars, government agency professionals, and community-based organizations working at the intersections of social science and environmental health. Case studies will include scholars and government agency professionals collaborating on: biomonitoring, fracking, the BP oil spill, and reproductive outcomes of contamination. Government regulatory and research agencies will also talk about the role of social science in their work. There will be workshops on practical applications of social science/environmental health collaborations, on working with environmental justice groups, and on developing curriculum for cross-training. Alternatives for Community and Environment (Boston) and the Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island are partnering in the conference.
In addition to regular speakers, there will be workshops and discussion groups, some of which will be set up in response to desires indicated by attendees in the months leading up to the conference.
There will be no cost for registration, but participants are asked to pay $50 in advance for breakfast and lunch on both days, by check to Northeastern University. Catering will consist of excellent locally-grown and environmentally-friendly food from the community-based caterers Haley House. A limited number of travel grants will be available for students and postdocs; those interested will be asked to fill out a brief form about their experience and interest in attending. Child care and disability services will be available by prior arrangement.
Registration details are available at the Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute website: http://www.northeastern.edu/environmentalhealth/
The Colonnade Hotel, a short walk away, has a block of rooms available at $289. Reservations can be made at:
NEU Social Sciences Environmental Health Reservation Booking Link for May 20th to 22nd 2015
SCHEDULE
Day 1 – May 21, 2015
8:30-9:00 Introduction to the Conference
Julia Brody – Silent Spring Institute and Phil Brown – Northeastern University
Gwen Collman – National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
9:00-9:45 Keynote Address
Katsi Cook – Running Strong for Native American Youth
9:45-10 Break
10:00-11:20 Lessons from Case Studies of Social Science-Environmental Health Science Collaborations (1)
Endocrine Disrupters and Fracking
Sara Wylie – Northeastern University
Carol Kwiatkowski – The Endocrine Disruption Exchange
Chris Kassotis – University of Missouri
Deb Thomas – Shale Test
11:20-11:30 Break
11:30-12:50 Lessons from Case Studies of Social Science-Environmental Health Science Collaborations (2)
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Brian Mayer – University of Arizona
Andy Kane- University of Florida
Symma Finn – National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
12:50-2:15 Lunch Breakout Groups
2:15-3:45 Lessons from Case Studies of Social Science-Environmental Health Science Collaborations (3)
Environmental Contaminants and Preterm Birth
Carmen Milagros Velez Vega– University of Puerto Rico
Akram Alshawabkeh – Northeastern University
Shobha Srinivasan, National Cancer Institute
3:45-4:00 Break
4:00-5:30 Applying Social Science-Environmental Health Collaborations in Biomonitoring –US and International Projects
Ludwine Casteleyn – University of Leuven (Belgium)
Julia Brody – Silent Spring Institute
Sharyle Patton – Commonweal
6-9 Special Evening Event- Jammin’ for Justice – This is the Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE) annual party featuring food, drinks, music, dancing, silent auction and the company of friends and environmental justice champions. It is held nearby at Hibernian Hall, 184 Dudley Street, Roxbury
Day 2 – May 22, 2015 Workgroups on Implementation
9:00-10:30 Developing and Evaluating Training Materials for Teaching Social Science-Environmental Health Collaboration: The “Curriculum Project”
Robin Dodson – Silent Spring Institute
Christine Vatovec – University of Vermont
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-11:30 Social Science in Government Regulatory and Research Agencies
Cecile Wendling – CNRS-Sciences Po-Paris (Working with ANSES – French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety
Rachel Morello-Frosch – University of California-Berkeley (working with Biomonitoring California)
11:30-11:45 Break
11:45-1:00 Environmental Justice Organizations as Collaborators
Jen Rossi, Steve Roberts, and Jesus Holguin– Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island
Staci Rubin – Alternatives for Community and Environment
Penn Loh – Tufts University
1:00-2:15 Lunch Breakout Groups
2:15-3:30 Developing and Carrying Out Collaborations – Practical Concerns
Several concurrent discussions facilitated by members of SSEHRI, Silent Spring Institute, Environmental Justice League, Alternatives for Community and Environment. Some topics will be selected from participant suggestions pre-conference and on day 1. Potential topics will include cumulative exposures, using games as research translation and cross-community communication devices, garden projects for community collaboration, PhotoVoice, politics of environmental health data, report-back of data, publishing transdisciplinary work.
3:30-4:15 Wrap-Up and Directions for Future
4:15-5:30 Coffee Hour/Networking Time
—
Phil Brown,
University Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Health Sciences
Director, Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue, 318INV
Boston, MA 02115
617 373-7407
p.brown@neu.edu