A public forum to advance science and policy.
When
Where
Join the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy for a public PFAS Symposium at the University of Arizona!
Where: Health Sciences Innovation Building, Room 306
When: Tuesday, November 12, 2024. 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
The event will begin with a social and networking hour at 3:00 PM where hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. A two-hour program of expert panel discussions will begin at 4:00 PM.
PFAS—also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or "forever chemicals"—are a group of chemicals widely used in an array of consumer goods, from stain-resistant textiles and firefighting foam to medical devices and food packaging.
Largely unregulated for the duration of their existence, these chemicals are now known to cause a range of health impacts on living beings even in small amounts. PFAS have been found in municipal drinking water across the US and in the blood of nearly every person on the planet.
After a day-long, expert-only workshop on the future of PFAS research at U of A hosted by the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center, the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy will host a public-facing symposium dedicated to explaining advances in the science and management of these widespread chemicals.
The public symposium will follow the below program:
1) Welcome from Andrea K. Gerlak, Udall Center Director and U of A Professor of Geography; Elliott Cheu, U of A Associate Vice President for Research Institutes and Centers; and Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, the new U of A Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation.
2) Introduction to PFAS: What are they and why should we care?
An overview from Dr. Gina Gilson, Research Scientist at the U of A Udall Center
3) Panel 1: Advances in the Science of PFAS
- Moderated by Cherie L. DeVore (Diné), U of A Asst. Prof. of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
- Jennifer Schlezinger, Boston University School of Public Health, Prof. of Environmental Health
- Bo Guo, U of A Assoc. Prof. of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences
- Mark L. Brusseau, U of A Prof. of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Science
- Melissa Furlong, U of A, Asst. Prof in the College of Public Health
4) Panel 2: Future Directions in PFAS Governance
- Moderated by Sharon Megdal, Director of the U of A Water Resources Research Center
- Dianne Barton, Tribal PFAS Working Group and Chairwoman of the National Tribal Toxics Council
- Matthew Narter, Senior Hydrologist, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
- John Kmiec, Director of Tucson Water
- Gemma Smith, U of A Asst. Prof. of Government and Public Policy
- Mike Montgomery, Director, EPA Region 9 Superfund Division
Additional speakers TBA.
Event partners and sponsors include the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center; the University of Arizona Health Sciences; the U of A Office of Research, Innovation & Impact; the Water Resources Research Center; and the Arizona Institute for Resilience.
You won't want to miss this opportunity to engage with and have your questions answered by leading experts on the topic of PFAS and the governance thereof!
Space is limited and registration is required so SAVE YOUR SEAT TODAY!