IFT Program to Host Annual Symposium Focusing on Air Pollution, Health
Three experts on air pollution and health will join the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology (IFT) Training Program on Aug. 28 for a discussion on the state of regulatory science in air pollution.
The IFT’s 2018 Regulatory Science Symposium will welcome Texas A&M’s Natalie Johnson, University of Colorado Denver’s Jonathan Samet, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) Michael Honeycutt beginning at 9 a.m. in VENI Building Room 107B.
The discussions will begin with a welcome from Texas A&M IFT chair Ivan Rusyn, followed by the first of three talks, “Mechanistic insights into air pollution and health—Informing through research,” by Johnson, an assistant professor of environmental & occupational health.
At 9:50 a.m., Samet, the dean and associate professor of the Colorado School of Public Health, will explore new findings and new questions regarding “Epidemiology and air pollution,” and at 10:30, Honneycut, who is director of the TCEQ’s toxicology division, will present “Making decisions with science–Challenges in protecting human health.”
Following Honeycutt’s talk, Texas A&M Veterinary Integrative Biosciences (VIBS) professor Weihsueh Chiu will round out the activities with a 35-minute discussion with the speakers and audience.
The IFT’s Regulatory Science Symposium is held annually to bring together scholars and experts to discuss timely topics on how biomedical research data is making an impact on human and environmental health through regulatory actions.
“The goal of the annual symposium is to welcome new trainees to the toxicology program and Texas A&M, bring together faculty and trainees, engage in discussions of most cutting-edge toxicology science, hear about trainee’s progress in their research, and meet with the internal and external advisers,” Rusyn said.
IFT faculty also expect the event to resonate widely, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced an expedited preparation for a Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone-Call for Scientific and Policy-Relevant Information.
“Air quality is always a hot topic, especially during summer in Texas,” Rusyn said. “We have also structured the event to bring together speakers who may express a difference in opinions. This should be a very informative and educational session for our trainees and all attendees that will demonstrate how important science is to making impactful regulatory decisions.”
Those outside of the College Station area who are interested in issues related to air quality and health can access the presentations and discussions live online via https://cvm-tamu.zoom.us/j/748991182.
