July 30, 2019
In an article published today in the journal of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Tim Verslycke, Ph.D., a Principal at Gradient, contributed to the Global Horizon Scanning Project (GHSP), which focuses on identifying environmental and health issues internationally. Using a recently pioneered process, a multidisciplinary team of North American researchers, government agencies and businesses leaders identified priority research questions for North America in an effort to tackle pressing environmental quality issues.
The GHSP was initiated as part of a larger effort to identify important international research needs. It is intended to identify research needs that will help us move towards more sustainable environmental quality, which is necessary to protect human health and our environment.
As part of the study, members of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry’s (SETAC) and the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Environmental Chemistry and Agrochemicals Divisions submitted questions that were then synthesized during a workshop by scientists and engineers from the academic, government and business sectors.
“This report provides a comprehensive global perspective covering some of the world’s most critical environmental challenges that will impact society for decades to come,” said Sherine Obare, Ph.D., dean and professor of the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering at UNC Greensboro and chair elect of the American Chemical Society’s Environmental Chemistry Division. “SETAC’s ability to engage scientists from around the globe has led to forums that identify urgent challenges, including, next generation 21st century analytical chemistry methods, strategies to predict chemical exposure, understanding multiple stressors and new approaches in chemical risk assessment. This project will define the scientific directions needed to transform environmental science and engineering, globally.”
“The GHSP reflected in this paper has harnessed the insights of scientists not only across North America but around the world,” said Charles Menzie, Ph.D., Global Executive Director of SETAC. “Each brings tremendous experience and a strong sense of what is needed for future research. However, the distillation of these many into a set of consensus questions provides a much needed foundation for charting our direction for research to inform environmental policy. SETAC is proud to have supported this through our global meetings and now through our journal.”
Read the article, “Toward Sustainable Environmental Quality: Priority Research Questions for North America.“