Workshop: New Science to Inform Environmental Justice

October 20, 2022 to October 21, 2022
EDT

HEI hosted a workshop, “New Science to Inform Environmental Justice,” on October 20–21, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. The purpose of the workshop was to engage a broad array of environmental justice (EJ) stakeholders in identifying priorities, barriers, and solutions to inform HEI’s future efforts in a space where they could learn from each other and forge new connections.

Workshop Planning Committee:

Jeffrey R. Brook, Co-Chair, HEI Research Committee, Associate Professor, University of Toronto
Ana Navas-Acien, Co-Chair, Professor, Columbia University
Christina H. Fuller, Associate Professor, University of Georgia
Ana M. Rule, HEI Research Committee, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University
Ivan Rusyn, HEI Research Committee, Professor, Texas A&M University

HEI Staff

Palak Balyan, Consulting Staff Scientist
Elise G. Elliott, Staff Scientist
Daniel S. Greenbaum, President
Yi Lu, Staff Scientist
Ellen K. Mantus, Director of Science
Robert O’Keefe, Vice President
Martha Ondras, Research Fellow
Allison P. Patton, Senior Scientist
Annemoon M. van Erp, Deputy Director of Science
Anna Rosofsky, Senior Scientist
Robert Shavers, Operations Manager

Sessions: 

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Oct. 20, 2022 - 9:00am

Welcome and Opening of the Workshop

Workshop Ground Rules
  • Jeffrey R. Brook
    ,

    University of Toronto and HEI Research Committee

  • Ana Navas-Acien
    ,

    Columbia University

Keynote Session

Oct. 20, 2022 - 9:30am

Moderator: Ana Navas-Acien, Columbia University

Introduction
  • Ana Navas-Acien
    ,

    Columbia University

Environmental Justice: past, present, and future

How can EJ research empower the community?

Breakout Session 1: “Identifying Environmental Justice Priorities and Concerns: A View from Various Sectors”

Oct. 20, 2022 - 11:00am

Attendees from different sectors identified gaps in knowledge or capacity that have not been addressed by previous environmental justice research efforts.

Room 1     EJ Community organizations and advocacy groups
Facilitator: Christina H. Fuller, University of Georgia

Room 2    Policymakers
Facilitator: Heather Holmes, University of Utah

Room 3    Academics
Facilitator: Ivan Rusyn, Texas A&M University

Panel Discussion – “What are barriers to and opportunities for conducting effective environmental justice research?”

Oct. 20, 2022 - 2:15pm

Moderator: Christina H. Fuller, University of Georgia

In this discussion, panelists shared their perspectives on research barriers they have encountered and strategies used to overcome them. The panel, along with attendees, explored approaches for more effective environmental justice research in the future.

Panelists:
Rachel Morello-Frosch, University of California, Berkeley
Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne, Columbia University
Regan Patterson, University of California, Los Angeles
Sherri White-Williamson, NC Conservation Network

Breakout Session 2 – “Identifying Environmental Justice Priorities by Research Topic”

Oct. 20, 2022 - 3:15pm

Attendees from different sectors came together to discuss shared interests. We aimed to collect diverse perspectives on the remaining gaps in addressing this issue and common barriers to forming successful cross-sector collaborations.

Room 1     Air pollution
Facilitator: Ana Navas-Acien, Columbia University

Room 2    Climate Impacts
Facilitator: Jeffrey R. Brook, University of Toronto

Room 3    Community science and capacity building
Facilitator: Ana M. Rule, Johns Hopkins University

Summary of Day 1 & Goals for Day 2

Oct. 21, 2022 - 9:00am

  • Jeffrey R. Brook
    ,

    University of Toronto and HEI Research Committee

  • Ana Navas-Acien
    ,

    Columbia University

Case Studies

Oct. 21, 2022 - 9:15am

Moderator: Jeffrey R. Brook, University of Toronto

Successful academic-community partnerships formed during environmental justice research have led to positive changes. This session invited community and academic leaders of three partnered projects to jointly share their journey along with what they have learned.

Introduction
  • Jeffrey R. Brook
    ,

    University of Toronto and HEI Research Committee

A Path to Solutions — Forming Community and Academic Partnerships for Environmental Justice

The HERCULES Road Show — Exposomics

Tainted Grapes, Tainted Lungs: Lessons on Inclusive Wildfire Disaster and Climate Adaptation Planning for Undocumented Latino and Indigenous Migrants
  • Genevieve Flores-Haro
    ,

    Mixteco Indígena Community Organizing Project

  • Michael Mendez
    ,

    University of California, Irvine

Discussion

Breakout Session Round 1 - “Identifying Solutions and Promote Future Collaborations”

Oct. 21, 2022 - 10:45am

Participants were invited to three breakout rooms to discuss promising environmental justice research directions, successful initiatives, and potential solutions for shared challenges. The first round of discussion focused on identifying future environmental justice research topics and potential collaborations, while the second round discussed potential solutions for challenges encountered in study logistics and forming sustainable partnerships.

Room 1     Facilitator: Ana M. Rule, Johns Hopkins University
Room 2    Facilitator: Heather Holmes, University of Utah
Room 3    Facilitator: Ivan Rusyn, Texas A&M University
 

Breakout Session Round 2 - “Identifying Solutions and Promoting Future Collaborations”

Oct. 21, 2022 - 1:15pm

Room 1     Facilitator: Ana Navas-Acien, Columbia University
Room 2    Facilitator: Jeffrey R. Brook, University of Toronto
Room 3    Facilitator: Christina H. Fuller, University of Georgia

Closing Remarks

Oct. 21, 2022 - 2:45pm
Location
165 Courtland Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
United States
Program Downloads
PDF icon Agenda
PDF icon Guiding Questions
PDF icon Participants
PDF icon Workshop Summary

HEI Code of Conduct

HEI fully expects that all participants who attend any in-person or online meeting or event behave with the utmost respect for peers, colleagues, staff, volunteers, researchers, sponsors, and everyone across the HEI community. It is our sincere desire that every event, meeting, and gathering we host or participate in fosters and encourages an inclusive, positive, and welcoming environment for all. Read HEI’s full Code of Conduct Statement.