Community Engagement

The lesson will introduce students to the interaction between the environment, genetics, and personal choices, and their effect on one's health. Lesson plan includes three activities: (1) Circle in a Circle (included in the PDF), (2) Your Money or Your Life (listed separately in this table), and (3) Family Tree Activity (also listed separately in this table). This lesson aligns with Washington State EALRs. 2+ 50-minute class periods.

The lesson introduces genetically modified organisms through a case study of GMO salmon. Background is provided about GMOs and reasons they are developed, regulation, examples of GMO foods, and ethical issues. Student groups are given one of four editorials (two pro-GMO, two anti-GMO) and asked to analyze the editorial to identify message, point of view, and stakeholders. PDF includes lesson plan, factsheet, and 4 student worksheets. 50-minute class period.

Un folleto de una página, desarrollado por un Café de Salud Pública. El folleto está compuesto para una audiencia general y proporciona una descripción breve de problemas relacionados a la seguridad de mariscos, nombres de agencias que están involucradas y lo que están haciendo para hacerse cargo del problema, algunas preguntas para discusión, y una lista de enlaces donde puedes aprender más. 

The Toxic Free Futures website offers more local information for Washington State educators. This non-profit group works to protect public health and the environment by eliminating toxic pollution. Their site includes updates on legislative action, ways to get involved, and a blog.

Produced by the National Library of Medicine, this interactive mapping site lets you enter an address or zip code and see a map showing all the Superfund sites and industries that report releases of toxic substances in that area. The site uses data from the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program and Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) to populate the maps, making them up-to-date and reliable.

Toxipedia is a smart, cutting-edge resource for all things toxicology and environmental health-related. Set up as a "wiki," it strives to "present scientific information in a clear and compelling way and to empower people to make choices that protect their own health and the health of families, communities, and the environment." The site offers articles and resources about toxic chemicals, diseases, regulations, consumer products, ethical issues, the history of toxicology, and more.

"People Matter" is a video and social media campaign aimed at raising researchers' awareness of the value of honoring and protecting the concerns and rights of people involved in research studies. The videos are being produced as part of a collaboration between the EDGE Community Outreach and Ethics Core and other research centers on the UW campus.

This is a great place to go to learn about what environmental health research is getting funded in your area. You can also download fact sheets about specific chemicals or topics. The Environmental Health Topics page is particularly resource-rich and a good place to explore.

EJ-net has created and maintains this site as a clearinghouse and portal to resources related to environmental justice and the struggle to give everyone access to a clean environment that doesn't harm human health.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences peer-reviewed journal of environmental health research. You can browse and articles, and read featured stories right on the home page.