Sustainable Communities

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Our research promotes healthy, sustainable communities

Faculty and students in the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences explore environmental justice, One Health, genetic susceptibility to environmental exposures and the ways some people and communities are more vulnerable to those exposures. 

We identify policies and interventions to reduce harmful environmental exposures and improve risk communication, and study the effects of climate change, natural disasters, built environments and environmental policy on population health. 

Our students are actively engaged in our research and trained in the latest scientific methods and core principles of how environmental factors affect the health of people, animals and the planet. 

Research spotlight

Dawn Johnston leans over a work bench in a scientific lab to touch a microscope slide.

How safe are hair extensions?

DEOHS MS alum Dawn Johnston taps into her background in haircare to study toxic chemicals in synthetic hair braids

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Tracey Woodruff speaks into a microphone while Lianne Sheppard looks on.

Experts warn of a weed killer’s health harms

At Seattle Glyphosate Symposium, dozens of scientists urge regulators to protect public health from the widespread pesticide

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Sarah Collier, Jennifer Otten and Marie Spiker stand together on the UW campus.

Transforming food systems in the classroom

Food Systems faculty receive Distinguished Teaching Award for collaborative team teaching

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