NIEHS Celebrates 50-Year Anniversary

NIEHS and National Toxicology Program director Dr. Linda Birnbaum kicked off the ceremony. “I see this as an opportunity to highlight the public health improvements that are the direct result of environmental health science and our research,” she said. “We want our work to make a difference in people’s lives.”

“I’ve been with NIH for about 10 years,” said Dr. Molly Puente of the Division of Extramural Research and Training. “This gives me much more perspective on where this institute has been and where we’re going.”

Former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt recounted the role played by his predecessor Terry Sanford in bringing NIEHS to North Carolina. Hunt offered praise for the institute’s work. “It is vital to the future of mankind,” he said. “You’ve had a great 50 years and we’ve got to work on making the next 50 even better.”

Ira Flatow, executive producer and host of Science Friday, a public radio program that brings discussion on science, technology, health, space and the environment to people worldwide, gave a presentation on how science reaches the public.

He encouraged scientists to be eager to tell their stories. “You have to get past the myth that people don’t love science,” Flatow said. “They will inhale as much science as you can give them—if you know how.”

NIEHS/NTP director Dr. Linda Birnbaum saluted the champion awardees for their remarkable history of accomplishment.

Photo:  Steve McCaw

The centerpiece of the celebration was the presentation of 12 Champion of Environmental Science Research awards by Dr. Carol Folt, chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“Your groundbreaking work has quite literally made the world a safer place,” she said. “No one has met this challenge more than the 12 people we are honoring today.” To learn more about the award recipients, visit www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2016/12/.

Following the awards presentation, Joe Graedon and Dr. Terry Graedon, the husband and wife team behind The People’s Pharmacy, drove home the importance of mainstreaming science. “What you do here really affects people’s lives,” said Joe. “People care about the environment and how it affects their health,” Terry added.

Emphasizing the theme of public outreach, Rep. David Price, who represents North Carolina’s fourth district, which includes NIEHS, said that scientific research forms the bedrock of U.S. leadership in world affairs. “Our greatest strength for many decades has been our public/private research enterprise,” he said. “I couldn’t be prouder to represent this institution and the people who work here.”

Following a video salute from actress Jessica Alba and Christopher Gavigan, founders of The Honest Co. and supporters of the event, Birnbaum expressed her appreciation to everyone who had helped make the day—and the past 50 years—so special. “Everyone here in this room, all my NIEHS family, have made such a difference for the world,” she said. “And I want to thank you all.”