Chemicals in Our Lives: Science & Perceptions

June 3, 2011, 12:00 -1:30 PM
B-369 Rayburn House Office Building

Invitation

Contact Science & the Congress Briefing Series

Summary

Nearly every day in the news we learn about another possible danger in our food, our environment, our household goods or our children’s toys. The information presented by the media can seem confusing and contradictory. Policymakers face a difficult challenge to maintain the public’s trust while crafting science-based regulatory policies.

Image from U.S. EPA Risk Characterization
Handbook, p. 53

In a timely discussion for the International Year of Chemistry, the panelists will explore how the scientific community communicates information about the risks of the substances we encounter in daily life, how the public perceives these risks, the role played by the media, and implications for policy.

Honorary Co-Hosts

• Representative Phil Gingrey (R-GA)
• Representative Bob Filner (D-CA)

Opening Remarks

	Glenn Ruskin Director Office of Public Affairs American Chemical Society	http://web.2.c2.audiovideoweb.com/va92web25028/congressional_briefings//6-3-11/Ruskin.flv
	Rep. Phil Gingrey (R – Georgia)	http://web.2.c2.audiovideoweb.com/va92web25028/congressional_briefings//6-3-11/Gingrey.flv
	Rep. Bob Filner (D – California)	http://web.2.c2.audiovideoweb.com/va92web25028/congressional_briefings//6-3-11/Filner.flv

Speakers

	John R. “Jack” Fowle III Director, Health Effects Division Office of Pesticide Programs U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Bio │ Email	http://web.2.c2.audiovideoweb.com/va92web25028/congressional_briefings//6-3-11/Fowle.flv
	Joe Schwarcz Director, Office for Science & Society McGill University Presentation Slides Bio │ Email	http://web.2.c2.audiovideoweb.com/va92web25028/congressional_briefings//6-3-11/Schwarcz.flv
	Nancy Shute Science Writer Presentation Slides Bio │ Email	http://web.2.c2.audiovideoweb.com/va92web25028/congressional_briefings//6-3-11/Shute.flv
	David Ropeik Consultant, Ropeik & Associates and Instructor, Harvard University Presentation Slides Bio │ Email	http://web.2.c2.audiovideoweb.com/va92web25028/congressional_briefings//6-3-11/Ropeik.flv

The views expressed by Science & the Congress briefing panelists are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the American Chemical Society, the Society for Risk Analysis, or the congressional hosts.

Related Content

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Science & Technology: Substances and Toxics: http://www.epa.gov/gateway/science/substances.html
• Risk Management Research page: http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/
• Risk Characterization Handbook (189 pages)
• Chapter Five of Risk Characterization Handbook: “Informing Decision Makers”

More Related Content

• The Chemical Institute of Canada’s Chemically Speaking
• McGill University Office for Science and Society
• “McNugget Chemistry” and Response, Joe Schwarcz, Chemical Institute of Canada’s Chemically Speaking
• David Ropeik HomePage
• Psychology Today blog: How Risky Is It Really
• “Chemistry and Risk Perception,” David Ropeik, Chemistry World, June 2011
• “Cancer, Choice, Beer and Fear,” David Ropeik, Psychology Today blog, April 13, 2011
• “Improving the Use of Science in Regulatory Policy,” Bipartisan Policy Center, August 5, 2009