University of California, Davis

Transforming what we know about the environment into action is more of a challenge. That’s because we believe the work we do in the lab should connect meaningfully with the communities we’re trying to help. It’s a harder road but a more strategic and worthwhile one.

Working with communities to solve environmental health problems can lead to innovations and greater rigor in science, too. And this kind of community-based science ensures what we learn transforms into policies and public health action. These in turn lessen the social burden of environmental health problems, from autism, diabetes and asthma to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

EHSC is uniquely positioned to help with California’s Climate Change Program as the state confronts increased wildfires, drought and heat due to the impactful shift in the Earth’s temperature. EHSC-led climate projects include:

• Surveying survivors for health problems related to the 2017 North Bay wildfires
• Researching the impact urban wildfires have during pregnancy
• Analyzing ash and debris from urban wildfires