Stony Brook University recently held a workshop to explore various strategies for managing the challenges posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals often referred to as "forever chemicals." These substances, found in items such as cookware and firefighting foam, have been detected in the environment, affecting drinking water, soil, and crops.
The university event, organized by the Collaborative for the Earth (C4E) on March 28, aimed to unite campus experts to exchange recent findings, discuss regulatory practices, and promote collaboration concerning environmental health risks and impacts on wildlife. The workshop included interactive sessions and presentations focusing on different facets of the PFAS issue.
Heather Lynch, C4E director and IACS endowed chair for ecology and evolution, highlighted the significance of the gathering, stating, "Our goal for this workshop was really to bring together all of the people working on these emerging contaminants across campus." She emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the workshop, which brought together individuals from chemistry, marine sciences, public health, medicine, and humanities.
The meeting was part of a project funded by the IACS seed award, led by Lynch and Mary Collins from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS). Lynch believes that such gatherings are crucial for future research, enabling researchers to share insights and experiences. "As academics, we tend to go to conferences far and wide, but we rarely have an internal conference like this where we get to meet people that we wouldn't ordinarily work with," she noted.
The workshop aimed to create a collaborative research environment, encouraging different disciplines to align resources and strategies. "As a scientist, you can go and try to learn about a topic on your own, but it’s just so much faster to have an expert give you a quick overview of what they do," said Sarah Valencia, a postdoctoral researcher in SoMAS.