Facilitation

Protecting Worker Health Through COVID-19 Webinars

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 04:15:30 +0000

Protecting Worker Health Through COVID-19 Webinars

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 11:15

The ask: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) needed to find a way to keep Worker Training Program (WTP) grantees up to date on best practices, challenges, and issues related to protecting workers who may be at risk of exposure to COVID-19.

The solution: In late March 2020, MDB launched a webinar series that delivered trainings to help workers protect themselves, their families, and their communities. The series initially took place three times a week. During Monday webinars, grantees discussed work challenges and lessons learned. Wednesday webinars focused on technical topics related to COVID-19. On Fridays, participants discussed new information about COVID-19 and its implications for worker health and safety.

As the pandemic unfolded, webinars shifted to an intermittent schedule based on grantee and stakeholder interest.

For each webinar, MDB manages logistics and facilitates discussion. Our subject matter experts present COVID-19 worker training tools that we develop, helping grantees to become more informed and better positioned to adapt each tool to their target audience.

Notable outcomes: MDB has supported more than 700 COVID-19 webinars, reaching more than 8,800 people. We record the presentations and post them on the NIEHS COVID-19 Webinars and Presentations webpage.

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Bringing International Experts Together via Webinar

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:08:14 +0000

Bringing International Experts Together via Webinar

Global Hazards & Health

Events

Facilitation

Training

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:08

The ask: Science knows no borders. Webinars that feature international researchers are an ideal way to share new knowledge with the public, policymakers, and other scientists. Federal and international clients often need help organizing these events.

The solution: MDB recognizes the growing interest, potential, and impact of online learning, virtual courses, and webinars. With rapid adoption and growing comfort with online platforms, MDB plans, hosts and facilitates international webinars for federal and international clients. Our meeting planning team coordinates logistics including registration, platform set up, rehearsals, run of show, and day of IT support. Our project teams work with clients to carefully craft a plan for the event: we focus on inviting a diverse set of speakers from different geographic regions, experts on a variety of issues and craft an agenda that comfortably allows presentations without rushing speakers. We work with clients and speakers to create interactive elements customized for each online event.

Notable outcomes: MDB has orchestrated hundreds of international webinars that have reached more than 25,000 participants spanning six continents.

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Facilitating a Public-Private Partnership for Sustainable Materials Management

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 02:21:33 +0000

Facilitating a Public-Private Partnership for Sustainable Materials Management

Communication & Outreach

Environmental Science

Facilitation

Global Hazards & Health

Reports

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 09:21

The ask: The Sustainable Materials Management Coalition —a public-private partnership of business, academia, environmental, community organizations, and state and local governments—needed technical support to help organizations consider the full range of environmental impacts products have throughout their lives.

The solution: MDB assigned Senior Vice President Tim Fields, a former EPA assistant administrator, to chair the Coalition and facilitate group discussions, as well as report development. MDB also provided meeting logistics, report drafting, and web hosting for the Coalition.

Notable outcomes: The Coalition issued its first report in 2012 entitled “Sustainable Materials Management: A New Materials Hierarchy, Solutions to Barriers, and Recommendations for a Path Forward,” which provided practical advice to various groups on how to incorporate life cycle thinking into materials management decisions.

A second report came in 2014 titled “Guidance on Life-Cycle Thinking and Its Role in Environmental Decision Making,” which is intended to help governments and businesses make more informed decisions as they seek to buy greener and safer products

The Coalition issued a third report in 2016 which supports a national goal of reducing the negative environmental impact of materials use across their entire lifecycle. The report stresses the importance of reduced waste generation and increased recycling in reducing materials use and adverse environmental impacts. It also outlines findings and recommendations on how to reduce the environmental impact of materials use.

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