Global Hazards & Health

Bringing International Experts Together via Webinar

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

Bringing International Experts Together via Webinar

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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Podcast Raises Public Awareness of Environmental Health Issues

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:07:15 +0000

Podcast Raises Public Awareness of Environmental Health Issues

Communication & Outreach

Environmental Science

Global Hazards & Health

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:07

The ask: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) needed an engaging way to raise awareness of environmental health issues and share stories of the research it funds with a wider audience.

The solution: MDB proposed a podcast series, called “Environmental Health Chat,” to help NIEHS reach a wider audience. The series shares the stories of NIEHS-funded researchers and partners working to address environmental health issues in their communities.

For each installment, MDB pitches topics and plans episodes, interviews guests, writes scripts and web content, records audio, and develops a distribution plan. Episodes cover a range of environmental health topics, from extreme weather and citizen science to the microbiome, epigenetics, and kidney disease.

In 2020, MDB partnered with Ashley Ahearn, an award-winning National Public Radio science reporter and podcast host, to bring a new voice to the series. As the new host, Ahearn translates environmental health research into engaging narratives that draw in listeners. The host’s radio expertise, paired with MDB’s knowledge of NIEHS, results in a professional quality podcast that tells stories about environmental health issues in an accessible way.

Notable outcomes: Since 2013, when we pitched the podcast idea to NIEHS, we have produced more than 75 episodes of the Environmental Health Chat series. MDB consistently receives positive feedback from clients and stakeholders about the project. In addition, a February 2021 Environmental Factor article featured a pair of podcasts we developed that highlight an NIEHS environmental careers program and its impact on workers’ lives.

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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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