SPARC Sessions

The Harvard Chan NIEHS P30 Center has a 50+ year legacy of providing a coordinated resource that facilitates research and training in environmental health for the Boston area and beyond. From understanding how the external environment impacts human biology to identifying sustainable solutions to mitigate the adverse impact of environmental toxicants, our mission is to re-envision the exposure environment by understanding chemical, non-chemical stressors, and place-based determinants of human health.

In 2019, we launched the SPARC (Space for Alternative Research Collaboration) series as a part of our Center, where scientists, trainees, community members, and other key stakeholders discuss a current environmental health challenge and endeavor to find solutions together. This year, SPARC will focus on the topic of climate change, environmental justice, and health. We plan to host a 45-minute panel discussion followed by a reception, in which panelists, our Center members and other attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the critical challenge of the current climate crisis and its human health impact, particularly with respect to the health of vulnerable populations.

Each session has been organized around a theme to provide some structure to the large groups, but also includes significant time for casual conversations. SPARC sessions have led to a number of ongoing collaborations, including successful Center Pilot applications. All are welcome, no registration required. For questions, email niehsctr@hsph.harvard.edu.

In 2024, we partnered with SALA series to host the Better Health for All Summit.

Upcoming SPARC sessions: TBD

Watch our series about community research

This three-part series explores relevant topics for researchers who do or want to partner with communities.