Critters in the Connecticut

Academic research centers are vital resources for communities responding to environmental health issues. At the same time, these centers draw upon the geographical and human resources of their home regions. In developing an outreach program we recognize the importance of the reciprocal relationship between Dartmouth's Center for Environmental Health Sciences and the surrounding region.

Civic and private decision-making are enhanced when scientists share their knowledge and findings with the public; science itself benefits when community members share their views on how science can be relevant and meaningful to their lives. Our goal for outreach is making our expertise and research findings public, so that they can be applied to the control of hazardous exposures and the prevention of disease. We are also committed to encouraging community participation in environmental health research and education.

Our outreach activities include:

• communicating knowledge gained through our research into public information that can help individuals, communities and agencies make informed decisions
• listening and responding to community concerns about environmental health issues
• connecting communities to resources
• acting as a reliable source of scientific information
• developing programs and service projects that promote the public understanding of environmental health
• coordinating community education efforts with neighborhood groups
• collaborating with other agencies to provide environmental health programs for students, secondary school teachers, physicians and allied health professionals