Cross-Disciplinary Training "Without Borders" Core
During the last decades, human ingenuity and activity
have unfortunately resulted in the proliferation and the release of new
man-made chemicals into the environment. Such pollution problems are not
isolated and local, but found in every nation and on a global level. This
poses a magnitude of new questions. For example, are these pollutants
transported by air or water to distant locations? Are these chemicals
harmful to human health? Do they threaten more sensitive wildlife species?
How can we detect contamination in the environment? What can we do to
hasten their destruction?
Since environmental contamination touches everyone's life, it also raises
other issues for scientists and engineers such as which laws deal with
this issue? Which state, federal or international agencies should be involved?
How can scientists and engineers inform and work with the public to alleviate
fear and/or prevent harm? Solutions to environmental problems are therefore
a team effort. Thus, future scientists and engineers need:
(i) thorough training in their specific field,
(ii) basic knowledge about socioeconomic, legal, engineering and science
aspects outside their field, and
(iii) an ability to communicate and cooperate with specialists in other
disciplines and societies.
These are the goals of the proposed Cross-Disciplinary Training "Without
Borders" core project. It will build on successful collaborations
among the isrp faculty and with international colleagues. It will enhance
or establish new activities among these scientists that promote crossdisciplinary
education, and use new information technology to connect students and
faculty around the world. Graduate students will be recruited into the
program basis of their ability, motivation and academic record. Emphasis
will be placed on identifying and recruiting qualified individuals from
underrepresented groups in science and engineering. Other students, post-docs
and professionals will be encouraged to participate by using modern information
technology. This isrp has the ideal basis to develop such a training
program for the scientist of the 21st century.
Core Leader: Gabriele Ludewig, PhD
Dr. Ludewig was one of the 2 Project Leaders of the Training Core of the
sbrp in Kentucky until she moved to The University of Iowa in 2003. In
KY she coordinated all activities of the Training Core related to student
counseling and advising, course coordination between the different Departments,
and she taught one of the three Environmental Systems courses and organized
the Environmental Systems seminar. She is a member of the Diversity Committee
of the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa and is on the
advisory board of the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contaminants
(CHEEC). Dr. Ludewig will oversee, plan and coordinate all aspects of
the Training Grant in Iowa and counsel and advise the students.
Co-Core Leader: Larry W Robertson, PhD, MPH
Dr. Robertson will participate in the coordination of all Training Core
related activities. His leadership role in the isrp and activities related
to the biannual PCB workshop and his strong connections to PCB scientists
around the world will provide additional benefits for the Training Core.
Co-Core Leader: Thomas Cook, PhD
Dr. Cook has extensive experience with the organization and coordination
of training activities with Eastern/Central European countries and with
providing distance learning courses and meetings. He is chairing the College
of Public Health Committee on Distance Learning and Continuous Education,
is the PI of the Iowa Fogarty/NIH grant "International Training and
Research Program in Occupational and Environmental Health" and a
member of the advisory committee of the WHO Environmental and Occupational
Health E-learning Project.
