UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences

06/01/2026

Our 2026 Omenn Lecture featured Dr. Howard Frumkin who explained how nature is a powerful strategy for health promotion. It was wonderful to see students, alumni, department friends and faculty attend the event that honors Gil Omenn and Martha Darling – two incredible supporters of our department and the University of Washington School of Public Health. You can watch the full lecture here:
https://youtu.be/s-bX3AABk_I

05/29/2026

Our hearts are with the families affected by the deadly blast at a paper mill in Longview, Washington this week.

DEOHS faculty member Marissa Baker told KATU News that the public should feel confident in guidance coming from environmental agencies, and the greatest risk now is for those involved in the recovery effort.

“I know that’s why care is being taken to make sure that it’s decontaminated, so folks who are part of the recovery and response efforts are able to safely do what they need to do, because touching this chemical could cause those burns,” Baker said.

University of Washington School of Public Health

Hundreds of thousands of gallons of the toxic chemical known as "white liquor" were released into the environment this week following the deadly blast.

05/28/2026

Here are 3 ways to reduce your exposure to glyphosate, the world's most widely used pesticide.

At the recent Seattle Glyphosate Symposium organized by DEOHS Professor Lianne Sheppard, dozens of scientists urged regulators to protect public health from the widespread w**d killer, which can cause cancer. Learn more at the link in our bio.
3 ways to reduce your glyphosate exposure
1. Choose organic foods where possible. In particular, choose organic options for oats, wheat and legumes like chickpeas, because these conventional crops are sprayed before harvest.

2. Avoid using pesticide products where possible. If you choose to spray them, wear chemically resistant gloves and protect your skin, eyes and mouth from exposure.

3. Avoid areas that have been sprayed with pesticides. If you live in an area where pesticides are routinely sprayed, increase wet mopping and dusting with a wet cloth to keep dust levels low.

University of Washington School of Public Health

05/26/2026

Today! Join us to hear about how spending time in nature can benefit our health in our Omenn Lecture with Dr. Howard Frumkin. RSVP to attend in person or via Zoom: https://deohs.washington.edu/omenn-lecture-environmental-health

2–3:30 p.m. Reception and student poster session.
UW Hans Rosling Center (HRC) 280 (lobby above Starbucks)
4–5 p.m. Omenn Lecture with Dr. Howard Frumkin
HRC 155

University of Washington School of Public Health

05/22/2026

DEOHS had a great showing at the 2026 Pacific Northwest Safety Symposium this week! Congrats to our students Jeffrey Anyimah, Juliana Moreno, and Vedika Bhat, who were awarded the ASSP Puget Sound Chapter Scholarship.

Photos (courtesy of DEOHS Assistant Teaching Professor Eddie Kasner):
1. Juliana Moreno, Jeffrey Anyimah, Eddie Kasner, Hanrui Zhang, Lucy Daniels and Matthew Ohliger.
2. Celebrating the ASSP Puget Sound Scholarship!

University of Washington School of Public Health

05/18/2026

It takes a team to transform food systems education! 🍏 Congratulations to UW Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health and DEOHS faculty members Sarah Collier, Jennifer Otten and Marie Spiker on being awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award for collaborative team teaching from the University of Washington! Learn about their approach at the link in comments.

University of Washington School of Public Health

05/14/2026

As the Hantavirus occupies public health conversations, Dr. Peter Rabinowitz, co-director of our Center for One Health Research, explains the difference between the Andes virus and the Hantavirus we see here in the PNW, and how zoonotic diseases impact worker health and safety.

For the latest regarding local cases, be sure to follow Public Health - Seattle & King County.

05/12/2026

"Leaning into the health benefits of nature contact stands the field of environmental health on its head. It invites us to think about how we might reconceptualize the field, to think much more broadly about understanding the benefits of nature, and how to optimize those benefits for as many people as possible." -Dr. Howard Frumkin, University of Washington School of Public Health and DEOHS professor emeritus

Join us May 26 to hear from Frumkin about the health benefits of spending time in nature at our Omenn Lecture (RSVP 🔗⬇️).

05/06/2026

Thank you, bees! 🐝 Insect pollinators were responsible for 44% of people’s farming income and contributed more than 20% of their intake of vitamin A, folate and vitamin E, according to a new Nepal-based study published today in Nature by researchers including DEOHS scientist Matt Smith. 🔗⬇️

The researchers span universities and non-governmental organizations across Nepal, the U.K., the U.S. and Finland, including lead author Thomas Timberlake of the University of Bristol and the University of York.

University of Washington School of Public Health

05/05/2026

Join us for the 2026 Omenn Lecture with Dr. Howard Frumkin, former dean of the University of Washington School of Public Health and DEOHS professor emeritus. His talk, "The Nature of Environmental Health," will focus on how contact with nature can help improve our health. 🍃⛰️🌞 RSVP to attend in person or on Zoom. 🔗⬇️

May 26:
2–3:30 p.m. Reception and student poster session.
UW Hans Rosling Center (HRC) 280 (lobby above Starbucks)

4–5 p.m. Omenn Lecture
HRC 155

UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences UW College of the Environment UW Sustainability UW EarthLab Center for Nature and Health Seattle Parks and Recreation Trust for Public Land Wellcome Trust