The 36th Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) transformed Santiago into a global hub for environmental health experts from August 25 to 28. Centered around the theme “Addressing Challenges in Environmental Health, Justice, and Development,” the conference spotlighted how the scientific community is tackling today's most pressing issues in environmental health, justice, and epidemiology. Experts delved into how empirical evidence, innovative methodologies, and ethical considerations are shaping global responses to environmental and epidemiological challenges. Additionally, critical topics such as air pollution, pesticide exposure, and plastic contamination were explored, emphasizing their significance for public health initiatives grounded in scientific evidence.
The conference, chaired by María Elisa Quinteros, an environmental epidemiologist from Universidad de Talca, and Verónica Iglesias, head of the epidemiology program at Universidad de Chile’s School of Public Health, drew around 60 participants from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health to Chile. Among the Columbia delegation were Ana Navas-Acien, Chair of Environmental Health Sciences at Mailman; Associate Professors Marcela Tamayo y Ortiz and Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou; Assistant Professors Maya Deyssenroth, Allison Kupsco, Robbie Parks, and Huichen Wu; Associate Research Scientist Arce Domingo; Postdoctoral Research Scientists Katlyn McGraw, Wending Li, and Ilan Cerna Turoff; and PhD candidates in the Climate and Health Program, Tessa Bloomquist, Vivian Do, Allison Stewart, and Sabah Usmani.
Beyond the scientific sessions, the conference offered a range of side events, one of which was co-organized by the Santiago Center and Mailman's Department of Environmental Health Sciences. The gathering brought together over 50 representatives from Columbia and several major Chilean universities—Universidad Católica, Universidad de Chile, Universidad Mayor, Universidad de Talca, and Universidad Católica del Maule—at Bottega Gandolini in the Vitacura district of Santiago. The Santiago Center’s director, Antonio Campaña, welcomed the group, emphasizing the Center's role in fostering collaboration between Columbia and Chile. He highlighted the Center’s commitment to environmental and climate change issues, and underscored the critical intersection of climate change and public health, as well as the attendees' role in addressing these pressing global challenges.
Professors Tamayo y Ortiz, Kioumourtzoglou and Kupsco, also shared their insights with an engaged audience.
This event not only strengthened academic partnerships but also laid the foundation for future collaborations, bringing together researchers from across the continent to tackle critical challenges together.
