Presentations
Single Lectures
- From Environmental Toxicology to Green Chemistry.
Outlines a new approach to chemical hazards based on green chemistry, the precautionary principle, the “circular economy”, and continuous quality improvement instead of jerky jumps and leaps to new standards based on continually-changing scientific evidence and the disputes interpretation provokes.
2. Health and Sustainability: The Fulbright Lecture.
This lecture was first given at the University of Ottawa on 23 March 2015. It is a selective overview of some of the topics explored in the book Health and Sustainability: An Introduction {Oxford, 2015).
3. The role of occupational health in economic development.
This presentation includes an economic development model consistent with contemporary thinking but specifically defining the role of occ and environmental health and why both are important early, not just late, in the development process. (This was a keynote talk at the Asian Occupational Health Society in 2005.)
4. Science and the resolution of a “clash of cultures”:
How the monumental (seven-year) Western Canada Study, a study of health effects of emissions downwind from gas plants in western Canada, helped to resolve tension in a Canadian province between ranchers and the oil and gas industry. Insights into the effects of air toxics and a model for studying energy-related conflict such as shale gas development (fracking). Original data presented but not data-intensive. (TLG chaired the Scientific Advisory Panel.)
5. Hydrogen sulfide: “the toxicology of stench”.
A detailed discussion on hydrogen sulfide, its hazards and toxicology. Contains original data but mostly a toxicology lecture.
6. Occupational cancer risk of firefighters.
An overview of causation analysis for selected cancers and occupation as a firefighter from the point of view of causation analysis and compensation eligibility. It leads into a rather high-level presentation about the logic used when applying science to litigation or when serving as an expert witness, adjudicator or scientific consultant on policy issues.
7. Chemical hazards: community risk and management.
Coauthored with Stephen Borron, on emergency planning and preparation at the community level to prevent and to manage in situ or transportation incidents involving hazardous chemicals. (This was a plenary presentation at the ICOH meeting in 2006.)
8. Molecules, Meaning, and the Prepared Mind.
How the history of air pollution health research and the toxicology of photochemical air pollution depended on a convergence of individuals with unusual backgrounds and interests. Morris Katz lecture at York University (Canada) in 2008.
9. Urban ecosystems
This presentation may be of interest to environmentalists and urban planners, as well as public health professionals interested in the built environment.
10. Mold-related disease
A comprehensive review of mold-related disease other than infections, with a skeptical attitude toward the theory of “toxic mold.”
11. The “morality” of occupational health.
Adapts Lakow’s conceptualization of the “morality of politics” to occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation, showing that the field has a problem being accepted by both “moral” paradigms prevalent in the world, and so tends to be marginalized in public affairs, academic priorities, and prestige.
12. The Fort McMurray Demonstration Program in Social Marketing
Describes a 5-year health promotion and safety promotion program conducted in a city in northern Alberta, with outcomes data and lessons learned. Discusses why despite saturation programming and a workplace-community support paradigm the results were no better than other community-based programs.
13. A Case in Full
A Grand Rounds presentation that takes a worker with a health complaint (occupational asthma from isocyanate sensitization) and traces the connections and dimensions of the case, from clinical diagnosis and management to identification of the hazard, prevention in the workplace, standards setting and policy, causation analysis, workers’ compensation, impairment evaluation, fitness for duty, absence management, family income security, and the value of the man’s work from a community and environmental perspective (he weatherproofed buildings for energy conservation).
14. Evidence-based medical dispute resolution: evaluation of scientific evidence
An overview of the application of evidence-based medicine principles to resolve medicolegal issues, and aspects of being an ethical expert.
15. Occupational and environmental medicine for the future
Where the field is headed and why it remains central to the health of workers, productivity, and sustainability.
16. “Children are different”: hazards and children’s environmental health
An overview of children’s environmental health and why it is different from adult environmental health.
17. Introduction to risk science
Overview of risk assessment, risk management, risk perception, and risk communication.
Classroom-style lectures/courses suitable for students and trainees
Introduction to Toxicology (complete course and all relevant lectures)
Occupational Medicine Review course (prepared originally for the American College of Preventive Medicine)
Occupational Lung Disease (prepared originally for the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Basic Curriculum)
Introduction to risk communication. A primer on how to communicate about health risks and how to anticipate how the audience will perceive the issue. Often given to many government officials and risk managers. Also, advanced presentations are available.