Introduction
The International Society of Exposure Science (intlexposurescience.org) is a non-profit scientificsociety established in 1989 to advance exposure science and promote its role in environmentalepidemiology, environmental policy making, ecosystem protection, and human health. ISESconvenes an annual scientific meeting and publishes its official peer-reviewed scientific journal— the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology — in partnership withSpringer Nature.
ISES™ Vision
To better our world, its ecosystems, and inhabitants, by creating a community that advances and integrates exposure science into research and action.
ISES™ Mission
The International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) promotes and advances exposure science as it relates to the complex inter-relationships between human populations, communities, ecosystems, wildlife, and chemical, biological, and physical agents, and nonchemical stressors. ISES members have diverse expertise and training in biological, physical, environmental, social sciences, and various engineering disciplines. According to the National Research Council, “exposure science links human and ecological behavior to environmental processes in such a way that the information generated can be used to mitigate or prevent future adverse exposures.”
Why ISES™
There are three factors about the Society that make it unique and relevant as it relates to other societies and initiatives. It is multidisciplinary in that the Society’s members are individual scientists representing a broad array of disciplines, including: exposure assessment, chemistry, biochemistry, risk assessment, biostatistics, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, ecology, environmental fate and transport, and environmental engineering. ISES welcomes members from academia, government, and the private sector who serve as scientists, scientific managers, and policy makers. It has an international focus which provides support and perspective for the membership with very diverse and unique circumstances. The Society focuses on exposure science using information to prevent adverse exposures to human beings, land, animals as well as water and air and in doing so improve well-being for our world.
Accomplishments
In 2019 the Society celebrated its 30th anniversary and some of the many accomplishments in the field of exposure science since 1989 are:
- Reduction of children’s lead exposures
- Advancement of biomonitoring
- Understanding of exposure to emerging contaminants, like PFAS
- Assessment of cumulative and aggregate pesticide exposure
- Hazards associated with exposure to second-hand smoke
- Strategies for European REACH legislation Task Force Members
Strategic Plan Task Force
A special thanks goes out to the following members for dedicating a tremendous amount of time, energy, and sweat equity during the development of this plan.
Paloma Beamer, Ph.D.
Tim Buckley, Ph.D.
Karen Galea, Ph.D.
Erin Haynes, Dr.PH, M.S.
Elizabeth Marder, Ph.D., M.S.
Jamaji Nwanaji-Enwerem, Ph.D.
Crystal Romeo Upperman, Ph.D.
Jonathan Thornburg, Ph.D.
Nicolle Tulve, Ph.D.
Strategic Plan Process
The creation and design of this strategic plan took approximately 12 months to research, interview, develop and edit. During this 12-month period, the following activities and milestones were achieved:
• Interviews of key stakeholders
• Surveys of current and lapsed members
• In-person interviews and focus groups at the annual meeting
• 11 conference calls with the task force
Along the way, the Board of Directors was informed about the progress and provided with opportunities to provide feedback. The strategic plan consists of 4 major goals and 24 initiatives. Each initiative has been assigned to a committee or committees for implementation. The BOD will review progress on this 5 year plan on a quarterly basis and modify if necessary.
Goals:
- Advance the discipline of exposure science through education, advocacy, and collaboration.
- Broaden the Society by growing membership with an emphasis on global, student/new researcher, and discipline expansion.
- Create a diverse and international community of exposure science professionals that is welcoming, collaborative, and nurturing across our government, academic and private sectors.
- Maintain the relevance, impact, resilience, and sustainability of ISES to serve current and future generations through the implementation of administrative and financial structures and processes that are efficient and promote growth.