Environmental Health Sciences and the Community

Environmental health science investigators train for many years to acquire the in-depth knowledge and expertise critical to successful research. The inherent components of hypothesis generation, study design, methodology, analysis, and interpretation of research which are central to the investigative process take years of dedicated work to develop. Moreover, the very aim of research--getting at the truth--requires an unbiased and impartial approach to answering the questions asked. However, scientists can't always do patient-oriented research on their own, which is why the community is such an important component of our success at the NIEHS. Community partners can identify environmental exposures that are of concern, encourage the public to participate in research, help to set research priorities, and provide the bridge to developing and implementing effective interventions to reduce exposures and prevent disease.