Research Translation Core

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Research Translation Core

What do we do?

We bring information and research results about environmental health, toxic exposures, and the specific research at Duke Superfund to professionals and the general public so that they can use this information as they make decisions. In Duke’s SRC, our Research Translation Core designs activities and projects that involve both research translation and community engagement. By “research translation,” we mean communicating with professional audiences and putting information out for anyone to use. By “community engagement,” we mean working in an ongoing way with a community, listening closely to their needs and learning from their experiences.

How do we do it?

In our work, we connect with government agencies, industry professionals, community organizations, K-12 teachers, and other partners. You can read about some of our on-going projects by clicking the titles below.

On-going Activities

Partnering with Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU)

JSCU is a historically black university based in Charlotte, NC, that also receives funding from the Duke Endowment. We have brought JCSU students to Duke for a research field trip and worked with JCSU to train their community partners about brownfields and other contaminated sites. With JCSU, we have also developed a multi-day workshop connecting Charlotte-area educators and students with concepts about environmental health, environmental justice, and sustainability. Workshop participants take the experience back to their classrooms and communities. Learn about JCSU by clicking here. To read about past and upcoming workshops, visit our Environmental Justice Workshop page.

Government Connections

Public comment:
In July, 2012, the EPA proposed changes to how it regulates certain PBDEs. Since one of our lead scientists, Dr. Heather Stapleton, focuses on many of the issues surrounding PBDEs, we provided comments to EPA’s proposed changes. You can read our comments here.

Scientific testimony:
Both Dr. Stapleton and Dr. Theodore Slotkin have provided testimony, in legal or congressional settings, on issues related to Superfund chemicals. You can view their testimony…

Outreach to Industry

Furniture manufacturers:
A lot of new research looks at the effects of flame retardants on human health and how flame retardants are being used in many consumer products. We are working to develop educational materials for furniture manufacturers that explain recent research and how it may affect them.

Agricultural growers & pesticide applicators:
This project is still in the development stage – more to come soon!

Training on Research Translation

Graduate Course on Research Translation and Science Communication:
In the fall of 2012, we launched a new course for graduate students on topics and skills related to effective research translation and science communication. You can view the course syllabus and other information on the course website here. We will next offer this course in the spring semester of 2014.

Research on Research Translation & Community Engagement

We have several research projects underway to help improve our activities and those of other science outreach groups. We are researching how social media outlets are used by science outreach groups. And, we are looking at how Supplemental Environmental Projects, which are voluntarily performed by polluters during a settlement, may be used to support communities affected by Superfund chemicals.

Who are we?

Dr. Charlotte Clark
Dr. Deb Gallagher
Eileen Thorsos
Gretchen Kroeger
Noelle Wyman