A Strategy for Improving K-12 Environmental Health Science Education in the United States

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) supports an array of environmental health science education activities through a variety of extramural and intramural programs. The purpose of these initiatives is to help individuals better understand the effects and risks to human health from physical and social factors. These initiatives stem from the NIEHS' recognition that the lay community requires greater knowledge about environmental health issues as the public is increasingly challenged to make decisions on the risks and benefits of agents that permeate society. In addition, the NIEHS sees these programs as an investment in the future of our society and environmental health sciences. We describe the programs and highlight projects that demonstrate how these efforts are being applied.