Through this comprehensive and hopeful perspective, Dr. Samuel Myers, MD, MPH will present strategies to mitigate environmental changes, including controlling toxic exposures, investing in clean energy, and improving urban design. The McDonnell Academy ST Lee Lecture, Safeguarding Human Health on a Rapidly Changing Planet, will offer a solid foundation in addressing the new challenges posed by our changing planet.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 | 5:00PM
Clark-Fox Forum, Hillman Hall
Danforth Campus, WashU
Sam Myers is a Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is interested in policy interventions to improve human health while stabilizing Earth’s natural systems. As Director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health and the Planetary Health Alliance, Myers oversees multi-institutional efforts (over 480 organizations in over 80 countries) focused on understanding and quantifying the human health impacts of global environmental change and translating that understanding into action globally. He is the co-editor with Howard Frumkin of “Planetary Health: Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves,” which was voted one of the 25 Best Books of All Time by American Journal of Health Promotion in 2021. Myers has authored over 100 peer reviewed articles and book chapters.
Prior to joining Johns Hopkins University, Myers was a Principal Research Scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His projects include exploring the human nutritional consequences of rising concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere, falling populations of pollinating insects, changes in global fisheries in response to ocean warming, and impacts of climate shocks and market responses on food security in Africa. For his research, Myers as the inaugural recipient of the Arrell Global Food Innovation Award in 2018 and Prince Albert II of Monaco prize for research at the interface of health and environment in 2015.
5:00 – 6:30PM
- Welcome & Introductions | Laura Benoist, Director, McDonnell Academy
- Lecture | Q&A: Safeguarding Human Health on a Rapidly Changing Planet
- Samuel Myers, MD
- Moderator | Lora Iannotti
6:30 – 7:30PM Reception will immediately follow presentation and Q&A.
Created in 2009, The S.T. Lee Endowed Lecture series offers unique opportunities for students at Washington University to learn about issues of global leadership from today’s world leaders.
The series has been made possible by a generous gift from Dr. Seng Tee Lee, through his establishment of The S.T. Lee Endowed Lecture Fund to the McDonnell International Scholars Academy, and it hosts distinguished guest speakers in business, academia, government, and the nonprofit sector from around the world.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the foremost experts in planetary health and understand how we can protect our health by protecting the environment.