Ecology Center's annual fall event to feature country's leading authority on healthier communities

Richard Jackson, a scholar whose work has reached a wider audience through his role as author, host and narrator of the Public Broadcasting Service series Designing Healthy Communities, will be the featured speaker at the Ecology Center’s annual fall event October 4.

Jackson, one of the country’s most influential scholars on environmental health and its role in the design of sustainable communities, is professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Health at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health. He has published numerous articles on environmental impacts on health ranging from toxicology, chemical body burdens, terrorism, sustainability, climate change, urban design and architecture.

In the PBS series, Jackson looks at the impact the built environment has on public health – obesity, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, cancer and depression. He connects bad community design with burgeoning health costs, then analyzes and illustrates what citizens are doing by looking upstream for innovative solutions.  The program will air on Detroit Public Television on Oct. 21 (parts 1 and 2), and Oct. 28 (parts 3 and 4).

“We’re very honored to be able to bring Dick Jackson to our community for what we’re sure will be a very provocative presentation,” according to Michael Garfield, director of the Ecology Center. “His research is very closely related to some of the most important environmental issues facing our region, and he has influenced much of our advocacy and policy work in these areas.”

The Ecology Center’s fall event will include a reception and dinner with presentation to follow at the University of Michigan Union Ballroom. To purchase tickets, click here.  For more information on becoming a sponsor or host, contact Jenn Ketz at info@ecocenter.org.