National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is one of 27 Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH),which is a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Director of the NIEHS is Dr. David A. Schwartz. NIEHS is located on 375 acres in Research Triangle Park (RTP).

The mission of the NIEHS is to reduce the burden of human illness and disability by understanding how the environment influences the development and progression of human disease. NIEHS focuses on basic science, disease-oriented research, global environmental health, and multidisciplinary training for researchers.

NIEHS researchers and grantees have shown the deadly effects of asbestos exposure, the developmental impairment of children exposed to lead and the health effects of urban pollution. This is the laboratory of the 1994 co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in medicine, Dr. Martin Rodbell. Here scientists that same year had a key role in identifying the first breast cancer gene, BRCA1, and, in 1995, identified a gene that suppresses prostate cancer. Here is where genetically altered mice have been developed -- to improve and shorten the screening of potential toxins and to help develop aspirin-like anti-inflammatory drugs with fewer side effects.

The Institute funds centers for environmental health studies at universities across the United States, including Harvard University, Oregon State University, Vanderbilt University, the University of California at Berkeley, and MIT.

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Educational Resources

Students

Homework Resources

Links to websites and information that can help students with reports, papers and general homework related to the Environmental Health Sciences. This information is contained in several different formats including

• Factsheets (Mostly for grades 9+ on a large variety of topics)
• Pamphlets (Appropriate for grades 5+ many for 9+ on a variety of topics)
• News (Mostly for grades 9+)
• Video (Videos on the environment for grades K+ and toxicology resources for grades 9+)

Online Activities

A listing of activities for students to do online to further their understanding of environmental health issues. Includes:

• General web resources (Web activities for a wide range of age groups)
• Online Storybooks (Appropriate for grades K-8)

Summer Opportunities

Various career-related resources including links to summer internships, fellowships, summer camps and interviews with scientists for grades K-12+.

Teachers

Curricular Materials

Various materials designed for teachers to aid them in bringing environmental health science to their students. Including:

• General information ranging from procedural instructions to modules and collections of relevant files. (Resources available for all ages on a wide variety of topics in ZIP, HTML, and PDF formats)
• Entire lesson plans designed to make it possible to bring health science education into any classroom. (Mostly for grades 5-12)
• Presentations on specific topics including lead, medicine, and the environment. (Mostly for grades 5-12 in PDF format)
• Web based activities for teachers to do with their classes. (Activities for all ages available)
• Videos (All ages)

Lesson Resources

A wide array of educational materials to be included in any lesson on Environmental Health Science. Including:

• Interviews with different scientists including microbiologists, growth doctors, environmental analysts on what they do. (Mostly for grades 5-12)
• Factsheets with information relevant to many different topics. (Grades 9+)
• Pamphlets on a variety of topics related to environmental health science. (Mostly for grades 5+)
• Brochures on various topics including summer and work opportunities. (Mostly for grades 9+)
• News related to an array of environmental health science topics. (Mostly for grades 9+)
• Flyers mostly on ways to keep homes as a safe environment for health. (Mostly K-12, includes Arabic translations)
• Videos on environmental and toxicological subjects. (All ages)
• Websites on various environmental health science topics. (All ages)

Professional Development

Opportunities including workshops, training, and research for teachers of all grades.