York-Seoul workshop explores environmental risks
Posted on 27 September 2011
The York delegation, led by the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Cantor, includes natural, physical, social and health scientists who will join their Korean counterparts in discussing issues around environmental risk in both Korea and the UK.
The partnership agreement between York and SNU has brought real benefits to both universities
Professor Brian Cantor, Vice-Chancellor
The event from 28 to 29 September is a follow-up to a workshop in York last year on the impacts of climate change on human health and the environment, organised by Dr Alistair Boxall from the University’s Environment Department, and builds on the work of York’s Environmental Health Research Group.
The Environmental Health Research Group carries out world leading research which focuses on understanding the emissions of natural and man-made chemicals into the outside and indoor environments, chemical processes in air, soils and water, and the impacts of chemical contaminants on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as well as humans.
Dr Boxall said: “The natural environment is currently under pressure from a range of physical, chemical and biological stressors. The pressures are likely to change in the future due to alterations in climate, socio-economics and demographics.
“It is extremely important that such a big topic is discussed at a global level by international experts from a wide variety of specialist fields. This workshop will allow us to tap into the wealth of knowledge and expertise at Seoul National University which is highly complementary to the expertise at York. We have clear aims to identify specific areas for closer collaboration and the mechanisms which will make this happen.”
The Seoul joint workshop will be followed by a major East Asia workshop on Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment, at which delegates from York and Seoul will be joined by participants from China and Japan. This workshop follows a recent international prioritisation exercise co-ordinated by York, on pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment.
During the visit to Seoul, Professor Cantor and President Oh Yeon-cheon from Seoul National University (SNU) will sign a new agreement for student exchange. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of York and Seoul National University in 2009.
Professor Cantor said: “The partnership agreement between York and SNU has brought real benefits to both universities, both of which are ranked in the world’s top 100 universities.
“I am very pleased to sign a new agreement for student exchange. The excellent SNU students coming to York will enjoy a world-class student experience, while York students will be very excited about the possibility of attending SNU’s prestigious summer institutes.”
Notes to editors:
- The joint workshop - Current and future environmental risks in Korea and the UK: what are the challenges? – will be held at Seoul National University (SNU) in Korea from 28 to 29 September 2011. The East Asia workshop on Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment will take place at SNU on 30 September.
- The York delegation also includes academics from Sociology, Women’s Studies, Management and Social Policy, areas in which the University of York hopes to build new research links with Seoul National University.
- For further information on the Environmental Health Research Group within the University of York’s Environment Department visit www.york.ac.uk/environment/research/environmental-health/
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