Environmental Epidemiologist, Engineer & Historian; Author of "Packing Them In"; Founder of Environmental Health Research Associates
Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington Biography
Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington is an environmental epidemiologist, environmental engineer, and historian whose career spans more than three decades of research into the impact of industrial pollution on human health. Washington was the first African American to receive a doctorate in the history of science, technology, environment, and medicine from Case Western Reserve University, and the first African American woman to earn a master's degree in systems and control engineering from Case Institute of Technology. She also became the first Black woman to serve as a journeyman engineer at NASA, Region V, where she addressed public and environmental health risks of low Earth orbit missions following the Challenger disaster. Washington implemented Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Superfund, and National Environmental Policy Act regulations for effluents and solid waste from power generation sources for both private industry and NASA.
As a scholar, Washington has contributed to the field of environmental justice. She was the first African American scholar to publish a formal history of environmental injustices in the United States. She is the author of "Packing Them In: An Archaeology of Environmental Racism in Chicago, 1865-1954" and "Echoes from the Poisoned Well: Global Memories of Environmental Injustice," which are considered foundational texts in environmental history. Washington is the creator and editor-in-chief of the international environmental health disparities journal "Environmental Justice," and regularly consults for environmental law firms and grassroots community groups on the history of industrial operations, transportation systems, and municipal planning's impact on human health. She has served as a faculty member at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health and was appointed to Illinois' first Environmental Justice Commission.
Washington's expertise extends into clinical practice, informed by her personal health journey with Primary Lymphedema (Lymphedema Distichiasis). She became a practicing clinician focused on lymphatic clearance after more than 20 years of involvement with community and environmental justice activists. Washington is an interdisciplinary trained and board-certified lymphatic therapist who works with patients suffering from lymphedema, lipedema, chronic venous insufficiency, and compromised immune systems. She is the founder and chief environmental research scientist for Environmental Health Research Associates, LLC, and the founder and director of the One Drop Rule Rare Disease Foundation.
Washington's public engagement and advocacy work have earned recognition across scientific, academic, and community spheres. She serves on the editorial board of National Catholic Reporter’s EarthBeat Magazine, is an ambassador for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation and a MitoChampion for the MitoAction Foundation. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader with a focus on communicating climate change to environmental justice communities in the Great Lakes region. A former research associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Washington is the author of two books on environmental health disparities and numerous articles and chapters focused on the impacts of environmental pollution and climate change on public health. Her work has been featured on WBEZ and WTTW. Washington’s combination of engineering expertise, historical scholarship, clinical practice, and advocacy positions her as a leading voice in the environmental justice movement.
Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington Speaking Topics
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Laudato Si and its Implication for All Life
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Science, Technology and Environmental Genomics
Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington Videos
A New Approach to Addressing Climate Change
Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington. Midwest Climate Collaborative.
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How do I book Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington
Speaking fees for Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington speak about?
Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Animals & Wildlife, Black Heritage, Climate Change, Commencement, Conservation, Earth Day, Environment, Environmental Activism, Environmental Policy, Environmental Science, History, Influential Women, Sustainability -
Where does Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington travel from?
Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington generally travels from Aurora, IL, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
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Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Laudato Si and its Implication for All Life, Science, Technology and Environmental Genomics, Eugenics and Racial Disparities of Abortion in the African American Community, Climate Change and Climate Justice, Public health and Environmental health disparities. and Environmental Racism/Environmental Justice. The estimated speaking fee range to book Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington generally travels from Aurora, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Katharine Hayhoe, Jasmine Crowe-Houston, Michael Shellenberger, Alexandra Cousteau and Dr. Jonathan Foley. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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