The Changing the Global E-waste Cycle event brought together experts in sustainability, population health, policy, and design processes to discuss the complex issues surrounding global production and transportation of electronic waste and its impact on vulnerable communities around the world.
Presentations and Panel Discussions
The event consisted of three sessions with presentations and questions or panel discussion. Speaker presentations, recordings are available below.
Session 1: Welcome & International Perspectives on E-Waste Recycling
Welcome
Rick Neitzel is an exposure scientist whose research focuses on the characterization of exposures to noise, heavy metals and other ototoxins, psychosocial stressors, and injury risk factors, as well as a range of adverse health effects associated with these exposures.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video
A global introduction to electronic waste and recycling
Rick Neitzel is an exposure scientist whose research focuses on the characterization of exposures to noise, heavy metals and other ototoxins, psychosocial stressors, and injury risk factors, as well as a range of adverse health effects associated with these exposures. He and his team in the UM Exposure Research lab work in occupational and community settings both domestically and abroad.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video
Diversity and Inclusivity in research
Krystin Carlson is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan. To Krystin, diversity in the sciences means solving scientific problems with a variety of thinking styles as well as welcoming scientists from different backgrounds.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video
Environmental justice considerations
Aubrey Langeland is a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Michigan in Environmental Health Sciences. Her work focuses on informal electronic waste recycling and occupational and environmental health in a global setting.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video
Informal e-waste recycling in Chile
Pablo Ruiz-Rudolph is a Doctor in Environmental Health working in exposure assessment and environmental epidemiology at the Environmental Health Program of the University of Chile.
Daniela Pinto Galleguillos is a nurse from the University of Chile. Currently, she is a research assistant working at the Environmental Health Program of the School of Public Health from the University of Chile.
Informal e-waste recycling in Ghana
Julius Fobil is a professor at the University of Ghana.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video
Impact of internal and external perceptions on an e-waste recycling community.
Kowit Nambunmee is a toxicologist from Thailand whose on-going research addresses Health impact in electronic waste recycling community investigating a relationship between metal exposure levels and renal dysfunction and oxidative stress.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video
Session 2: Engineering, Sustainability and Health Panel
Engineering challenges for informal e-waste recycling
Jesse Austin-Breneman is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at U-M and i director of the Global Design Laboratory. His research group focuses on developing design processes and support tools to help multi-disciplinary design teams incorporate human elements in complex system design tasks.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video
Sustainability and life cycle analysis in informal e-waste recycling
Professor Jolliet's research and teaching programs aim to assess environmental risks and impacts of chemicals and of innovative technologies. He co-initiated the UNEP (United Nations Environment Program)/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative and is the scientific manager of its Life Cycle Impact Assessment program.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video
Hazardous occupational and community exposures in informal e-waste recycling
Rick Neitzel is an exposure scientist whose research focuses on the characterization of exposures to noise, heavy metals and other ototoxins, psychosocial stressors, and injury risk factors, as well as a range of adverse health effects associated with these exposures. His work, and the work of his team in the UM Exposure Research lab takes place in occupational and community settings both domestically and abroad.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video
Health concerns among informal e-waste recyclers
Denisse Parra Giordano performs research associated with the health of workers and quality of life and nursing at the University of Chile. She also works to support the development of the Nursing Department as Coordinator of the Research Commission.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video
Session 2 Panel Discussion
Session 3: Policy, Sociotechnical, and Industry Issues Panel
United Nations University and informal e-waste recycling
Violeta Nikolova is a Research Associate at the United Nations University’s Scycle team based at the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany. She represents the United Nations University in several research project consortia focused on the development of sustainable production, consumption/usagewith a special focus on electrical and electronic equipment.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video
E-waste, the business perspective
Dan Reid is the Environmental Program Manager at the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA). The RBA facilitates collaboration and dialogue among companies, civil society, and governments to gather perspectives and expertise in order to enable their member companies’ commitment to supporting the rights and well-being of workers and communities worldwide affected by the global electronics supply chain.
Sociotechnical issues in e-waste recycling
Shobita Parthasarathy is Associate Professor of Public Policy and Women's Studies at the University of Michigan. She is the author of multiple articles and two books. Her new research aims to develop a better understanding of efforts to use science and technology to alleviate poverty and inequality, with a focus on India.
Politics and Policy Issues in E-Waste Recycling in Chile
Uca Silva is a researcher, academic, and consultant, specializing in issues of Communication, Information Technology and Communication, and Electrical and electronic waste and executive director for Regional Platform for electric and electronic waste for Latin America and the Caribbean, RELAC Platform.
Gloria Baigorrotegui is a professor at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile.
Formalizing the e-waste recycling in Thailand
Dr. Panate Manomaivibool is a full-time lecturer at the School of Science and a member of the Materials for Energy and Environment Research Group at Mae Fah Luang University. He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering (Industrial and Environmental Economics) from Lund University, Sweden.
View the presentation (PDF) | Watch the Video