Kansas City, Missouri
in submissions reflected growing enthu - siasm for sharing research, innovative approaches, and practical solutions. Pre- sentations explored a wide range of topics, including food safety, air and water quality, infectious disease surveillance, emerging contaminants, occupational health, and recreational water safety. Other posters examined the growing impacts of climate change, emergency preparedness, envi- ronmental justice, workforce develop- ment, and community resilience. Innova- tive applications of AI, data modeling, and surveillance technologies demonstrated how new tools are helping environmen- tal health professionals better understand risks and inform public health decisions. The Poster Session also celebrated the next generation of environmental health professionals through the undergraduate and graduate Student Research Compe- tition. Together, the posters reflected the interdisciplinary nature of environmental health and the creativity, dedication, and collaboration driving the field forward. The session offered attendees an oppor- tunity to connect with researchers, prac- titioners, and students to exchange ideas and discover promising approaches to some of today’s most pressing challenges.
these on-demand presentations comple- mented the in-person program, offering attendees greater flexibility to explore top - ics of interest while broadening access to research, practical strategies, and emerg- ing perspectives across the environmental health profession. Poster Session
to a diverse collection of prerecorded vir- tual presentations available on-demand throughout the conference. These ses- sions expanded the educational program by exploring a wide range of environmen- tal health topics, including food safety, water quality, emerging contaminants, cli- mate resilience, and environmental health equity. Food safety presentations exam- ined regulatory program improvements, emerging technologies, food additives, and community outreach, while water quality sessions addressed lead and nitrate con- tamination, cyanobacteria, and the public health implications of environmental expo- sures. Emergency preparedness and resil- ience were also prominent themes, with presentations highlighting responses to environmental emergencies, extreme heat, and the unique challenges facing rural and frontier communities. Additional ses- sions explored childhood injury prevention, indoor air quality, radon, drowning preven- tion, and the intersection of environmental conditions and health disparities. Emerg- ing approaches to environmental health practice, including AI, data-driven deci- sion-making, and collaborative community engagement, reinforced the importance of innovation and partnerships. Together,
The 2026 AEC Poster Session showcased the impressive breadth and diversity of environmental health research, innova- tion, and practice, highlighting the impor- tant work being done to address emerging challenges and protect communities. This year saw an unprecedented level of inter- est, with 60 poster abstract submissions, a remarkable increase over the 10–15 typi- cally received in previous years. This surge
2026 AEC Session Tracks & Subtopics
1. Climate & Health
5. Food Safety » Cannabis
8. Infectious & Vector-borne Diseases » Pathogens & Outbreaks » Vector Control & Zoonotic Diseases 9. National Center for Environmental Health 10. RFFM/Retail Program Standards 11. Water Quality
» Adaptation & Mitigation » Air Quality » Drought » Extreme Heat
» Food Safety & Defense » Retail & Home Restaurants 6. General Environmental Health » Body Art » Emerging Environmental Health Issues » Fentanyl » Food Waste
» Extreme Rainfall » Extreme Weather » Flooding » Hurricanes » Wildfires 2. Data & Technology » AI » Data Modernization
» Onsite Wastewater » Premise Plumbing » Private Drinking Water » Recreational Water » Shorelines
» General Environmental Health » Global Environmental Health » Hazardous & Toxic Materials
» Water Quality » Water Reuse 12. Workforce & Leadership
» Solid Waste » Sustainability 7. Healthy Communities
» Environmental Health Tracking & Informatics » Technology & Environmental Health 3. Emergency Readiness, Recovery, & Resilience 4. Focused Populations » Children’s Environmental Health
» Leadership & Management » Student & Young Professional Career Development » Workforce Diversity
» Environmental Health Impact Assessments » Healthy Homes & Communities » Indoor Air Quality
» Lead » PFAS
» Environmental Justice » Uniformed Services
» Risk Communication » Schools & Institutions
53
November 2026 • Journal of Environmental Health
Powered by FlippingBook