School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo　Research Center for Water Environment Technology

We are currently observing unprecedented biodiversity losses and increases in non-communicable diseases, resulting from complex and interacting forcing factors, including global pollution. Global chemicals production continues to outpace implementation of technologies and environmental management systems aimed at mitigating the impacts of chemicals and waste and achieving sustainable remediation activities, especially in urban regions around the world. These realities are challenging conventional environmental assessment and management strategies. For example, common protection goals in environmental risk assessments include public health, biodiversity and ecosystem services, but our future ability to meet these goals will rely on systems-based approaches where we leverage the genetics and informatics of species to better understand and manage the risks of global pollution. We need to develop precision-based efforts that extend beyond traditional predictive tools. Advances in exposure science, exposomics, and comparative toxicology promise to accelerate development of precision approaches and associated interventions, including green and sustainable chemistry and engineering, to advance the science and improve the practice of environmental science and technology. Doing so further promises reciprocal benefits to the environment and public health, particularly by embracing One Health.

Bryan Brooks’ transdisciplinary research interests broadly include understanding and managing anthropogenic activities and stressors across levels of biological organization. He routinely works internationally on water quality, environmental contaminants, and sustainability issues, particularly related to rapidly urbanizing regions on five continents.

Bryan Brooks received his B.S. and M.S. in Biological Sciences from The University of Mississippi and his Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of North Texas. He is Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science and Biomedical Studies at Baylor University. He coordinates the Global Horizon Scanning Project, which identifies priority research questions necessary to achieve sustainable environmental quality around the world and is principal investigator on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s UNCOVER‐EH initiative, which identifies challenges and research needs for environmental health in the United States.