ISEE Strategic Plan document

2/9/2017

Dear ISEE member,

The ISEE Council, incorporating feedback from about 40 ISEE members, developed a first draft Strategic Plan for the society effective 2017-2020.

We need your feedback, it is important to get our priorities right!

We are in the process of finalizing the Strategic Plan including priority areas and priority actions for these areas; for example actions regarding more efficient communication, or actions to promote educational activities or to increase our membership in Asia.

We created a blog on the ISEE Europe website to give you the opportunity to comment on the Strategic Plan document. Please click here to access the document:

We thank you for your help.

Manolis Kogevinas, President ISEE
Ulrike Gehring, Councilor ISEE- coordinator of the ISEE Strategic Plan

Disclaimer: Unless clearly stated, the views published in this blog do not represent ISEE’s views.

Manolis Kogevinas link

2/12/2017 07:56:15 pm

The ISEE Council incorporating feedback from about 40 ISEE members developed a first draft Strategic Plan for the society for 2017-2020. We are proposing for example actions to do more efficient communication, actions to promote educational activities, to increase our membership in Asia.
We need your feedback, it is important to get our priorities and actions right! We have limited funding and a great membership and we have to invest both money, time and know-how intelligently.
I finally would like to thank Ulrike Gehring, Councilor of ISEE for the great work she did coordinating this work. It will undoubtedly help the society grow and be more efficient.
Manolis Kogevinas
President ISEE

SHU-Li Wang

2/14/2017 03:55:53 pm

International collaborations using similar approach to collect data is necessary.

Maria Fiore

2/15/2017 09:29:54 am

I agree.

Hanns Moshammer

2/14/2017 03:53:42 pm

I will certainly not read 26 pages. But I want to tell you that I think it is a laudable action to try developing a strategic plan. Generally speaking I do really feel comfortable and at home within ISEE. It is a great honor and pleasure to be a member. I do like the society's policy statements and the policy relevance of the research conducted by the society's members. I do feel our work is relevant and meeting like-minded researchers from all over the world is a help and true support in dark times. I am happy with ISEE as it is.

Rajendra Parajuli

2/14/2017 06:42:57 pm

ISEE is doing excellent effort right now. Few improvements like option of life member, networking for collaboration via group mail, career support by having job hunt lunch/ dinner reception by young research in ISEE meeting can be further discussed. Best wishes for leadership.

Radim Sram

2/15/2017 10:28:31 am

You will be very kind to advice me, where I can find ISEE Strategic plan. Thank you.

With best wishes

Radim Sram

Anders Erickson

3/23/2017 11:43:21 pm

You may have found it by now, but here is the link.

http://www.isee-europe.com/uploads/4/7/0/6/47066395/sp_isee_draft_13022017_2.pdf

jordi sunyer

2/15/2017 05:45:50 pm

Inspired by ATS that organizes courses of respiratory epidemiology for developing countries, an idea is to have a group of volunteers to teach one week environmental epidemiology course to spread methods for developing countries.
In relation to policy, the European ISEE section could set ad-hoc working groups to follow (and participate if possible) in the EU parliament environmental issues with potential impact on health.

Ana Maria Mora

2/23/2017 09:41:51 pm

I think that the idea of having senior researchers teaching environmental epidemiology courses in developing countries is great. It would be good to invite experienced researchers not only from European countries and the US, but also from the countries where the courses will take place (if available). Would ISEE be able to cover the costs of organizing these courses? I am sure that other funding sources within the developing countries (e.g., universities) could be found.

María Guadalupe Garibay-Chavez link

2/17/2017 05:07:41 pm

I believe that it is important for a strategic plan to carry out more work in the Network to increase institutional and professional capacities in environmental health, specifically short training programs with economic support between institutions in developed and developing countries,
Conducting research projects and joint programs on traditional and emerging priority themes, for example; Climate change, air pollution, new threats to health in modern and rapidly expanding societies, strategies for health promotion and risk prevention, health policy reviews, health sector performance, health personnel competitiveness in the face of new Problems and challenges in health, revision of classification of diseases, elimination of garbage codes, adequate certification of death, risk communication, etc.
Possibilities for dissemination of environmental health in mass media including internet and social media.

I do not see the movement towards interdisciplinary environmental health research as a threat. On the contrary, I believe that health should be seen as an object of interdisciplinary study, as defined by the field of environmental health.

The need to maintain more means for publication of results, where the diversity of experiences and profiles are represented.

Manolis Kogevinas

3/6/2017 10:07:54 pm

Maria Guadalupe, Fully Agree. We have initiated for the first time an education committee to set up courses and webinars. This committee will work closely with the Capacity Building committee.
Concerning threats, you are right, but you refer to the draft document we had initially through inputs from a few ISEE members that is shown at the end of the document. The Threats indicated in the final SWOT (page 8) are:
1. Political priority/support not being translated to research funds
2. General reduction of research funds

Iman Al-Saleh

2/17/2017 09:07:03 pm

It looks a very good plan, wishing you all the best.
The ISEE needs to:
-Expand on International collaboration by informing all members of any new opportunities.
- Offer educational activities such as presentations and webinars in ISEE website.

Firdu Zawide

2/22/2017 06:51:34 am

Developing a strategic plan is a step in the right direction . However given the limitation of available resources to implement the plan there is a need to set priorities and at the same time to strengthen the Secretariat by assigning full time staff and providing office facilities . The operational budget for each year should be determined based on priority activities to be implemented and the source of funding identified .

Raymond R Neutra MD

3/3/2017 07:54:51 pm

Adetoun Moustepha suggested this modification of the mission statement with which I agree.
"To foster epidemiological studies on the effects of environmental exposures in people, stimulate communication between health professionals, promote methodological advances, and strengthen environmental health policy and research ethics."

Manolis Kogevinas

3/6/2017 10:13:07 pm

Ray, Toun, interesting addition (... and research ethics) that complements the previously stated mission. Actually at the Council we discussed for quite some time different versions of the Mission of ISEE, in fcat we did not have an official Mission statement. It is true that Ethics are not well covered in the draft Plan we circulated. It would be nice to get some more comments on this issue from our memebrs.

Anders Erickson

3/24/2017 12:15:17 am

I agree that adding 'research ethics' to the mission statement presents an interesting conumdrum. It is of course an important, if not vital, principle that is (or should be) entrenched in all research activities. By including it in the mission statement mandates that special attention be paid to it (which is not really the case now as far as I can tell). It presents the opportunity to expand the membership base to folks who specialize in environmental health research ethics, or resaerch ethics in general. Regardless of whether it is added to the mission statement or not, more content on research ethics should be included on the new website as a resource.

Arturo Curiel link

3/6/2017 09:51:50 pm

The movement towards interdisciplinary environmental health research is a Strengths. Not a Threat.

Manolis Kogevinas

3/6/2017 10:01:20 pm

Arturo, Fully Agree. The Threats indicated in the final SWOT (page 8) are:
1. Political priority/support not being translated to research funds
2. General reduction of research funds

You refer to the initial responses we got that were the basis for the discussion. These are quoted somewhere at the edn of the document to facilitate discussion, they wil be removed from the final document

Nelson Gouveia

3/7/2017 10:12:52 pm

I agree with most comments so far but I´d add to increase membership not just in Asia but also in Latin America, which I think is still under represented. Educational activities are very important (the LAC chapter is organizing an online course which could be replicated in other places). Support for young investigators through the SNRN. The Society can also act as a catalyst for south-north as well as south-south collaborations. Perhaps look for non-conventional (or known) sources of funding could be important at this moment. Define some systematic way of deciding on political priorities.

Narges Khanjani

3/10/2017 04:49:55 pm

Please also consider:
- the possibility of expanding international collaboration between world scientists and using the expertise of senior researchers in developing countries (in opportunities)
- creating the opportunity for job advertisements and supporting scientists in career development

Raymond R Neutra MD

3/11/2017 07:52:26 am

Here is a suggested mission statement, improved by Colin S, Helene Margolis and Adetoun

"To foster and advance environmental epidemiological research, facilitate communication and cooperation, integrate ethics and philosophic principles into epidemiological practice, and strengthen evidence-based environmental health policy."

Telma Nery

3/20/2017 05:43:51 am

Hail, I read all the material. Congratulations to all participants and organizers.It is very good.
The suggestions and comments presented above are also important.
I agree with everything presented, specially "..and strengthen evidence-based environmental health policy."

Looking at the mission, objectives and needs, I would like to add that it may be important to strengthen the activities of members, strengthened by all society (ISEE), TOGETHER with local and regional governments. For example, in Brazil we had recent elections for the more than 5 thousand municipalities. They are the mayors and teams who will structure policies / actions in environmental health. If ISEE members are able to present material, course, debates to the technicians, it will be essential to initiate discussion and amplify measures. Another front that I observe, strengthening through participation in local regional forums, with public ministries / public defender bodies. For example, in recent debates with the Federal Public Ministry, I asked for "help" with studies on water for Capitluo LAC members. With the documentation sent and presented it was possible to sensitize members of the discussion and increase proposals for public health.
I believe that working with other institutions to disseminate data, mission, vision of ISEE, will contribute to the strengthening of society.Lastly, I would like to suggest a "focus" on undergraduate students, not yet focused, with a discussion during the training of these students, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, strengthening environmental health policies (perhaps through Teachers, members, etc.).

Regina Grazuleviciene

3/20/2017 10:54:05 am

The ISEE’s Strategic Plan for 2017-2020 looks feasible. The Plan clearly defines the strategic priorities and priority actions for the next 4 years. I like the vision: “A worldwide scientific association in environmental epidemiology with impact in research, training (teaching) and policy”. The mission is clearly stated: “To foster epidemiological studies on the effects of environmental exposures in people, stimulate communication between health professionals, promote methodological advances, and strengthen environmental health policy”. Such mission will have significant impact for society through the increasing knowledge of environmental health specialists, change human behavior, and awareness rising. However, the implementation of the mission also depends on activity and participation of all the members of the society in the process.
I wish good luck for President and the Council of ISEE

Anders Erickson

3/24/2017 01:08:29 am

Overall, I think the ISEE’s Strategic Plan for 2017-2020 looks good and is feasible with the defined action plans. Two comments:

1. In my opinion, the strength of such an organization lies with the expertise of the membership to release collective policy statements on priority issues concerning human health and the environment. This is reflected in section 5.5 on Policy and is great to see emphasized. I would only add that maybe taking a regional approach to formulating/identifying policy statements would be beneficial as of course these differ by region (although there are definitely global or trans-national issues, e.g. climate change, e-waste, etc.).

2. Regarding membership - what is the appetite of targeting users of epidemiological evidence but who are not epidemiologist themselves? This may also fall under Capacity Building and Education. Would it be wise to develop content and training materials for non-epidemiologist as a risk communication, knowledge translation tool? This may also include training tool-kits of varying complexity aimed at educating youth/undergraduates and non-epi. health professionals and policy makers. A call out to members to help develop such regional-appropriate content once a template is established may help engage current members who are well-intensioned but not sure how to help on small projects.

thanks,

Laís Fajersztajn

4/1/2017 12:42:09 am

The plan is very good. I was just wondering if capacity building strategies also include specifc strategies for data availability (sharing existing data and developing quality data in middle-low income regions). This is a crucial problem for research in many regions and I'm not sure if training is enough to overcome this challenge. Maybe data could be more emphasized at the plan.

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﻿ISEE Strategic Plan document

ISEE Strategic Plan document