DR. SALLY EDWARDS
EXPERIENCE - research, technical, managerial
Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, January 2004 –Present
Currently direct the Sustainable Children’s Products Initiative, a multi-stakeholder effort to promote the sustainable design and development of products for children. Includes stakeholder engagement efforts, research on alternatives to problematic chemicals and materials used in children’s products, and information dissemination. Previous projects included: research on sustainable product design and globalization in the toy industry, including three case studies of doll making in China, Germany and Peru; and, an investigation of sustainable product design competitions in the US and abroad. In addition, currently researching companies that are leaders in identifying, tracking, and eliminating chemicals/materials of concern in products, as a benchmarking exercise for the aerospace industry.
Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI), September 2004 – May 2005
Conducted research on methods for assessment of safer alternatives to toxic chemicals, materials and products, as part of TURI’s commitment to providing tools for industry to eliminate or reduce use of toxic chemicals.
Devens Enterprise Commission, February 2001- June 2006
Provided consulting services to Devens Enterprise Commission to support their efforts in creating an eco-industrial park at Devens, MA, the site of a former army base.
The Center for Corporate Citizenship - Boston College, June 2001 – February 2002
Provided consulting services to client who requested assistance in creating employee manual to delineate global standards for sustainable development in planning, construction, operation and management of power plants.
Focus Group, September 1999-February 2002
Provided consulting services to company specializing in environmental risk communication. Included reviewing communication materials to ensure clear messages were provided, analyzing risk communication data and developing linkages between corporate communications programs and environmental sustainability efforts in the business sector.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Anchorage, AK, September 1991- September 1998
At the State Department of Environmental Conservation, directed cooperative partnership of government and industry to promote pollution prevention in the Alaska oil and gas sector. Provided technical assistance to businesses and communities throughout Alaska to support waste reduction and recycling. Developed materials/waste exchange program for Alaskan businesses. At US EPA field office, directed AmeriCorps community service program in rural Alaska Native villages to build local leadership for community-based environmental protection. Served as Alaska co-director of the Sustainable Communities program for the US EPA Office for Innovation, based in Seattle, WA. Designed and implemented training to assist staff on sustainability issues, provided technical assistance to Alaskan communities, and administered EPA’s Sustainable Development Challenge Grant program. Served as facilitator for a variety of organizations to encourage resolution of environmental conflicts - including Alaska Railroad Corporation, Alaska Boreal Forest Council, Federal Field Working Group on Rural Sanitation, and a multi-stakeholder group addressing strategies for disposal of mine tailings.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Boston, MA, September 1984 – June 1991
Managed investigation of Superfund site in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Reviewed risk assessments for all Superfund sites in New England. Included interpreting documents and providing training regarding EPA policy and risk assessment methodologies. Provided information on health effects of chemicals and assisted in interpretation of field data. Managed the EPA Region I strategic planning process, designed to reallocate resources to areas of greatest public health and environmental risk. Developed risk communication training for EPA and state agency staff. Served on steering committee to design EPA Region I Pollution Prevention program. Served as acting chief of Planning, Analysis and Grants branch from 6/90-9/90: managed diverse staff of 25 people.
EXPERIENCE - Teaching/public speaking - selected topics/lectures
11/08: “Sustainable Product Design: Thinking Ecologically about Toys and Children’s Products”
Presentation at Revolving Museum, Lowell, MA
11/08: “The Politics of Toxics in Toys and Children’s Products: Problems and Solutions”
Lecture at Tufts University, Department of Public Health and Family Medicine
6/08: “Alternatives Assessment: A Brief Review of Methods and Approaches”
Presentation at “Advancing Alternatives Assessment for Safer Chemicals Policy: Links to the Stockholm Convention's POPRC,” Lowell, MA
6/08: “A Perfect Storm: Drivers for Sustainable Product Design in toys and children’s products”
Speaker at National Product Stewardship Forum, Boston, MA
4/08: “The Politics of Toxics in Toys and Children’s Products: Problems and Solutions”
Lecture at University of Massachusetts Lowell
3/08: “Protecting Children from Toxic Chemicals in Toys, Jewelry and other Products”
Panelist at New York State Children’s Environmental Health Symposium, Albany, NY
3/08: “Sustainable Product Design: Thinking Ecologically about Toys and Children’s Products”
Presentation at Revolving Museum, Lowell, MA
8/07: “Toys and Sustainability: What are key issues for buyers?”
Presentation to Wal-Mart toy buyers, Bentonville, Arkansas
7/07: “Product Design and Sustainability”
Presentation at NIOSH Prevention through Design Workshop, Washington, DC
5/07: “Making Toys Safer for the World’s Children: an Exploration of Globalization and Sustainable Product Design in the Toy Industry”
Lecture at University of Massachusetts, Lowell
11/05: “Gender, Environment, and Development: What are the connections?”
Guest lecturer at Boston College
10/05: “Linking Sustainable Product Design with Corporate Social Responsibility:
A consideration of Frameworks and Measurement Tools” - Speaker at Sustainable Innovation 05
10th International Conference on Sustainable Product Design, Farnham, Surrey, UK
9/05: “The Precautionary Principle in Science and Policy”
Lecture at University of Massachusetts, Lowell
9/04: “The EcoStar program: supporting Eco-Industrial Development at Devens, MA” Presentation at Commonwealth of Massachusetts conference entitled Promoting Clean Jobs
and Neighborhood Change: Building Economic and Environmental Justice
EXPERIENCE - Facilitation- selected topics/projects
2/07: Facilitated meeting entitled “Creating the Possible: Generating a Common Agenda for Health and the Environment”, White Oak Conference Center, Yulee, FL.
11/07-12/07: Facilitated two meetings of advisors who met to comment on concept papers and provide input into the Lowell Center’s strategic planning efforts, Boston, MA.
7/06-1/07: Facilitated three strategic planning retreats for Lowell Center staff, Lowell, MA.
9/05: Facilitated strategic planning session for Lowell Center Chemicals Policy Initiative,
Lowell, MA.
12/04: Facilitated working session of Lowell Center meeting of American and European experts on “Designing and Selecting Safer Alternatives for Chemicals, Materials, and Products”, Lowell, MA.
9/03: Facilitated session entitled “Incorporating Green Resources into your Building Project” at Fourth Annual Regional Sustainable Development forum at MIT, Cambridge, MA.
3/02-6/06: Facilitated EcoStar Steering Committee as consultant to the Devens Enterprise Commission. This committee (with representatives from business, government, environmental and economic development organizations) created the EcoStar program, an environmental leadership program designed to support the goals of eco-industrial development at Devens, MA. Program launched in February 2005.
EDUCATION
University of Massachusetts – Lowell, MA
Sc.D in Work Environment, June 2007.
Harvard University - School of Public Health - Boston, MA
M.S. in Environmental Health Sciences, June 1984.
Stanford University-Stanford, CA
B.A. in Human Biology, June 1980.
PUBLICATIONS
Forthcoming in 2009: Beyond Child’s Play: Sustainable Product Design in the Global Doll-making Industry. In press at Baywood Publishing Company.
Alvarez, C. and Edwards, S. (July 1, 2008). Draft report - “The Potential for Use of Bio-Based Plastics in Toys and Children’s Products.” Lowell Center for Sustainable Production.
Edwards, S., Rossi, M. and Civie, P. (2005). “Alternatives Assessment for Toxics Use Reduction: A Survey of Methods and Tools.” Methods and Policy Report No. 23. Toxics Use Reduction Institute, University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
2007 Barry Commoner Award – University of Massachusetts, Lowell
1997 EPA Bronze Medal for Leadership
1995 EPA Bronze Medal
1990 EPA Gold Medal for Exceptional Service
1989 German Marshall Fund Fellowship for European Study
1988 EPA Bronze Medal for Commendable Service
CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Sally Edwards
Lowell Center for Sustainable Production
One University Avenue
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell, MA 01854
sally_edwards@uml.edu
