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National PFAS Conference Achievement Awards

National PFAS Conference 2026

June 8-10 | Tucson, Arizona
University of Arizona

Join us for the National 2026 PFAS Conference in the hidden gem in the desert. This conference series is uniquely designed to exchange information, provide support to PFAS-affected communities, and facilitate engagement across diverse sectors involved with PFAS to accelerate the protection of health and the environment. 

Registration and Program  Poster Abstracts  Venue  Pre-Conference Activities Sponsorships 

Accommodations  Achievement Awards  Travel Awards Organizers Local Attractions  CME Workshop

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National PFAS Conference Achievement Awards

Congratulations to this year's Conference Achievement Award Winners!

PFAS achievement award winners

Award Descriptions:

Trailblazer Award: The Trailblazer Award celebrates those pioneers who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, courage, and impact by forging a new path that challenged conventional thinking, opened new frontiers, and inspired transformative change in advancing PFAS understanding and/or health protective action. 

Humanitarian Award: The Humanitarian Award honors individuals whose PFAS work has profoundly advanced human welfare, social justice, and global well-being. This award recognizes those who apply their expertise, leadership, and compassion to address societal PFAS challenges and improve lives—especially among underserved or vulnerable populations. The purpose of this award is to celebrate individuals who exemplify the highest ideals of humanitarian service through research, advocacy, innovation, and/or action.

Lifetime Achievement Award: The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a distinguished individual whose career has been marked by sustained excellence, groundbreaking discoveries, and enduring contributions to PFAS understanding and/or health protective action. The purpose of this award is to celebrate a lifetime of achievement and honor those whose work has inspired or trained generations and has left their positive impact or “legacy” on their respective field.

Prior Awardees 

Trailblazer Award:

Mark Strynar, Ph.D., Physical Scientist, U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development 

Gloria Post, Ph.D., Research Scientist, NJ Department of Environmental Protection (Retired)

Humanitarian Impact Award: 

Robert Bilott, Partner, Taft 

Lifetime Achievement Award: 

Alan Ducatman, M.D. MSc., Professor Emeritus, Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, West Virginia University

Helen Goeden, Ph.D., Senior Toxicologist/Risk Assessor, Minnesota Department of Health (Retired)

Andrew Lindstrom, Ph.D., Research Physical Scientist, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Retired)

Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D. D.A.B.T., A.T.S., National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program Directory (Emeritus Director) 

Awards Ceremony Photos and Recordings:

2022 National PFAS Conference Award Presentation (photos below).

2024 National PFAS Conference Awards Presentation Recording: Strynar, Post, Ducatman, Goeden, Bilott

​Support for the 2026 National PFAS Conference was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the view of the Foundation.

This conference is also supported by the National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R13ES038007. The content is solely the responsibility of the organizers and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

The 2026 National PFAS Conference is planned in collaboration between multiple centers funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, including the University of Arizona Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center (P30ES006694), University of Arizona Superfund Research Center  (P42ES004940), North Carolina State University Center for Human Health and the Environment (P30ES025128), Northeastern University  PROTECT Center (P42ES017198), North Carolina State University Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS (P42ES031009), University of Southern California Superfund Research and Trading Program for PFAS Assessment, Remediation, and Prevention (P42ES036506), and University of Rhode Island STEEP Center (P42ES027706). The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the NIH; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Funded by the Provost Investment Fund.

Acknowledgement
We extend our sincere appreciation to Linda Robles and Mothers for Safe Air & Safe Water Force for their leadership and partnership in coordinating with the University of Arizona Office of Research Partnerships and the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Their collaboration and commitment made it possible to bring the 2026 National PFAS Conference to Arizona.

We are committed to fostering a culture of diverse and inclusive excellence in which persons of all identities and from all backgrounds feel welcomed, supported, and encouraged to engage in the free and open exchange of ideas. Our dedication to excellence means that attendees at this events can expect to experience a safe environment free of discrimination and harassment. Behaviors that do not uphold the highest standards of integrity and professional ethics are contrary to our mission and values. Sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, or sexual assault will not be tolerated. Individuals violating this policy are subject to immediate removal from the event.