National PFAS Conference Registration
Registration to the PFAS National Conference is now open!
If you are paying with funds from the University of Arizona OR funds from a PO, please email PFAS2026@arizona.edu for instructions.
If you are Media, please contact Nick at nprevenas@arizona.edu or Niranjana at niranjanar@arizona.edu.
Full Registration Here
Please don't forget to check out and register for the pre-conference tours.
If you applied for a travel award, please do not register yet. You will receive instructions shortly.
Conference Program
We are working to finalize parts of this program. Please be aware that parts of it may change and check back regularly for updates.
Pre-Conference Evening Reception - Sunday, June 7, 2026 from 5 pm to 7 pm | |
| 5:00 PM | Check-in and Registration |
| 6:00 PM | Chi'Chino Spirit O’Odham Dance Group Performance |
Day 1 - Monday, June 8, 2026 | |
| 7:30- 8:00 | Check-in and Registration |
| 8:00-8:05 | Welcome |
| 8:05-8:30 | Conference Blessing and Opening Keynote: Roman Orona, Environmental Programs Manager, Ak-Chin Indian Community |
| 8:30-10:00 | Session 1 - The PFAS Story in Arizona: Speakers will provide community perspectives, overview of PFAS scientific discovery and response in Arizona Chairs: Paloma Beamer, University of Arizona College of Public Health; Linda Robles, Mothers for Safe Air & Safe Water Force Speakers: Linda Robles, Mothers for Safe Air & Safe Water Force; Chris Avery, Tucson Water; Robin Lucky, Calabasas Alliance; Matt Narter, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality |
| 10:00-10:30 | Break with Continental Breakfast |
| 10:30-12:00 | Session 2 - Tools to Address Cumulative Impacts and Mixtures: Speakers will highlight community needs as well as scientific and policy perspectives in relation to common co-exposures and social stressors Chairs: Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta, University of Arizona; Max Aung, University of Southern California Speakers: Yolanda Herrera, Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site Unified Community Advisory Board; Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta, University of Arizona; Max Aung, University of Southern California; Julia Varshavsky, Northeastern University |
| 12:00-1:00 | Lunch and Learn Topics: Equitable Research Partnerships in the Participatory Sciences, Communication, and Support with Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta, Linda Robles, and God's Gift Chukwuonye PFAS and Chill: Let's Talk Refrigerant with Katie Pelch and Anna Reade, NRDC Movement in Storytelling with Devavani Chatterjea NSF: PFAS Certifications and Claims with Terra Vincent-Hall, NSF International |
| 1:00-1:30 | Afternoon Keynote: Toxic Substance Control Act Updates - Avi Kar, NRDC |
| 1:30-3:00 | Session 3 - PFAS Policy Initiatives: Federal and State Responses Chairs: Erica Bloom, Ecology Center; Emily Donovan, Clean Cape Fear; Gemma Smith, University of Arizona Speakers: Jose L. Villegas, Sr., La Cieneguilla Land Grant/Pueblo, Santa Fe County, NM; Melanie Benesh, Environmental Working Group; Suzanne Novak, EarthJustice; Gretchen Salter, Safer States |
| 3:00-3:30 | Coffee Break |
| 3:30-5:00 | Session 4 - Updates on Sewage Sludge and Implications for Exposure: Speakers will review the recent research on sewage sludge, how it impacts the environment including wildlife and implications for dietary exposure. Chair: Laura Orlando, Just Zero Speakers: Tony Coleman, Iron Cross Land and Cattle Company LLC; Steven Lasee, Lasee Research and Consulting; Courtney Carignan, Michigan State University; Abby Fleisch, MaineHealth Institute for Research; Lisa Rokoff, MaineHealth Institute for Research |
| 5:00 – 6:00 | Poster Session |
Day 2 - Tuesday June 9, 2026 | |
| 7:30- 8:00 | Check-in and Registration |
| 8:00-8:30 | Morning Keynote: Unbreakable Bonds- The synergy of science, policy and community in the "forever chemicals story." - Devavani Chatterjea, PhD, MPH, Director of Environmental Studies at Carleton College |
| 8:30-10:00 | Session 5 - Health Effects Updates: Scientific speakers sharing most cutting-edge findings and community perspectives on needs. Efforts will be made to focus on mixtures, short chain PFAS and precursors Chairs: Melissa Furlong, University of Arizona; Sue Fenton, NC State University Speakers: Ayesha Khan, Nantucket PFAS Action Group; Melissa Furlong, University of Arizona; Sue Fenton, NC State University; Jane Hoppin, NC State University |
| 10:00-10:30 | Break with Continental Breakfast |
| 10:30-12:00 | Session 6 - Children’s Health and PFAS: Scientific speakers sharing most cutting-edge findings and community perspectives on needs. Efforts will be made to focus on epigenetics, PFAS mixtures, and cohort studies Chairs: Paloma Beamer, University of Arizona; Sue Fenton, NC State University; Katy May, NC State University Speakers: Andrea Amico, Testing for Pease and National PFAS Contamination Coalition; Aimin Chen, MD PhD, University of Pennsylvania; Lida Chatzi, MD PHD, University of Southern California; Ashley Langer, PhD, University of Arizona |
| 12:00-1:00 | Lunch and Learn Topics: From Contamination to Accountability: Understanding Recent Settlements with DuPont with Dan Harrison, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP Podcasting with Jordan Gass So You Want to Do a Health Study: Community Perspectives on the PFAS Multi-site Study with Sandy Wynn-Stelt, Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, Andrea Amico, Testing for Pease, Hope Grosse, Buxmont Coalition for Safe Water, Jennifer Rawlison, Newburgh Clean Water Project, Liz Rosenbaum, Fountain Valley Clean Water Coalition. Moderated by Laurel Schaider, Silent Spring Institute From Evidence to Action: Medical Society Responses to NASEM Guidance with Elizabeth Friedman, Science and Community Action Network |
| 1:00-1:30 | Afternoon Keynote: The PFAS Multi-site Study: A Health Study Based in Communities with PFAS-Contaminated Drinking Water, Laurel Schaider, Silent Spring Institute |
| 1:30-3:00 | Session 7 Toxics and Indigenous Perspectives: Scientific and policy speakers on impacts and advances and community and Indigenous perspectives on needs. Efforts will be made to focus on unique challenges facing Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities Chair: Otakuye Conroy-Ben, Arizona State University Speakers: Jane Jacobs, Water Protector, Skaroreh Katenuaka Nation/Tuscarora; Madeline Molzahn, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines; Heather Whiteman Runs Him, Director, Tribal Justice Clinic; Elaine Wilson, Tribal PFAS working group |
| 3:00-3:30 | Coffee Break |
| 3:30-5:00 | Session 8 - Removal of PFAS from the Human Body: Scientific and clinician speakers will discuss state of the science on reducing PFAS levels and implications for health outcomes. Efforts will be made to include differences in approaches for short chain and long chain PFAS as well as integrative medicine perspectives Chairs: Melissa Furlong, University of Arizona; Courtney Carignan, Michigan State University Speakers: Orion Godfrey, Professional Firefighters of Arizona and Goodyear Fire Department; Jeff Burgess, University of Arizona; Rachel Criswell, Redington-Fairview General Hospital; Angie Slitt, University of Rhode Island |
| 5:00 – 6:00 | Poster Session |
| 6:00 – 8:00 | Dinner and Achievement Awards Performance by Mariachi Valenzuela |
Day 3 - Wednesday June 10, 2026 | |
| 7:30- 8:00 | Check-in and Registration |
| 8:00-8:30 | Morning Keynote: Lauren Hood, Senior sustainability manager at KEEN |
| 8:30-10:00 | Session 9 - PFAS Sources and Transport through the Environment: Speakers will provide groundbreaking research on PFAS environmental exposure pathways, including drinking water, atmospheric transport, and aqueous film forming foams. Talks will emphasize a broad range of PFAS beyond PFOS and PFOA, including replacement and ultra short chain compounds. Chairs: Bridger Ruyle, New York University Tandon School of Engineering; Kimberly Garrett, CUNY School of Public Health Speakers: John Hancock, West Plains Water Coalition (Washington); Cora Young, York University; Bo Guo, University of Arizona; Lindsay Tallon, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences |
| 10:00-10:30 | Break with Continental Breakfast |
| 10:30-12:00 | Session 10 - PFAS Remediation in the Environment: Speakers will discuss the latest in remediation progress and current challenges. Efforts will be made to include short chain PFAS, agricultural considerations, One Water challenges, and bioremediation, chemical and physical approaches Chairs: Detlef Knappe, NC State University Speakers: Speakers: Kristen Mello, Westfield Residents Advocating For Themselves, Inc; Jessica Lafond, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Kyle Doudrick, University of Notre Dame; Ali Ling, University of St. Thomas |
| 12:00-1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00-1:30 | Afternoon Keynote: Vincent Martin, Community Advocate, Arcadia Initiative, Detroit, Michigan |
| 1:30-3:00 | Breakout Workshops and Networking Topics: TSCA and PFAS regulations with Liora Fiksel and Lindsey McCormick from EDF PFAS Legal Updates and What You Need to Know Now with Sabrina Morelli and Dan Harrison of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP Clinical care for patients affected by PFAS exposure (CME credits available) with Rachel Criswell and Phil Brown Overview and Discussion of the Development of Federal Policy Recommendations on PFAS and Agriculture with Emily Liss American Farmland Trust, and Becca Meuninck, National Wildlife Federation The PFAS Impacts of the AI boom and Clean Water Act Strategies for Tackling Them with Lenny Siegel, Center for Public Environmental Oversight; Judith Barish, CHIPS Communities United; and Jennifer Martin-McLeod, Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter |
| 3:00-3:30 | Coffee Break |
| 3:30-5:00 | Breakout Group Reports Closing Remarks |