Upcoming and Recent Events

Save the date & join us April 9 - 10, 2026 for a multi-disciplinary conference

Climate Change and Emerging Contaminants: Risks and Responses in Asia and Beyond

The University at Buffalo, State University of New York, will convene a conference addressing the health impacts of climate change and emerging environmental contaminants on April 9-10, 2026. Convening at the University at Buffalo in Western New York, the conference will present multidisciplinary perspectives on local and transregional climate and environmental challenges, and foster fruitful conversations that advance sustainable solutions in Asia and other vulnerable geographic regions. 

View the Call for Abstracts

Plenary speaker

Headshot of a woman in a red and white striped shirt in front of a white background.

Maria Leonor "Leni" Gerona Robredo, 14th Vice President of the Philippines (2016-2022); Mayor of Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines (elected 2025) 

Invited speakers

Man with short, dark hair wearing glasses and a light blue shirt against a light gray background.

Aimin Chen, Professor of Epidemiology and Vice Chair of Education, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania

A man in a black suit jacket and pink collared shirt standing against a brick wall outdoors.

Francis de los Reyes, Professor of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering and Associate Faculty of Microbiology, NC State University

Man in balck collared shirt under a white lab coat standing outdoors with greenery in the background.

Haidong Kan, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Fudan University

A smiling, blonde woman in a red blazer and black shirt with crossed arms on a white background.

Ann Kurth, President, New York Academy of Medicine

Headshot of a woman with long dark hair and glasses, wearing a black blazer and a white shirt.

Shelley Liu, Associate Professor, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai

A man wearing a dark suit and pink shirt against a white background.

Shane Snyder, José Domingo Pérez Foundation Chair and Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Tech

Check back for additional speakers as they are confirmed.

Conference proceedings

April 9 (evening): keynote address; cultural performances by UB and Western New York-based community groups; reception.

April 10 (all day): continental breakfast; presentations from keynote speakers and other invited speakers; lunch; midday poster and networking session; contributed talks.

The conference will be in-person only. The conference is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend regardless of abstract submission or acceptance. University at Buffalo

Cosponsors

Asia Research Institute

RENEW (Research and Education in Energy, Environment, and Water) Institute

Office of Global Health Initiatives

Center for Climate Change and Health Equity

Conveners

Nojin Kwak
 Vice Provost for International Education
Professor of Communication

Diana Aga
 SUNY Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry
Director, UB Research and Education in Energy, Environment, and Water (RENEW) Institute

Lina Mu
Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health
Director, Office of Global Health Initiatives

Kelly Baker
 Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health
Director, Center for Climate Change and Health Equity

For More Information

Bruce Acker
Assistant Director, Asia Research Institute
backer@buffalo.edu

Lisa (Vahapoğlu) Lenker, PhD, JD
Education and Outreach Director, RENEW Institute
lisalenk@buffalo.edu

Jennifer Foster, PhD
Assistant Director, Office of Global Health Initiatives
fosterj@buffalo.edu

Recent and Past Events

  • Richard V. Lee, MD Lectureship
    11/21/25
    The School of Public Health and Health Professions has established an annual lectureship, focused on aspects of global health, to honor Richard V. Lee, MD.
  • Global Health Day
    5/19/25
    The OGHI hosts the Global Health Day Symposium each April during National Public Health Week. This annual event brings together experts researching global health issues, and is co-sponsored by the Community for Global Health Equity. 
  • Global Health Initiatives Virtual Innovation Sprint
    3/18/25
    Since 2020, the Office of Global Health Initiatives and UB's Blackstone LaunchPad have collaborated to offer a virtual innovation sprint each fall.
  • Annual WNY Refugee Health Summit
    12/19/23
    The Annual Western New York (WNY) Refugee Health Summit unites clinicians, resettlement representatives, community health workers, researchers, students, municipal leaders, and refugees to highlight innovative university-community partnerships that have resulted in research, programming, and solutions to improve health and wellbeing for refugees living in Buffalo and Western New York.