2021 Global Event for Advancing Contamination Clean-up Technologies and Innovations
The EPA International Decontamination Research and Development Conference, held virtually from November 1-5, 2021, brought together scientists, emergency responders, government agencies, and industry experts to discuss and collaborate on the cleanup of contaminated sites following major Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Environmental (CBR) hazard incidents.
Organized by the EPA's Office of Research and Development's Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER) since 2005, the conference serves as a collaborative forum for the advancement of research and practical solutions related to decontamination technologies and methodologies.
Historically, these conferences have been part of broader international efforts aligned with treaties such as the Chemical Weapons Convention, which aims to prohibit the use and promote the destruction of chemical weapons. This conference contributes to research supporting the safe remediation of contaminated sites and responding to emergencies involving hazardous substances.
In 2019, the conference focused on cutting-edge research presentations, updates on decontamination techniques for chemical and biological agents, lessons learned from recent incidents, and discussions on guidelines for remediation practices. It also emphasised collaboration between the EPA, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and other agencies to improve cleanup processes for hazardous substances including methamphetamine lab remediation, chemical weapon destruction, and environmental emergency responses.
The 2021 conference included speakers and group leaders who are experts in their fields from various organisations, including EPA, federal agencies, state and local agencies, tribes, academia, NGOs, and associations. The conference featured presentations in both oral and poster formats, with a mix of pre-recorded and live sessions, including oral, poster, and Technology Cafe presentations.
Attendees had access to the conference via the Attendee Hub, while authors could access speaker resources through the CVENT Speaker Resource Center. The conference proceedings and agenda from 2019 are available to view, and additional resources include the Emergency Response Research Webinar Series, Emergency Response & Homeland Security Research at EPA, and COVID-19 Research at EPA.
For those interested in future conferences, sign-up is available to receive notifications. A Video Licensing Agreement is also available for speakers and presenters. Overall, the EPA International Decontamination Research and Development Conference continues to play a crucial role in advancing research and practical solutions for effective decontamination and environmental health protection.
- The 2021 conference highlights the significance of technology advancements in medical-conditions research, such as methamphetamine lab remediation and chemical weapon destruction.
- In the realm of general news, the EPA International Decontamination Research and Development Conference also focuses on the cleanup of land contaminated by hazardous substances, like those encountered in environmental emergencies.
- Collaboration between organizations including the EPA, industry experts, and academic institutions plays a key role in the development of science-based strategies for addressing the cleanup of sites affected by CBR hazards, as discussed at the EPA International Decontamination Research and Development Conference.
