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Electric and Magnetic Fields Research and Public Information Dissemination Program
As part of the effort to provide scientifically accurate public information about electric and magnetic fields (EMF), the EMF RAPID Program offered financial assistance to cover travel costs for two citizen group representatives to attend the 1995 annual EMF research review in Palm Springs, CA, November 12-17. Two scholarships were offered, on a competitive basis, to applicants who were required to demonstrate strong communication skills and keen interest in the research underlying the EMF debate. The scholarships were not intended for EMF researchers, attorneys, public officials, product manufacturers or others with an occupational interest in the EMF issue. Rather, this financial aid was for people who have studied the issue on their own time, who have organized an interest group because of an EMF-related concern, and who would not otherwise have the means to attend this publicly-funded research review.
To qualify, an applicant was required to submit a proposal (2 or 3 pages) that described the concerns, goals, and activities of the group he or she represents. The proposal also had to describe how the applicant intended to use and share information acquired from the conference. Scholarship recipient(s) were asked to present a poster, at the conference, which describes their group and the issues of concern.
The winners of this competition were Julie Larm of Omaha, Nebraska, founder of the Omaha Parents for the Prevention of Cancer; and Phyllis Gorski, of Troy, Michigan, founder of Parents Against Cancer Plus. Both winners will present posters at the conference about their organizations.
In the case of both Ms. Larm and Ms. Gorski, personal trauma triggered their political activism. Both have young sons who have suffered from cancer. As these mothers struggled to understand the possible causes of their own children's illnesses, they felt compelled to share what they were learning with their communities and to demand that public officials pay attention to possible environmental causes of childhood cancer.
The scholarship offered by the EMF RAPID Program seeks to foster more direct communication between scientific experts in the field of EMF research and members of the concerned public. It is intended for people such as Ms. Larm and Ms. Gorski, who have studied the EMF issue on their own time, who have organized an interest group because of an EMF-related concern, and who would not otherwise have the means to attend the conference.
For more information, contact-
Lynne Gillette (202) 586-1495 [lynne.gillette@HQ.DOE.gov] or
Belinda Buescher (703) 978-0604 [buescherba@ornl.gov].
The Annual EMF Research Review is the primary scientific conference for presentation of latest EMF research results. Scientists from around the world report their findings in short talks and posters, and both theoretical and experimental results are discussed. By attending this meeting, participants can watch EMF research unfold and get a sense of the complexity of the scientific process that underlies this controversial issue.
The EMF Research and Public Information Dissemination (RAPID) Program coordinates and focuses federal research efforts on EMF to answer the following questions: Does exposure to EMF pose a risk to human health? If so, how significant is the risk, who is at risk, and how can the risk be reduced? The program has a lifespan of five years, during which time $65 million in federal and nonfederal funds will be spent on research that attempts to answer these questions. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) share responsibility for administering the program. NIEHS manages health research, DOE manages engineering-related research, and both agencies share responsibility for public information.