The American University of Armenia’s College of Health Sciences and Acopian Center for the Environment organized a Seminar on Lessons Learned from Hazardous Waste Sites from Around the World (May 3) and a Panel Discussion on the Role of Safety, Health, and Communities in Mining and Metals (May 4).
On May 3, Dr. Margrit von Braun presented case studies from waste sites in the US, Russia, Nigeria, Dominican Republic and other locations around the world.  The sites – focused on mining and metals recycling – were used to describe the frequent intersections of human rights abuses, pollution and poverty and the importance of understanding environmental pathways as well as the key roles of environmental scientists, community leaders, non-governmental organizations, governmental officials, policy makers and others in resolving environmental problems. 
On May 4, Dr. von Braun briefly presented the main environmental regulations of the US and covered the history of their development. Ronald Dobbin continued the presentation covering health problems of those who work in mining and metal recycling industries (reproductive problems related to lead exposure, cancer and other lung problems related to exposure to diesel emissions, asbestos, and crystalline silica dust). Susan Spalinger concluded the panel discussion presenting the role of communities in environmental clean-ups and importance of proper risk communication.
AUA students, researchers, faculty, representatives of health and environmental NGOs, and environmental activists attended the two meetings and had active discussions with the experts.
Dr. von Braun is Dean/Professor Emerita of the College of Graduate Studies at the University of Idaho and a founder of TerraGraphics International Foundation, a non-profit corporation that assists community leaders, local governments, universities, and other NGOs to apply accepted environmental health intervention and remediation methodologies in low and middle income countries. She is the Founder and Vice President of TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering, Inc., an Idaho-based U.S. consulting engineering company with more than 100 employees and offices in four States. Ronald Dobbin is an Occupational Hygienist who worked in the U.S. federal public health agencies for over 30 years and is the President of the Society for Occupational and Environmental Health in the U.S. Susan Spalinger is a Principal Environmental Scientist and Human Health Risk Assessor at TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering Inc., U.S.

The American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, nonsectarian, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia.  Founded in 1991, AUA is affiliated with the University of California.  Through teaching, research, and public service, AUA serves Armenia and the region by supplying high-quality education in seven different major fields, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting democratic values.

Dr. Margrit von Braun	Audience
Varduhi Petrosyan, Susan Spalinger, and Ronald (Denny) Dobbin

Senior Fulbright Scholar Nicholas Ohanesian, an Administrative Law Judge from Social Security Administration in Detroit, was with AUA for the first half of Spring Term 2012, co-teaching Administrative Law with AUA alum and Adjunct Lecturer Arman Zrvandyan. During his stay, Judge Ohanesian also conducted research, conferred with pension reform experts, and made public presentations on administrative law. On Friday, April 27, Judge Ohanesian and Mr. Zrvandyan made a presentation to AUA students and alumni about career opportunities in administrative law. And, on Wednesday, May 2, Judge Ohanesian held a colloquium on litigating disability and social security issues, sharing his perspectives as an American judge with Armenian judges, government officials, and practitioners.

In yet another effort to bring resources to students, faculty, staff and the community, the AGBU Papazian Library is now offering e-books through Kindle e-readers. The library’s first set of Kindles arrived last month and were put into operation immediately with a collection of e-textbooks and other resources. The Library plans to increase its stock of e-readers as well as e-books to better serve the needs of our expanding student body.