Overview - 2026 ECHO Symposium: Translating Science to Action

Children are exposed daily to a broad range of chemicals in everything from the food they eat and the products they use to the air they breathe. By investigating how these exposures affect child health, and translating that knowledge to enable meaningful action, we can help enhance the health of children for generations to come.

The 2026 ECHO Translating Science to Action Symposium will examine how chemical exposures influence child health and development, with a focus on two key areas: Plastics & Plasticizers and Air Quality.

Following sequential sessions on these topics, a crosscutting panel will explore how to translate chemical exposures research to inform programs, policy and practice. Panelists will discuss strategies for building trust and communicating scientific evidence effectively to varied audiences including policymakers, health care providers, patients, parents, and communities.

The symposium brings together researchers, policymakers, health professionals, and advocates to connect cutting-edge science with real-world solutions.

The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program is a research initiative supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to enhance the health of children for generations to come. ECHO studies the effects of a wide range of early environmental influences—including chemical exposures—on child health and development, with a strong commitment to translating research into meaningful action.

Since its launch, the ECHO Program has published more than 2,000 research articles on a wide range of child health topics. Within this body of work, many studies have examined exposures to plastics and how air quality shapes children’s health outcomes.

This hybrid (in-person and online) event offers a unique opportunity to:

Learn from leading experts on plastics, plasticizers, and air quality
Explore how everyday chemical exposures affect child health across development
Gain practical insights for translating science to inform programs, policy, and practice
In-person attendees: Visit interactive information stations hosted by researchers, advocates, professional organizations, and community partners. These stations offer opportunities to connect with partners and build relationships that help translate science into action.

Whether you work in child health, research, policy, advocacy, or communication—or are simply invested in improving outcomes for children—this symposium will provide evidence-based tools and perspectives to help advance healthier futures.