Environmental Health Professor George Byrns, of the Department of Health Sciences, is scheduled to receive the prestigious American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Fellows Award on June 3 during the AIHA Mark of Excellence breakfast.

Because only 5 percent of the AIHA membership can qualify for the award, it is an outstanding accomplishment. Fellows are full members in good standing and have 15 years of continuous membership. These individuals have been nominated by a local section, committee, special interest group, or other formal AIHA entity.

Only those individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of industrial hygiene are considered. Byrns’ research has included chemical hazards in hospitals. He and some of his students also did an audit of chemical management at local hospitals. In addition, he has published an article regarding room fumigation in local hospitals.

Recently Byrns organized a team consisting of Health Sciences Professors Beverly Barham, Liancheng Yang, and Kathy Webster, and Physics Professor George Rutherford. They are collaborating on a research project titled “Evaluating the Efficacy of Different Methods of Disinfection on Surfaces.” The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of ultraviolet C as an adjunct method of surface disinfection of frequently contacted surfaces in health care settings and other related environments. There are also several students who will also be involved in this research project.

Please join the Health Sciences Department in congratulating Byrns for his accomplishments.