Honoring Jack Spengler: A Career Dedicated to Public Health and the Built Environment

John “Jack” Spengler, PhD, EH&E co-founder and a true pioneer in environmental health, will be recognized by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) for his lifelong contributions to air quality, healthy buildings and climate resilience.

As Dr. Spengler transitions into his new role as Research Professor, Harvard’s JPB Environmental Health Fellowship Program will host a live conversation to honor his legacy as a mentor, educator and researcher.
 

How our surroundings shape health: A conversation between environmental scientists

April 16, 2026
1:00 PM

A Legacy of Leadership
For more than 50 years, Dr. Spengler has advanced our understanding of how environmental conditions shape human health. He has served as the Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health & Human Habitation at HSPH and co-directed the Sustainability and Environmental Management Program at the Harvard Extension School. He has been an advisor to the World Health Organization on indoor air pollution, personal exposure and air pollution epidemiology. His accolades reflect a career at the forefront and include the Heinz Award for the Environment (2003), the Air & Waste Management Association Lyman Ripperton Environmental Educator Award (2007), and the Max von Pettenkofer Award (2008) for distinguished contributions in indoor air science from the International Society of Indoor Air Quality & Climate’s Academy of Fellows.

At EH&E, Jack was instrumental in establishing our mission to protect human health in the built environment. We are proud to see his profound impact as a teacher and colleague recognized by the global public health community.