From the Nominator

PFAS represent a global environmental and public health crisis. The widespread use of these toxic chemicals in industrial and consumer products has led to extensive contamination of air, soil, and groundwater—and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PFAS can be found in the bloodstream of an estimated 97% of Americans. Due to their molecular structure, these chemicals persist in the environment, creating one of the most daunting cleanup challenges in history. At the University of Notre Dame, faculty experts and researchers are developing innovative methods for detecting, managing, and mitigating PFAS contamination. The goal for The Forever Problem was to showcase the breadth of PFAS-related research underway at Notre Dame while presenting a comprehensive overview of the issue through environmental, chemical, personal, and social justice lenses. This series is designed to inform policymakers and the general public about the dangers of PFAS; highlight the urgent need for effective, scalable, and cost-efficient solutions; and explain how scientists at Notre Dame are meeting that need through research in the lab and in the field. The series also seeks to show current and prospective students who are eager to tackle complex, real-world challenges that Notre Dame is a place where they can feel empowered to be a force for good in the fight against environmental contamination.

From the Judges

This is the work that makes us proud of our institutions—cutting-edge collaborative research that tackles here-and-now threats to humanity. And this is the storytelling that brings that research to a general audience and changes hearts and minds in the process. Exceptional in every aspect.