Spend your Earth Day lunch-time at the home of world class researchers who were on the team that discovered the first breast cancer gene, won the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine in 1994, and have done thousands of studies to determine the health effects of pollutants in our environment. Come to the public open house at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, April 20, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

There will be a tour of the laboratory modules and a scientific "poster session" where young researchers describe their findings. Senior scientist George Lucier* will describe how the environment directly affects your health. There'll be a dramatic visual demonstration of the proteins that make up life - and you'll learn a little science.

To spread air-cleansing greenery, visitors will receive a dogwood seedling to take and plant. Dogwoods are native to North Carolina and are also the state flower.

Punch and cookies will be served. Questions will be answered during the talk and the tours.

NIEHS is at 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, south of the intersection of Alexander Drive and Route 54 (see map and directions). There'll be signs for parking. Schools and other groups should contact the NIEHS in advance so special arrangements can be made. Groups call John Schelp at (919) 541-5723; media representatives call Tom Hawkins at (919) 541-1402.

NIEHS Director Kenneth Olden, Ph.D., said, "Your environment is your health, and Earth Day is an ideal time to visit us and find out more about that environment-health relationship."

*Dr. Lucier has served as director of the NIEHS Environmental Toxicology Program, co-edited the NIEHS journal Environmental Health Perspectives, and served on risk evaluation panels for the state and federal governments.