Baskut Tuncak

Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 978-934-3221
Fax Number:

Address:
Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell
The Offices at Boott Mills West
126 John Street, Suite 14 (2nd floor)
Lowell, MA 01852

Baskut Tuncak is the director of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) where he leads the organization’s efforts to advance safer and healthier environments and workplaces. He is a Research Professor in the Department of Public Health of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences at UMass Lowell. From 2014-2020, he served as the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxics, working closely with states, businesses, and international organizations to promote environmental and occupational rights. He continues to advise various organizations on the intersection of human rights, the environment and working conditions.  He has advised the International Labour Organization on the recognition of the safe and healthy work as one of the organizations Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. He has advised UNICEF and other organizations on the intersection of child rights and the environment and served on advisory committees of UNEP and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. 

Research Interests

• Pollution prevention
• Innovation and safer chemicals
• Human rights and toxic exposures
• International environmental law and policy

Education

• JD (with honors), Seattle University School of Law
• BA (chemistry-biochemistry, with honors), Colby College