Arlene Blum, Ph.D., biophysical chemist, author, and mountaineer is executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute and a Research Associate in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. The Institute’s scientific research and policy work with government and business has contributed to preventing the use of harmful chemicals in baby pajamas, furniture, and other products world-wide. You can reach her at arlene@arleneblum.com.Arlene Blum led the first American—and all-women’s—ascent of Annapurna I, considered one of the world’s most dangerous and difficult mountains, co-led the first women’s team to climb Denali; completed the Great Himalayan Traverse across the mountain regions of Bhutan, Nepal, and India; and hiked the length of the European Alps with her baby daughter on her back. She founded the annual Berkeley Himalayan Fair and is the author of Annapurna: A Woman’s Place and Breaking Trail: A Climbing Life.Blum’s awards include her 2024 including in the Forbes Sustainability Leaders list of global changemakers, 2022 Honorary Doctorate from the University of San Francisco, honorary membership in the American Alpine Club, 2018 induction into the California Hall of Fame, 2017 UC Berkeley International House Alumna of the Year, 2015 award for lifetime achievement of a Reed College graduate, selection by the UK Guardian as one of the “World’s 100 Most Inspiring Women”, National Women’s History Project selection as one of 100 “Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet,” selection as an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow, and election to the Hall of Mountaineering Excellence. Arlene Blum received her BS in Chemistry from Reed College; her PhD in Biophysical chemistry from UC Berkeley and has taught at UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and Wellesley College.