Arlene Blum - 2014 Benjamin Ide Wheeler Medalist

Dr Blum is the author of Breaking Trail: A Climbing Life and is best known for leading an all-woman ascent of Annapurna (I), a climb that was also the first successful American ascent. As an environmental scientist, she has worked to eliminate harmful chemicals from our homes and environment, starting with removing cancer-causing flame retardants from children’s sleepwear in 1977. More recently, as co-founder and executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute, she and her team have led several successful national and international campaigns against the use of toxic chemicals in consumer products.