A critical perspective on the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry’s adherence to founding principles—opportunities for the future

The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) is a global organization whose mission is the advancement of environmental science and management through collaboration, leadership, communication, and education. On SETAC's 45th anniversary, the following question was raised: Are the 1979 founding principles of SETAC, multidisciplinary approaches to solving environmental problems, multisector engagement, and scientific objectivity, still useful, adequate, and effective in fulfilling its mission? In a special session held at the 45th Annual Meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, a critical evaluation of the founding principles was initiated by reviewing SETAC's history and ongoing activities, and recommendations were made for the future. With few exceptions, participants appreciated SETAC's purposeful efforts to approach challenging environmental issues through multisectoral balance, an approach that is unique among scientific societies. We recognized that scientists have biases and views of what they find important, regardless of employing organization, and that objectivity is best served by being aware of these biases and views. SETAC's founding principles have stood the test of time and continue to provide a strong foundation for the Society's mission, and with a few suggested improvements, will continue to be instrumental in guiding environmental science, stewardship, and policy into the future. The significance of SETAC's contribution of robust science grounded in reliable evidence and data was recognized as being especially crucial at this time of triple planetary crisis (climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss), compounded by rapid technological developments and geopolitical issues.