Celebrating 25 Years

Eagleson Institute was founded on April 1, 1989. Throughout the past 25 years, the Institute has demonstrated a passion for promoting health and safety. In this anniversary issue of our newsletter, we’d like to express our gratitude to all the individuals and organizations who have shared our passion and partnered with us to make laboratories, and those who work in and near them, safer. Thank you for helping to make the past 25 years a success!

It all began when John and Dennis Eagleson founded the Eagleson Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation, in memory of their father, John M. (Jack) Eagleson, Jr., a pioneer in the development and testing of ventilation equipment.  Jack was a strong proponent of laboratory safety who believed in sharing information and teaching others.  Through formal training and informal discussions, Jack challenged the minds of his employees, customers, colleagues and others throughout the laboratory ventilation industry.

Therefore it was fitting to honor his memory with a nonprofit foundation with a mission to promote the principles and practices of laboratory safety. Eagleson Institute’s first class, on biosafety cabinets (now called "Safety Cabinet Technology"), was held May 23, 1989 with 17 participants. Since that small beginning, the Institute has grown into an organization whose influence is felt around the world. During the past 25 years, over 20,000 attendees, from 107 countries have attended one of the many classes at the Eagleson Institute.  This global influence and reputation has prompted our revised mission, which is "Globally promoting the principles and practices of health and safety in the life sciences community."