Each summer, a group of young campers gather at the Cincinnati Museum Center to learn about lead contamination, air pollution, water and food contamination, and other scientific and environmental issues. It may not sound like the kind of camp that a 3rd or 4th grader would be eager to attend during their summer vacation. But thanks to a collaboration between the University of Cincinnati’s Center for Environmental Genetics and the Cincinnati Museum Center, learning about environmental health and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is engaging, hands-on, and fun.
“It is extremely important to introduce youth to STEM fields as well as environmental issues at an early age,” says Michelle Burbage, one of the developers of the camp. “Environmental health education allows kids the opportunity to learn about important environmental issues that impact our health as well as critically think about actions we can take as individuals and as a society to reduce these issues.”
The STEM Environmental Health Camp centers around hands-on activities meant to ignite the children’s interest in environmental health and related areas of study. These activities are developed and taught by UC PhD and MPH students from disciplines like Public Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Toxicology, Health Education, and Medical Sciences. Next year, Burbage hopes to expand these teaching opportunities to undergraduates as well.
“Most of the UC students that help with camps are preparing to be scientists, community engaged public health specialists, or academics,” says Burbage. “It is exciting to see them engage with the campers. This provides students the opportunity to translate science into easily understandable lessons, a skill all public health professionals should have.” Young campers are able to work with and learn from scientists in training, an opportunity that may influence the trajectory of their own future academic and career interests.
When asked about the difference between teaching kids versus college students, Burbage explains “The biggest difference is that, unlike college students, kids can be very honest in their critique of activities. If they think it is boring, they will let you know right away! But in my experience, kids love learning about STEM fields, environmental health topics, and participating in activities. They enjoy talking to the UC students about these issues and try to come up with creative ways to reduce these problems.”
UC students are also mentored throughout the process, both by Burbage, who supports the students on curriculum and activity development, and by their peers, as MPH and PhD students are paired up for extra support. Interdisciplinary connections form between students at the College of Medicine and students from other programs on the main campus. This, in turn, creates a STEM pipeline for undergraduates up to graduate students.
The next STEM Environmental Health Camp will run again this summer. Follow the link to learn more about the Cincinnati Museum Centers’ Museum Camps!
PEWS welcomes Michelle Burbage as a new Faculty Affiliate
The Center for Public Engagement with Science is proud to announce that Dr. Michelle Burbage has recently become a PEWS Faculty Affiliate. Burbage is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children, adolescents, and underserved populations. Her research and curricula typically involve examining factors related to determinants of health, policy, and barriers populations face when it comes to accessing quality healthcare and adopting healthy behaviors. Her research, which aids her in providing students with real life examples, often looks at substance use and mental health among underserved populations and how public health policies affect health behaviors. Burbage also has a strong passion for global health and seeks to examine current health initiatives worldwide as well as how individuals can overcome cultural barriers and stigma to healthy behaviors.
Since becoming Co-leader of the Community Engagement Core (CEC) through the Center for Environmental Genetics, Burbage has used her health education and community health background to supervise UC students on community engagement projects, develop manuscripts focused on environmental exposures impacting underserved populations, maintain the CEC’s partnership with the Cincinnati Museum Center, and develop educational materials for community members. She is now also Co-Director of the CEC for the Cincinnati Center for Climate and Health (C4Health).
Thank you to Richard Puff for the interview that was used to compose this article.