On the first day, Dr. Lily Rajic introduced the topic of water contamination, and Ph.D. candidate Renee Wurth presented the effects of these contaminants on human health. ROUTES students also examined the topic of research ethics by watching a webinar presentation by ROUTES’ own Dr. Phil Brown. Brown introduced diverse research and policy cases, asking the students to put themselves in the researcher’s place and discuss the often difficult ethics that are involved in environmental health research. Students then proceeded to the lab with Dr. Rajic to learn about laboratory protocol and prepare supplies for sample collection.
The second day began with an introduction to the Charles River and its history of contamination, given by Logan Bailey of the Charles River Watershed Association. The Charles River is notorious for its long history of wastewater and chemical runoff contamination, largely the result of poor urban planning dating almost to the rise of Boston itself. In particular, the combined wastewater and storm runoff sewer system led to wastewater being released into the Charles River during major storm events. Even today, stormwater contamination can raise pollutant levels above those considered safe for boating and swimming.
Following this discussion, Dr. Rajic led students to the Charles River to take samples and draw readings of depth from two sites along the river. Students spotted several signs of the river’s troubled past, including old stormwater and wastewater drainage pipe and a sign warning of higher contamination following rainfall.
The ROUTES scholars joined Dr. Rajic in the lab on Wednesday, conducting analysis and learning about water quality parameters. They learned how to measure dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, dissolved organic carbon, nitrates, phosphates, and specific ultraviolet absorbance levels. The readings from both sites on the Charles River were below the maximum allowed values, which was expected given the dry weather in the days preceding the sample collection.
On Thursday, participants walked from Northeastern’s campus to Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE) in nearby Dudley Square. ACE is a community organization that focuses on environmental justice issues in the Roxbury community of Boston. ACE Executive Director Kalila Barnett introduced the issues of bridging science and public policy and presented examples of community activism that yielded changes in the neighborhood. Two ACE Board Members discussed their history in research-based academia and how this led to an emphasis on community engagement and public policy.
ROUTES joined ACE on a walking tour of the Roxbury area, which highlighted specific examples of community action in improving the environment. The tour began with a stop at an air monitoring site close to ACE’s office, where our tour guide—an ACE volunteer—described the history of diesel pollution in the area and a correspondingly high rate of asthma. One ROUTES Scholar described similarly high rates of asthma in her hometown, saying she had always thought of asthma as a very common condition.
The tour continued to an area that had been contaminated with asbestos and lead following a construction project, as well as the former site of an MBTA diesel bus garage that polluted the air in the surrounding residential neighborhoods. A local community member happened upon the tour group and stayed to hear about the history of his neighborhood, saying he had lived there for fifteen years but did not know much about the health impacts of the contamination or the importance of grassroots activism in bringing positive changes to the area. Students later discussed how surprised they were to hear that people in the community were not always aware of these issues, illuminating the need for better research translation and community engagement.
In closing, on Friday the students engaged in conversation about what they learned during the week, sharing personal experiences and information they gained that they found shocking or moving. Nick Tooker, a graduate student studying wastewater remediation, discussed his experiences with research and showed the students around his lab—including a look at colorful photos of bacteria. Renee Wurth rejoined the group, this time to discuss her path into environmental health research. Wurth stressed the importance of keeping an open mind when pursuing research, as many of her most rewarding experiences came from the areas she was least expecting. To finish up the week, ROUTES Scholars joined administrators for lunch and a continuation of the discussion about research and environmental health.
Click here to see more pictures from the week.