STEM Café—Wastewater Surveillance Testing for Public Health

Join us from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at Fatty's Pub and Grille in DeKalb, Illinois, for the next STEM Café—Wastewater Surveillance Testing for Public Health.

Many communities – including DeKalb – are now testing wastewater for pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Wastewater surveillance testing is an exciting new tool for public health professionals. It gives a snapshot of community infection levels, shows whether infections are increasing or decreasing, and can be an early and reliable indicator of an outbreak.

At this STEM Café, hear from NIU Professor of Biological Sciences Barrie Bode, Laboratory Scientist Syed Hyder and Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District Engineer Mike Holland about the wastewater testing programs at NIU and the broader DeKalb area. Learn why Wastewater-based Epidemiology (WBE) has become so common since the pandemic and why it’s so helpful for public health professionals.

From Brian Smith, a licensed social worker and director of the NIU Employee Assistance Program, learn tips and tools for effective communication – especially in stressful situations. Hear about how we can better understand and respond to our emotions, as well as expectations of ourselves and others, in order to set healthy boundaries and maximize connections. This will also include tips for de-escalating potentially difficult conversations while increasing positive interactions during the holidays.

Northern Illinois University STEM Cafés are part of NIU STEAM and are designed to increase public awareness of the critical role that STEM fields play in our everyday lives. They are offered in partnership with the NIU Alumni Association and made possible with support from Thermo Fisher Scientific and Bayer Fund.