2023 | Bridging Science Communication Barriers in Virginia
IGC Capstone Project | Interfaces of Global Change
Bridging Science Communication Barriers in Virginia: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in private drinking water wells
Student Members:
- Amanda Darling, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Kathleen Hohweiler, Biological Systems Engineering
Faculty Mentors:
- Dr. Leigh-Anne Krometis, Biological Systems Engineering
The purpose of this project is to contribute a practical, comprehensive extension publication on the current state of PFAS research, health effects, potential risks and treatment considerations for homeowners on private drinking water systems. Our intended audience includes members of the general public with limited knowledge of PFAS, its associated health effects and potential exposures in drinking water. Bridging this gap in scientific communication, we believe, is critical to disseminate knowledge on the current consensus of potential PFAS health effects and the continuously evolving US EPA health advisories without overestimating risk. This project would represent an interdisciplinary effort involving public health, environmental engineering, and science communication. The written publication would be published through the Virginia Cooperative Extension and made available for the public, scientists, and extension agents to better communicate health risks from PFAS to private well owners.
The Interfaces of Global Change IGEP provides PhD students with a unique intellectual focus and training.
Each IGC Fellow gains depth in their specific scientific area of expertise (e.g. biology or engineering), while simultaneously gaining breadth in the multifaceted realm of global change and the science-policy interface.
