Episode 12 - Alexandra Benitez

Alex is a masters student in the MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Having researched pesticide practices and associated health impacts on agriculture workers in Puerto Rico, studying prospective assessment of intrauterine ZIKA exposure in multiple hospitals, and teaching high school courses, Alex has had adventurous experiences that have led her to her current work studying the human and environemntal effects of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Great Lakes! Her work consists of researching Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) within Michigan waters by evaluating the public health aspect (particularly possible vulnerable populations), as well as developing a communication campaign for targeted communities that live near the most forecasted HABs region. Harmful Algal Blooms can present indirect chronic health effects. The goal of the communication campaign is to enhance awareness and reduce negative health outcomes among vulnerable populations. The campaign will be developed in collaboration with the Hispanic Communications Network. The research will provide insight into environmental risk communication practices. More information about the MSU Graduate Certification in Community Engagement can be found here. To keep up to date with WaMPS updates, you can follow @msuwamps on Instagram and Facebook. If you would like to learn more about graduate school in physics and astronomy at MSU, check out their website here. If you would like to leave comments, questions, or   recommend someone to be interviewed on Journeys of Scientists, you can email Bryan at [email protected]