UWEC CERCA 2026: Full Schedule

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2:00pm CDT

Tick Dragging and Species Identification in Eau Claire Parks

Tuesday April 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT

Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) often called deer or bear ticks are the primary vector for the agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi. Eau Claire County has one of the highest prevalence rates in the country, with 188 cases in 2022. Performing tick drags and species identification in popular Eau Claire parks is crucial in furthering knowledge and understanding on what harm may be inflicted upon civilians. By gathering data, Eau Claireans can be informed about the possible cautions present at tested recreational parks. ENPH 110: Environmental Public Health First Year Experience course, students performed tick drags in surrounding Eau Claire area parks including Lowes Creek Park, Southwest Dog Park, Carson Park, and UWEC Lower Campus Circle. Tick drags were made of cotton fabric weighed down with 1 oz sinkers and researchers pulled their tick drags behind them in parks, removed attached ticks, identified species, placed into vials with 70% alcohol and delivered them to the Eau Claire Health Department. Selected ticks were then tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the Borrelia burgdorferi gene. Students then created informational guides for park visitors to understand the dangers of ticks and how to take proper prevention.

Presenters

Claire DePeau

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Olivia Schreifels

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Ava Gerrits

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Esther Zabel

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Crispin Pierce

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Tuesday April 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

Spotlight on First-Year Research

Department Public Health & Environmental Studies
Special Categories WI Focus
College CAS

2:00pm CDT

Water Quality and WELL Certification at the Sonnentag Center

Tuesday April 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT

Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)

The Sonnentag Center is an athletic complex that houses a wide range of individuals from the Eau Claire community. The hundreds of student, staff, public, and patient visitors each week means that the Sonnentag must ensure the maintenance of safe water, staying in compliance with WELL Safe Building Standards. The WELL certification sets the business standard for public health and safety and explains the range of acceptable levels for each of the variables being tested. Granting this certification to the Sonnentag Center ensures that the surrounding community has a heightened trust in public water sources. Contaminated water can cause a variety of health complications, including gastrointestinal issues and skin irritation. We are actively conducting measurements of the drinking fountains, concessions ice, whirlpool, and cold tank plunge bath by recording free and total chlorine levels, pH, turbidity, and Coliform bacteria presence. We are using the ColorQ, HANNA, and Colilert testing kits, respectively. Our initial data shows levels within WELL and EPA standards of all variables tested. We expect our data to continue to comply with WELL certification standards to ensure proper maintenance and safety measures are being implemented.

Presenters

Eliana Tagarro

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Riley Wilson

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor

Crispin Pierce

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Tuesday April 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA

Spotlight on First-Year Research

Department Public Health & Environmental Studies
Special Categories WI Focus
College CAS

2:00pm CDT

What Longer Warm Seasons Mean for Tick Population, and how They Affect Us

Tuesday April 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT

Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)

Eau Claire is one of the world's Lyme Disease capitals, and this issue is only getting worse. The incidence of Lyme disease has more than doubled over the past decade, with over 6,000 cases annually in recent years. Global warming continues to affect the world, and with it, us. Currently, the tick season continues to grow longer, leading to a greater number of cases of Lyme disease and other vector-borne diseases associated with ticks. It also leads to an increasing range of many different species of ticks that don’t traditionally live in Wisconsin, an example being the Lone Star Tick. As these ticks continue to move north to new habitats, they bring with them new diseases. In this research project, we will be creating tick drags and targeting different areas, both on and off campus to collect ticks in the area and identify species, sex, life stage, and whether or not they are carrying a disease. The results of this research will allow us to understand and recognize the speed at which this change is occurring, but also the trends amongst locations, species, sex, and number and rates of invasive species of ticks new to the area.

Presenters

Spotlight on First-Year Research

Department Public Health & Environmental Studies
Special Categories WI Focus
College CAS

UWEC CERCA 2026

2:00pm CDT

Claire DePeau

Olivia Schreifels

Ava Gerrits

Esther Zabel

Crispin Pierce

2:00pm CDT

Eliana Tagarro

Riley Wilson

Crispin Pierce

2:00pm CDT

Elijah Grosland

Ayden Tomaro

Luke Mayock

Wyatt Melek

Crispin Pierce

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