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Company: Public Health & Environmental Studies clear filter
Tuesday, April 28
 

2:00pm CDT

Tick Dragging and Species Identification in Eau Claire Parks
Tuesday April 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
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
CD

Claire DePeau

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
AG

Ava Gerrits

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
OS

Olivia Schreifels

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
EZ

Esther Zabel

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

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

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
ET

Eliana Tagarro

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
RW

Riley Wilson

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

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

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
EG

Elijah Grosland

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
LM

Luke Mayock

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
WM

Wyatt Melek

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
AT

Ayden Tomaro

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

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
 
Wednesday, April 29
 

11:00am CDT

Poster 077: Microbiology of Cold Plunge Tanks
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
Cold plunging has been gaining popularity recently due to its health benefits such as muscle recovery and mental focus. Cold plunging involves emerging the body in 50 deg F for up to 10 minutes in a tank that varies in volume (100 – 1,000 gallons). Despite its popularity, little is known about cold plunge water quality and treatment efficacy. In this study, water from three cold plunge sites in Minneapolis, MN was collected over a 6-month period in addition to one cold plunge tank in Eau Claire, WI. Cold plunge samples were analyzed for pathogens and indicator organisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, fecal coliforms, and heterotrophic bacteria. Samples were collected by City of Minneapolis environmental health staff and transferred on ice to the UWEC ENPH lab within 24 hours for analysis. Samples were processed using membrane filtration and plated on different media types including; Mannitol Salt Agar, Pseudomonas CN agar, mFC agar, and Tryptic Soy Agar. Samples were incubated at 35 deg C for 24 - 48 hours dependent on media type. Bacterial colonies were counted and recorded, including negative controls to check for contamination. This project helps understand bacterial levels in cold plunge tanks and could guide future recommendations for best management practices at cold plunge facilities.
Presenters
AB

Ariah Borchardt

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
MP

Michael Peterman

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
BR

Bryn Romeis

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Faculty Mentor
LS

Laura Suppes

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 1 Wednesday

11:00am CDT

Poster 078: A Comparison of Aquatic Health and Safety Standards
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
Aquatic safety is a vital part of public health. There are many ways in which public swimming pools, hot tubs, and water parks impact the safety of those who use them. Aquatic safety is governed by the law, with each state having their own specific set of standards and rules. These laws should be based on the most up to date scientific knowledge and best practices, but it can be difficult for states to keep up with any changes that might appear in the understanding of aquatic safety. The Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) is the CDC's summary document of best practices for aquatic safety. This project is designed to create a better understanding of how states differ from the MAHC as well as from each other in terms of aquatic safety regulations, and help states determine how, if at all, they should update their legislation. Aquatic safety legislation was gathered from different states, and a comparison report was created for each state and the MAHC. Results show a mix of consistencies and differences between the MAHC and state pool codes selected for this study.
Presenters
AM

Anna Maher

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
LS

Laura Suppes

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 1 Wednesday

11:00am CDT

Poster 097: Evaluating Hibbard Hall's HVAC System
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
The demolition of Zorn Arena and adjacent buildings during the 2025 summer, combined with Canadian wildfire smoke, raised concerns over air quality on UW-Eau Claire’s campus. Demolition of older buildings releases hazardous materials such as asbestos, silica dust, and lead, posing serious respiratory and cardiovascular health risks when inhaled. Similarly, wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter and irritants associated with exacerbated asthma, chest pain, and other concerns. As such, we must ensure campus facilities protect individuals from the detrimental effects of poor air quality. Hibbard Hall’s proximity to the demolition site and its over fifty-year-old infrastructure raised concerns over the effectiveness of its HVAC system in protecting staff, students, and faculty from increased air pollution. To assess indoor air quality, PM2.5 concentrations were measured over 58 days via AirAssure and EPA monitors – one located in Hibbard Hall and the other in Altoona as an outdoor reference. These data were compared alongside demolition activity and wildfire smoke levels. Results indicated that indoor PM2.5 concentrations remained consistently lower than outdoor levels, suggesting that Hibbard Hall’s HVAC system effectively mitigated particulate infiltration. Our findings demonstrate that UWEC’s older facilities continue to provide a safe indoor environment despite multiple air pollution sources.​
Presenters
VH

Vanessa Herrada

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
ZM

Zak McPhee

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

Crispin Pierce

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 1 Wednesday

11:00am CDT

Poster 098: Water Quality and WELL Certification at the Sonnentag Center
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm 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
ET

Eliana Tagarro

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
RW

Riley Wilson

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

Crispin Pierce

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 1 Wednesday

11:00am CDT

Poster 099: What Longer Warm Seasons Mean for Tick Population, and how They Affect Us
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm 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
EG

Elijah Grosland

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
LM

Luke Mayock

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
WM

Wyatt Melek

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
AT

Ayden Tomaro

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

Crispin Pierce

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 1 Wednesday
 
Thursday, April 30
 

2:00pm CDT

Poster 035: A Qualitative Analysis of Family and Mentor Experiences in the Home for Good Program
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
Housing and homelessness constitutes a persistent public health concern, necessitating rigorous evaluation of intervention strategies. Home for Good (HFG), a non-profit organization based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, implements a unique housing and peer mentorship model to address homelessness among families with young children. Using mixed-methods, we evaluated HFG’s approach through quantitative survey data and in-depth qualitative interviews with both mentors and clients engaged in the program. Surveys captured mentors’ experiences with program implementation, and interviews explored clients’ personal narratives and the perceived impact of HFG on their trajectories. Our analysis has identified key trends and has generated evidence-based recommendations for program development. In this presentation, we describe our methodology, share findings to date, and discuss implications for policy and future housing interventions.
Presenters
CM

Cady Muelken

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
AT

Amelia Tauer

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
BR

Briana Rockler

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

2:00pm CDT

Poster 036: Nutrition incentives and shopper behavior: Survey insights and behavioral modeling from a SNAPfarmers market match program
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
Low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake increases chronic disease risk, especially for low-income Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households facing cost and access barriers. Nutrition incentive programs aim to make FV more affordable for SNAP participants. This study examined eight years of data (2018–2025, N = 1,071) from a Wisconsin SNAP nutrition incentive program, using descriptive and regression analyses to evaluate shopper experiences. Most participants reported eating more FV (90%), trying new foods (63%), and saving on groceries (85%). Nearly all (93%) described the market as welcoming, but barriers included transportation (18%), weather (23%), and limited hours (13%). More incentive redemption was linked to higher visit frequency with each $10 increase in incentives redeemed associated with 17% more visits (β = 0.016, p < .001). More visits also increased the odds of returning the next season by 60% (OR = 1.60, p = .011). Findings suggest that incentives boost FV affordability, which encourages more frequent market visits, supporting greater engagement and FV access for low-income households. Results highlight both the program’s strengths and remaining barriers, providing guidance for more equitable, accessible nutrition incentive strategies.
Presenters
PB

Philine Bovet

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
MC

Maya Campbell

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
MH

Marc-Joel Henry

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
YL

Yijin Liu

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
NM

Nelly Machado

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
CR

Cassandra Riehle

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
MS

Monica Sha

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
BR

Briana Rockler

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

2:00pm CDT

Poster 037: Nutrition incentive program participation trends and economic contributions of a SNAP farmers marketmatch program
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
Despite the central role of fruits and vegetables (FV) in a healthy diet, cost and access remain barriers for low-income households. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) addresses food insecurity on a broad scale; however, FV consumption remains low among SNAP participants, who are also less likely than higher-income shoppers to purchase from farmers' markets. The Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market implements Market Match, a nutrition incentive program that allocates additional funds for FV purchases to SNAP households. Eight years of administrative data (2018–2025) from 2,457 unique households were analyzed to describe long-term participation patterns and economic contributions to the local food system. Descriptive statistics were used to examine annual participation, seasonal return patterns, and vendor-level SNAP redemption. More than one-third of households returned for multiple years, and over 100 participated for at least three seasons, demonstrating sustained engagement. In 2025, SNAP shoppers spent $29,082 at the market; using a conservative economic multiplier of 1.6, this spending likely generated more than $46,500 in local economic activity. Findings underscore the role of nutrition incentives in expanding farmers' market access for low-income shoppers, strengthening Wisconsin's local food economy, and providing evidence to inform a statewide nutrition incentive model.
Presenters
PB

Philine Bovet

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
MC

Maya Campbell

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
MH

Marc-Joel Henry

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
YL

Yijin Liu

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
NM

Nelly Machado

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
CR

Cassandra Riehle

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
MS

Monica Sha

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
BR

Briana Rockler

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

2:00pm CDT

Poster 053: Environmental Home Health Hazards and Student Rentals in Eau Claire
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
Our research question is: Are student rental properties more likely to have environmental home health hazards than non-student rental properties in the city of Eau Claire? Our initial hypothesis was yes. An environmental home health hazard is defined as a chemical, physical, biological, or other condition within a residence that has the potential to impact the health of residents. Some examples include mold, pests, radon, carbon monoxide, and lead. The data that does exist are external housing evaluations done by the Health Department called the Residential Environmental Quality Assessment. REQA data is the most relevant and reliable data available in the context of our research question. Using online sources, we divided as many addresses as we could into four categories: non-rental, student rental, non-student rental, and uncertain. We will then use t-tests to analyze and compare the data from non-student rentals and student rentals to answer our research question quantitatively. This project has also produced a rental housing checklist for students considering off-campus housing as well as information on mold, radon, pests, lead, carbon monoxide and asbestos.
Presenters
AJ

Aliyah Jennings

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
AJ

Aidan Jones

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

Crispin Pierce

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

2:00pm CDT

Poster 054: Ventilation Testing and Filter Box Construction at the UWEC Children's Nature Academy: ​Analysis of Indoor Air Quality Intervention Impact on Reported Respiratory Illness Prevalence
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
Improving indoor air quality has been proposed as a strategy to reduce respiratory illness transmission, particularly in settings with young children. This study evaluated whether portable air filtration was associated with changes in reported respiratory illness prevalence at the UWEC Children’s Nature Academy. HEPA air filters and a Corsi-Rosenthal box were installed in classrooms following ventilation assessment using CO2 monitoring. Filter efficacy was tested by measuring PM2.5 air concentration reduction. Anonymized illness reports from three academic years (2022–2025) were used to calculate monthly respiratory illness prevalence before and after filter installation in November 2023. Interrupted time series (ITS) regression and ANOVA were used to evaluate changes in illness trends. While filtration reduced PM2.5 concentration and ventilation levels were adequate, no significant reduction in reported respiratory illness prevalence was observed. Illness patterns closely followed seasonal community respiratory disease trends.
Presenters
AB

Alexis Boehm

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
AB

Ariah Borchardt

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

Crispin Pierce

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

2:00pm CDT

Poster 055: Collection of Air Quality Index in Buildings Around UW - Eau Claire Campus
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
Air quality is vital to human and environmental health and is commonly assessed using the Air Quality Index (AQI), which reflects concentrations of air pollutants such as PM2.5, CO2, TVOC, CO, SO2, and O3. This study aimed to evaluate indoor and outdoor air quality on the UW-Eau Claire (UWEC) lower campus and compare findings to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in order to ensure the efficacy of campus HVAC systems and the protection of student and faculty health. Using the Temtop and TSI AirAssure air quality monitoring devices calibrated with Wisconsin DNR data, pollutant levels were recorded at multiple high-traffic locations in almost every lower campus building. The devices were placed at breathing level and monitored air quality for ten minutes per site. Pollutant levels remained within recommended safety standards for the duration of the study, with some fluctuations due to weather, vehicle emissions, and construction activity. Overall, findings indicate that current campus air quality systems are effective in maintaining safe work and living conditions. Future research should expand air quality monitoring to upper campus residential and dining facilities and incorporate more advanced equipment for comprehensive pollutant analysis.
Presenters
ES

Emily Swantz

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

Crispin Pierce

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

2:00pm CDT

Poster 065: Tick Dragging and Species Identification in Eau Claire Parks
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
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
CD

Claire DePeau

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
AG

Ava Gerrits

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
OS

Olivia Schreifels

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
EZ

Esther Zabel

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

Crispin Pierce

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

2:00pm CDT

Poster 066: Testing Water Quality at Sonnentag
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
Water quality is prevalent in our everyday lives, but many of us have the privilege of not thinking about it very often. The quality of the water we consume can have major implications for our health. For example, overly elevated chlorine levels in water can cause respiratory issues as well as colorectal or bladder cancer while substandard levels can result in bacterial contamination. This demonstrates the importance of regular water quality testing, especially in a new recreational facility such as the Sonnentag Center. In the summer of 2025, we periodically measured turbidity, chlorine levels, pH, and coliform bacteria levels in the Sonnentag’s drinking fountains, whirlpool baths, and concessions ice. To obtain these measurements, we used pH strips, a pool chlorine testing kit, a HANNA turbidity meter, and a free/total chlorine meter. Since drinking water requires such a small chlorine content to be appropriately sanitized, many of our methods weren’t sensitive enough to measure this quantity consistently. This complication forced us to try several methods of recording chlorine content, and in the end we were able to conclude that the Sonnentag’s water quality did meet the standards of healthy drinking water per the guidelines provided by the WELL Certification framework.
Presenters
AN

Ariel Nelson

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
LT

Lisette Thurman

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

Crispin Pierce

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday

2:00pm CDT

Poster 067: Measuring Noise Levels at Country Jam
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330)
Music festivals are a fun summer event, especially for college students. However, we don’t often consider their impact on surrounding homes through noise pollution. This is significant to health concerns because exposure to volumes of 85 dB can cause tinnitus or permanent hearing damage. Eau Claire City Councilman Aaron Brewster received complaints about noise levels from the Country Jam Music Festival, so we set out to investigate the validity of these claims on July 19, 2025. We measured noise levels during the final two performers of the night since we estimated they would draw the loudest crowds. Noise level readings were taken using the NIOSH SLM App on the eastern and southern borders of the grounds, near the neighboring homes, and readings within the grounds were taken using the Model 2800 Quest Technologies device. We found that noise levels met the conditions outlined in Country Jam’s conditional use permit, which say volume cannot exceed 85 dB for 30 minutes or longer. However, volume within the grounds did briefly reach upwards of 90 dB. Consequently, we advised that the festival offer complimentary earplugs and safety recommendations for attendees to protect their ears while having fun.
Presenters
HH

Habeeba Haq

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
AN

Ariel Nelson

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Faculty Mentor
CP

Crispin Pierce

Public Health & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Davies Center: Ojibwe Ballroom (330) 77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
  CERCA Posters, 2 Thursday
 

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