Featured Post from Georgia Southern University

Now is the time for experts – Let Georgia Southern University be your source for accurate, objective and expert input on covering COVID – 19

Apr 23, 2020

7 min

As the global pandemic touches almost all parts of the United States – it is essential that the public receives only accurate and definitive information from credible and expert sources as news, media and information reaches million of people across the country.


An invisible enemy is killing thousands and forcing people worldwide to cower behind closed doors. Unfounded conspiracy theories and miracle “cures” abound on social media. Politicians and pundits send mixed messages about how to protect yourself.


Who you gonna call?  - Bedford Gazette, April 14



As the coronavirus rampages, the public increasingly is turning to experts in academia and government -- the educated, experienced “elites” that many Americans had tuned out.


The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) situation is certainly new to all of us. As guidance from the CDC changes and instructional methods transition, there are experts at Georgia Southern who can help to answer questions such as:


  • How should we best address this pandemic as a nation?
  • How should we best address this pandemic individually?
  • What does it mean to “flatten the curve?"
  • What is the economic impact of COVID-19?
  • How do you best manage employees virtually?
  • Why are grocery stores having trouble keeping inventory on their shelves?  Should we prepare for a lapse in groceries and goods? 
  • What contributes to the fear and panic in disasters and pandemics?
  • What do educators, parents and students need to know to prepare for online learning in the K-12 and college settings?


If you are a reporter covering COVID-19, let the team of experts from Georgia Southern help with your coverage.


Public Health:


Atin Adhikari, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health


Dr. Adhikari brings over 15 years of extensive research experience on aerosols, airborne microorganisms, other air pollutants, and related respiratory disorders. His current research areas include environmental air quality, exposure assessment, occupational health and safety, environmental microbiology, and respiratory health. Before joining JPHCOPH, Dr. Adhikari was also involved (Co-I) with two DoD-DTRA and U.S. Office of Naval Research funded projects on inactivation of hazardous microorganisms.



Chun Hai (Isaac) Fung, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health


Dr. Isaac Chun-Hai Fung is a digital health expert and an infectious disease epidemiologist. He analyses social media data for public health surveillance and health communication and uses digital technologies for public health interventions. He investigates the transmission of communicable diseases with a focus on respiratory infections and environmentally transmitted infections. He applied a variety of methods, from classical statistical methods to machine learning and mathematical modeling, to address public health problems and to provide solutions to policy-makers. He is especially interested in assisting public health agencies in their responses to public health emergencies. He is currently a guest researcher with the Health Economics and Modeling Unit, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Examples of his recent projects include: Surveillance of unplanned school closures through social media platforms, Analysis of social media posts pertinent to public health emergencies, such as Ebola, MERS and Zika.



Jessica Schwind, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health


Dr. Jessica Smith Schwind is an epidemiologist and program evaluator. She joined the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences at JPHCOPH in August 2017. Her current research interests include disease surveillance, capacity building and risk communication for the prevention and/or early recognition of outbreaks with a focus on: best practices for operationalizing the ‘One Health’ approach, understanding and improving capacity building efforts and priorities for increasing health surveillance, and improving early warning systems for disease detection and response by bridging the gap between global digital databases and local health information. Schwind also conducts SoTL research on innovative online/onsite teaching and evaluation with a focus on immersive and service-learning practices.



Pandemics, panic and the public:


Amy Ballagh, Ed.D.

Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management


Featured in the Washington Post :





Jessica Schwind, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

 

Dr. Jessica Smith Schwind is an epidemiologist and program evaluator. She joined the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences at JPHCOPH in August 2017. Her current research interests include disease surveillance, capacity building and risk communication for the prevention and/or early recognition of outbreaks with a focus on: best practices for operationalizing the ‘One Health’ approach, understanding and improving capacity building efforts and priorities for increasing health surveillance, and improving early warning systems for disease detection and response by bridging the gap between global digital databases and local health information. Schwind also conducts SoTL research on innovative online/onsite teaching and evaluation with a focus on immersive and service-learning practices.


Jodi Caldwell, Ph.D.

Executive Director of the Georgia Southern University Counseling Center


On a national level, Dr. Caldwell is currently serving her second elected term to the Directorate Board of the Commission for Counseling and Psychological Services of the American College Personnel Association and is a certified Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Responder. 


COVID-19 and logistics, the economy and the workforce:


Alan Mackelprang, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Logistics & Supply Chain Management


Currently the director of the Ph.D. in Logistics and Supply Chain Management program, his research interests include examining interdependencies among supply chain partners, JIT/Lean production, manufacturing flexibility as well as supply chain integration.


Scott Ellis, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Logistics & Supply Chain Management


Scott Ellis’ research interests center on the study of purchasing and supply management processes and functions. He has published in Journal of Operations Management and Journal of Supply Chain Management, among others.



Richard McGrath, Ph.D.

Professor, Parker College of Business


Richard McGrath researches immigration, consumer survey methodology, and applied microeconomics. He is a long time expert on the economy in Savannah and the Coastal Empire.


Michael Toma, Ph.D.

Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economics


Michael Toma is a professor and lead analyst for the Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research, a student- and faculty-staffed applied research group focused on the Savannah-area economy that works with many local partners on special initiatives, customized applied business research and impact studies. Based on Toma's analytics, the Center publishes the quarterly Coastal Empire Economic Monitor, a closely watched economic report. Toma's community ties are also strong in the area. He serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of the Coastal Empire and on the organization's Executive Committee as chair of the Community Investments Committee.


David Sikora, Ph.D.

Assistant professor of management


David Sikora’s research interests include strategic human resource management and the business impact of employee management practices. He has published his research in such journals as the Journal of Applied Psychology, Leadership Quarterly, Human Resources Management Review, International Journal of Selection and Assessment, and International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management. Prior to his academic career, David had extensive corporate experience in human resources and marketing including serving as human resources vice president at Cigna Corporation and director of human resources product management at Gevity HR, Incorporated.


Steven Charlier, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Management


Charlier’s research interests are focused on the modern work environment, and include virtual teams, e-learning, leadership in a virtual world, and management education. His work has been published in several leading international academic journals, including The Leadership Quarterly, Human Resource Management, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Academy of Management Learning & Education, and Human Resource Management Review.


Online teaching and learning:


Charles Hodges, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development


Hodges is a tenured professor of instructional technology at Georgia Southern with over 20 years of online teaching experience. As an active researcher in online teaching and learning, Hodges presents regularly at the national and international levels. He currently serves as the editor-in-chief of the journal and he is a long-time member of the Association for Educational Communications and Technologies, a professional organization for Educational Technology scholars and practitioners.

 

Featured in the Inside Higher Ed article (published 3/11/20): 



 

Jeffrey Tysinger, Ph.D. and Dawn Tysinger, Ph.D.


Professors, Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development

The Tysingers are one of very few individuals who are actively researching in the area of crisis preparedness in K-12 online learning

Professors, Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development


The Tysingers are one of very few individuals who are actively researching in the area of crisis preparedness in K-12 online learning:


o https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar/vol2/iss1/4/

o https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/2811036.2811057

o https://eric.ed.gov/?q=Tysinger&id=EJ1147626

o https://eric.ed.gov/?q=Tysinger&id=ED595756

 

Dawn Tysinger, NCSP, serves as professor and program director for the nationally-recognized, National Association of School Psychologists-Approved Education Specialist program in school psychology at Georgia Southern University. Tysinger has contributed to her field through active participation in NASP, publications in school psychology journals, and presentations at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. She currently serves on the NASP program review board for school psychology programs and as a member of the editorial boards of Journal of School Psychology, Psychology in the Schools, Trainers’ Forum: Journal of the Trainers of School Psychologists, National Youth-At-Risk Journal and Journal of Online Learning Research.

 

Jeff Tysinger, NCSP, is a professor of school psychology at Georgia Southern University. He has been the president of the Kansas Association of School Psychologists (KASP), editor of the KASP Newsletter, KASP Futures committee member, KASP NCSP committee member, member of National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) since 1997, Nationally Certified School Psychologist since 1997, NASP Program Reviewer, NCSP Portfolio Reviewer, member of NCATE Board of Examiners, member of Georgia Association of School


For parents at home with (k-12) children now distance learning:


Chelda Smith

Associate Professor, Department of Elementary and Special Education


Smith’s master's thesis focused on parents as the first teachers of children and can speak to how parents can be empowered in that role. Her research agenda continues to focus on home and community assets, of which parents/caregivers are the primary influence and factor for positive outcomes. Lastly, as a parent of both a middle schooler and a toddler, Smith is navigating the process of being a primary educator in the home in real-time. 



Each expert is available to speak with media – simply contact Melanie Simon at 912.313.3245 to arrange an interview today.


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6 min

Georgia Southern cuts ribbon for Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center

Georgia Southern University officials cut a ceremonial ribbon to open the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center, affectionately known as “The Hill,” in a celebration on Dec. 4. At 95,000 square feet, it is the largest event venue space between Savannah and Macon and serves as the signature building on the University’s south campus, fronting Veterans Memorial Parkway (US 301 Bypass). “It’s more than a building; it’s a place of opportunity,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “Inside ‘The Hill,’ our students will learn, our athletes will compete and our community will come together. From classrooms to research labs, from strength and conditioning spaces to media rooms, every inch of this facility is designed with our future in mind.” The exterior of the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center, which evokes the image of a soaring eagle’s wings, illustrates the University’s commitment to supporting students as they soar beyond. Inside the center, there is approximately 8,000 square feet of new space for a Waters College of Health Professions sports psychology lab, a satellite research lab, faculty offices, a conference room and classrooms. The community will be afforded space for community activities and access to a new strength and conditioning area for research and other programs. The arena, which will serve as the new home court for Georgia Southern Eagles NCAA basketball games, provides more than 5,500 in seating capacity, a 50% increase over Hanner Fieldhouse. The arena has chairback seats along both sidelines and behind one baseline, and allows future opportunities to add additional programming to the building, such as more premium seating, suites and club areas. “It is an honor to officially welcome all of Eagle Nation to the gorgeous Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center with today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony,” Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Chris Davis told the crowd. “We look forward to christening the facility with women’s and men’s basketball games on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. I especially want to thank Gov. Kemp, the Georgia General Assembly, Dr. Kyle Marrero, the University leadership and our generous donors for this unprecedented opportunity to elevate the stature of our basketball programs with this outstanding facility that will provide an exciting venue to watch the Eagles soar on the court. Hail Southern!” The center also houses the men’s and women’s basketball program and includes spaces for coaches’ offices, locker rooms, laundry/training room, equipment room, strength and conditioning space, fueling station, media room, visiting team locker room and a media green room. Senior Grace Drawdy, who is a multimedia journalism major, member of the swimming and diving team and president of the Georgia Southern Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, is grateful for this contribution. “If I could describe my time here at Georgia Southern, both individually and as a student-athlete, the one word I would use is transformational,” said Drawdy. “Through the opportunities and resources provided to me by Georgia Southern, I have transformed from a young girl who was unsure of her future to a confident woman who is poised for success wherever she may go. I’ve also had the pleasure of watching the University transform while I’ve been here. And what I’m most excited for is the transformation of our athletic training and physical therapy programs. “This space will enhance athletic training and sports psychology for students within the major, but also the student-athletes who access these services every single day. I’m so thankful to be a part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony today, but I’m even more thankful to be a part of a University that continually helps me grow and be successful as a student, as an athlete, and most importantly, as a person.” The new Hall of Fame for Eagle Athletics is located in the building’s concourse. The seating capacity for the events space is more than 5,900 (including nearly 970 seats on the floor). Event-level space also includes a ticketing office, security command center, a Coca-Cola micro market featuring checkout-free technology, and four dividable classrooms that can convert into additional flexible spaces. Marrero thanked the partners who helped to make this impressive $64.4 million two-story complex a reality. “We express our deepest gratitude to Gov. Brian Kemp, the Georgia General Assembly, with the best legislative delegation in the state of Georgia, led by the Speaker of the House Jon Burns, the Board of Regents, and University System of Georgia leadership under Chancellor Sonny Perdue. Your vision and willingness made this project a reality.” He also thanked the University Foundation Board, the Athletic Foundation Board and donors for their generous gifts and unwavering support of such a meaningful addition to the institution. The building is named for Jack Hill (‘66), who was the longest-serving Georgia senator when he died in April 2020. He was a senator for 30 years, serving as chairman of several crucial committees, including Appropriations, which has broad jurisdiction over legislation involving budgeting and spending state and federal funds. With Hill’s support, Georgia Southern reached new heights as an institution serving the southeast region and the state of Georgia. Hill was instrumental in helping the University expand its programs and build several new state-of-the-art facilities, including the Engineering and Research Building, which opened for classes in January 2021. Hill’s wife of 48 years, Ruth Ann, focused her life on public education and retired as principal of Reidsville Elementary School. She was a Triple Eagle, earning degrees from Georgia Southern in 1973, 1990 and 1991. “We’re here to celebrate the great legacy of two individuals who made a difference,” Ga. Rep. Jon Burns enthusiastically shared with the audience. “They were both faithful public servants, because they cared more about their neighbors than they did about themselves. That was very clear. This University and this state could not be what it will be and what it is without the contributions and the foresight of people like Jack Hill. What he endowed this University with was an opportunity for a better life, for a better education for all Georgians and all people who wanted to attend this University. His fingerprints are all over this place. We all know that with the buildings, with the opportunities for these students, for these young people, they’re boundless. Because of the foresight and the work of Jack and Ruth in this place, we are privileged to sit here. Today was a dream of Senator Hill.” Marrero also reflected on the outstanding legacy of Jack and Ruth Ann Hill. “As Senator Hill once said, ‘The power of education is the ability to produce knowledge, character and skill in a way that is beneficial to society,’” Marrero shared.” His legacy embodies that ideal. Today is a celebration of what we’ve achieved together, but it’s also a look to the future. “The Hill” stands as a symbol of our University’s growth and commitment to providing exceptional opportunities for our students and community. “So, today, let us cut this ribbon and open the doors to a new era at Georgia Southern,” he concluded. “Together, we will continue to honor the legacy of Jack and Ruth Ann Hill while building a brighter future for Eagle Nation.” Construction for the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center began in early 2023 and finished late 2024. The program manager for the project is BDR Partners; the architect/engineer is LS3P-AECOM; the site/civil engineer is Hussey, Gay, Bell; the mechanical engineer is Dulohery Weeks; the general contractor is Whiting-Turner. Additional partners are GSFIC and Board of Regents USG. If you're interested in learning more about Georgia Southern University then let us help - simply contact Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.

7 min

Georgia Southern welcomes Georgia state leaders on Wexford Campus in Ireland

Georgia Southern University’s Wexford Campus in Ireland has been invigorating educational, civic, business and trade opportunities between Ireland’s southeast region and the state of Georgia since its establishment in 2022. The bicultural partnership has drawn the attention of state leaders in Georgia, prompting a recent visit to the international campus where Georgia Southern and its Irish partners welcomed the delegation. “We hosted legislators and leaders of industrial development and enterprise organizations,” said Howard Keeley, Ph.D., director of Georgia Southern’s Center for Irish Research and Teaching (CIRT). “These Georgia stakeholders believe that what Georgia Southern is doing in Ireland is important. One of the major concepts behind the Wexford Campus is that it’s a true campus, not just a study-abroad venue. So we’re pursuing several streams of activity. One is teaching and another is research. Another one is economic development, which includes internships and community engagement. We want to be in the community; therefore, to have leading constituents from a variety of industries in Georgia was very gratifying.” Among the attendees were U.S. Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter; Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson and five members of his senior staff, as well senior officials from electrical utilities, including Georgia Power; Trip Tollison, CEO of Savannah Economic Development Authority; Teresa MacCartney, chief operating officer for the University System of Georgia; and Georgia Rep. James Burchett (‘04), along with 10 additional members of the Georgia House of Representatives. “The main thing we wanted to do is show them what the student experience is like,” said Keeley. “We care about our students, and, using philanthropic funds, we’ve invested in a beautiful set of buildings, including one, built in 1886, that will house 50 students at a time. Each year, our goal is full capacity over six minimesters for a total of 300 Georgia Southern students. Historically a religious convent, that structure should open in spring 2026, after extensive remodeling. Many Georgia Southern students, including construction management and interior design majors, are gaining valuable professional skills by contributing to the endeavor.” The Wexford Campus already features the Learning Center, a historic administrative complex constructed in 1812 that has been transformed into a contemporary, high-tech educational space where students learn from local and international experts. They also present their research to peers and visiting Georgia Southern alumni while participating in high-impact experiential learning within the region. Visiting delegates were pleased to learn about the Honors College Global Scholars Program, which hosts 24 Honors College students who, taking an interdisciplinary approach, explore two themes for six weeks each spring in Ireland. This year, a prominent topic of study was sustainability in agriculture. One of Georgia Southern’s European research partners, South East Technological University Ireland, helped guide the students as they compared sustainability challenges along the coasts of Georgia and southeastern Ireland. The students drew on various research efforts, including important knowledge generated by Georgia Southern’s Institute for Water and Health. Similar integrated concepts also inform the summer and fall offerings. In 2024, they included two undergraduate global business courses, as well as the first Europe-based course from the MBA program at Georgia Southern’s Parker College of Business. One focus for the MBA students was Rosslare Europort, just south of Georgia Southern’s Wexford Campus, which has become Ireland’s fastest-growing port as multiple new direct routes to continental Europe have opened in response to Brexit. At a workshop facilitated by a top Rosslare Europort official, the MBA students explored international trade, logistics and supply chain management and the European regulatory environment. Spanning undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels, the Wexford Campus has also provided courses in accounting, philosophy, sociology, geography, environmental biology, tourism and public health, among other disciplines. Shadowing Irish experts, population health science students from the Waters College of Health Professions focused on designing and delivering preventative-health programs, a critical matter in both Ireland and Georgia. “One of the metrics we use to measure success in Ireland is asking what makes it worthwhile for students to complete the course in Ireland as opposed to staying in the United States,” posed Keeley. “The bottom line is that we’re trying to provide a range of courses that look like Georgia Southern and that meet the degree needs, but also the employment needs in the state of Georgia. We’re always looking at how we can make our students more competitive, deepen their knowledge and give them as much hands-on experience as possible. This is really one of the things that we hope is a differentiator for us.” Notably, annual scholarships are available for the Honors College Global Scholars Program, Department of Political Science and International Studies students and Irish Studies students thanks to generous donations from alumni. In addition, philanthropic support has provided $1,000 to each participating student to offset the cost of transatlantic air travel. “The Wexford Campus’ directives exemplify Georgia Southern’s mission of providing holistic educational opportunities for our students to excel and grow,” said Annalee Ashley, Ed.D., Georgia Southern Vice President for External Affairs, Communications, and Strategic Initiatives, who participated in the trip. “Employers value global consciousness and intercultural skills when hiring, and our students who study abroad can enhance their skills, intellect and hireability in the marketplace. We are proud to serve Georgia and the entire southeastern region in this unique way, and to be supported by the state of Georgia as the University moves toward an R1 designation.” Beyond the campus, the group explored Johnstown Castle, an environmental and agricultural research center and heritage venue, as well as the Dunbrody Emigration Experience Center, whose newest permanent exhibition, Savannah Landing, is based on research by Georgia Southern students. The work highlights more than 170 years of historical ties that connect Savannah and Wexford, where hundreds boarded ships and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to arrive in Georgia’s coastal city in the mid-19th century. The centerpiece project, which was celebrated by the Irish prime minister at a ribbon-cutting in August, was made possible by $832,000 in research-grant funding, secured by the Dunbrody Center and Georgia Southern’s Center for Irish Research and Teaching. “Our guests got to experience history and understand the unique story that connects County Wexford to Savannah and, by extension, the state of Georgia,” noted Keeley. “Furthermore, they were able to see more than three-quarters of a million dollars of investment in Georgia Southern student work. That was super exciting.” The legislative group also met with Georgia Southern’s Irish partners, who shared what this relationship means to the people of Wexford and its hinterland, Southeast Ireland. “We invited all the players onto the field to strategically advance themes of education, economic development, and civic and cultural engagement,” said Keeley. “I believe they concluded that Ireland is a fit. It boasts a thriving economy that is modern, global and innovative. It’s the youngest economy in Europe in terms of workforce, and Ireland is one of the biggest investors in the U.S. economy.” Georgia Southern leadership and local Irish legislators, including four members of the Irish House of Representatives, Senator Malcolm Byrne and members of Wexford County Council, hosted Georgia’s VIPs with open arms. “They wanted to rally around us in the way that a family will rally around you,” said Keeley. “They couldn’t have done more. They totally rolled up their sleeves. It was a complete partnership hosting, and we were able to demonstrate that our network is so solid.” Wexford County Council leader Pip Breen shared opportunities for deeper connections with the Georgia delegation through the Irish nonprofit TradeBridge. Established in 2018, the entity facilitates trade and investment between the southeastern regions of Ireland and Georgia by developing new export markets and job creation opportunities. The trade corridor opens doors for southeastern Irish companies to establish a supportive base in southeastern Georgia, while also creating similar coordinates for companies based in southeastern Georgia to enter the European Union marketplace. Keeley, who was awarded the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad from the Government of Ireland in 2023, is a board member. “Georgia Southern’s footprint in southeastern Ireland is an important one for students and for the state of Georgia,” said Ga. Rep. Burchett. “The strides they are making not only allow students to participate in research in engineering, coastal sustainability, history and other important areas of study, but they also directly drive trade and investment opportunities between the southeastern regions of Georgia and Ireland. This was an amazing visit and we value our friendships within the Irish community.” Following the event, Burchett returned the hospitality with an invitation for Wexford County Council members to be recognized in person on the floor of the Georgia General Assembly in March 2025. “They very enthusiastically accepted the invitation,” Keeley shared. “I think when you’re involved in education, when you’re doing business and when you’re building out opportunities, the most important single thing is friendship and like-mindedness. You cannot achieve anything otherwise. There has to be this human-to-human connection. There has to be genuine mutual respect and mutual affection, and that was just in spades.” Georgia Southern’s Wexford Campus was featured on the national Irish TV program, “Nationwide.” You can see it here: Looking to know more, then let us help. Howard Keeley, director of Georgia Southern’s Center for Irish Research and Teaching, is available to speak with media. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

5 min

Creating a ripple effect: How one Georgia Southern professor is using community-sourced materials to improve clean water accessibility

Turning on the tap for a drink of clean water may seem like part of an everyday routine for many. Yet, for countless communities—even here in the U.S.—this simple act remains a daily challenge, with each glass or clean drop of water far from guaranteed. One Georgia Southern University professor is working to change that. Thirty percent of the Navajo Nation population lacks access to clean drinking water. Lewis Stetson Rowles, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing at Georgia Southern University, is working to increase access to clean water for this community and beyond by engaging with locals to understand how materials used in traditional cultural practices can be transformed into life-changing solutions. “My first trip to the Navajo Nation as an undergraduate student was a really eye opening experience for me,” Rowles said. “To realize that there were people within the U.S., in our own backyard, who lacked clean water is what inspired my whole career in research and education.” Establishing trust was an important challenge to overcome for Rowles and his fellow researcher and mentor Navid Saleh, Ph.D., professor of environmental and water resources engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. “Years of uranium mining left the mineral-rich area and the connection with the Navajo community polluted,” Rowles said. “It has been a decade-long effort to build community relationships, understand the issues and develop potential solutions specific to the needs of the Navajo Nation.” Finding solutions specific to local needs and cultures is key to their implementation and success according to Rowles. “We have to work with communities to truly understand the issues and collaboratively develop functional solutions because locals are the people who understand the problems the best,” Rowles said. “I don’t believe that there’s a one-size-fits-all solution. For technologies to really be sustainable, we need to understand if they’re going to work in a specific location, which means we need to develop community-specific solutions.” Working with the community is important for more than just understanding the issue at hand. When thinking about big-ticket issues, like clean water, Rowles said that it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking about large-scale, infrastructure-based solutions. But some of the most immediately effective and impactful solutions happen on a much more intimate level. “Centralized distribution systems take a long time to build, they’re also very costly,” Rowles said. “The need for clean water is dire in many communities, so point-of-use technologies are great because they can be adopted quickly. They also bring power to the people in a way, because technologies can be developed with local materials, like we’re doing here with clay and pinyon resins for ceramic filters. This can create immediate solutions to water contamination issues.” Rowles, who specializes in environmental engineering, worked with members of the Navajo community to discover how the process of creating traditional pottery can help solve the problem of clean drinking water at a local level for families. Deanna Tso, a third-generation Navajo potter, has been integral to this process to ensure that the novel solutions don’t detract from traditional practices. “If you’ve ever climbed a pine tree and gotten sap stuck on your hands, you know it’s very sticky,” Rowles said. “The Navajo people have been using this sap for centuries to waterproof pottery and baskets. Meanwhile, one of the biggest limitations to the use of silver nanoparticles for water treatment is the immobilization of those particles. We used this local resin to coat the nanoparticles, keeping them in place and extending the lifetime of the filters while still allowing them to kill bacteria. It also acts as a really unique barrier that prevents silver poisoning by stopping the silver from interacting with other compounds that would inhibit the dissolution of silver nanoparticles into silver ions which kill bacteria.” By working together to integrate new technologies into existing traditions, Rowles and his partners are one step closer to changing the lives of many in the Navajo Nation. Their hope is that this knowledge will be used to expand access to potable water to more parts of the world. “While we started working with Deanna on a very specific pine tree sap, the more we’ve researched, we’ve seen there are similar pine and conifer trees throughout the continent, even into Mexico, that have been used by indigenous groups for centuries,” Rowles said. “This means that this research has much broader applications across the world, particularly in areas that lack centralized water treatment systems where people go and collect water from distant sources or wells, bring it back to their house, and then treat it at the household level.” The extension of this knowledge begins by sharing it, which is precisely what Rowles’ team has done over the last year. They published their research Integrating Navajo Pottery Techniques To Improve Silver Nanoparticle-Enabled Ceramic Water Filters for Disinfection in October 2023 and shortly thereafter began working with PBS NOVA. Their work will now be shared as part of a documentary series highlighting engineers working to positively change the world. “The Navajo Nation is just one area impacted by lack of access to clean water,” Rowles said. “Around 1.5 million people across the U.S. lack indoor plumbing and many more rely on wells and septic systems that are often aging or failing, leading to sanitation concerns. There are a lot of great organizations and a lot of great research working to address sanitation issues abroad, but I hope this research can open people’s eyes to the fact that this is a local problem, too. Don’t take it for granted that you’re able to turn on the tap and have safe, clean water, because that is not true for a lot of Americans and for much of the world.” You can continue exploring Rowles’ research on an episode of PBS NOVA—Building Stuff: Change It! and by watching the Innovations in Water Treatment with Navid Saleh from Building Stuff: Change It! Twitch episode of Building Stuff with NOVA. If you're interested in learning more or a reporter looking to speak with Stetson Rowles - simply contact Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.

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