Craig Wilmhoff , a high school teacher involved in the radon project , stands with students Autumn Gwin , Raegan Simpson , and Haley Hurd from Perry County Central High School in Hazard , Kentucky , at Appalachian Research Day . ( Photo courtesy of Craig Wilmhoff )
A Unique Collaboration Between Two Community Engagement Cores
Before teaming up for the radon project , UK-CARES ’ CEC and UC ’ s CEC had worked together on two citizen science projects to test water and air quality with adults and youth , and the radon project built on their past collaborations . Even with this strong history of partnership , each CEC brought unique strengths to the radon project .
The UC ’ s CEC built on its prior experience deploying citizen science water testing toolkits ( https :// med . uc . edu / depart / eh / centers / ceg / cec / stories / cenr ). These toolkits , which include instructions and devices for measuring pH and dissolved solids , allow community members to analyze local water quality .
By providing these kits , the CEC empowers communities to collect data and enact local change around environmental health issues . Additionally , although the radon study was the frst time students were engaged to increase radon testing rates , UC ' s CEC has regular youth engagement activities ( https :// med . uc . edu / depart / eh / centers / ceg / cec / stories / youth-engagement ).