Lab Matters Spring 2024 | Page 21

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

References

CEL Staff Sam Reeder , Hunter Adams and Emily Appleton recognize Ben Colvin upon completion of his internship . Photo : Cypress Environmental Laboratory

per year for paid interns , with a maximum of 240 hours for undergraduates and graduate students . Connecting with many students through the variety of CEL-MWSU activities has been critical to CEL ’ s staffing . It has proven so successful that all current laboratory technicians are former interns . 2

Environmental laboratories protect public health and the environment . To maintain a steady stream of qualified applicants , they must establish proactive programs to connect their important work to university and high school students to show them that this industry involves exciting and impactful careers from all areas of life and physical sciences . 3 , 4 If you have questions , please contact Hunter Adams or Sarah Wright . g

1 . Adams H , Morin E , Rhode S , Turner E , Golden Z ., O ’ Neal T , Olund S , Wangsness K , Friedman D , Sanderson A , Bradshaw R , Randolph R , Robb K , Hansen K . ( 2022a ). The Vital Role of the Environmental Laboratory as Public Health Laboratories . Water Environment & Technology . 34 ( 2 ): 32-37 . https :// www . researchgate . net / publication / 359017071 _ The _ Vital _ Role _ of _ the _ Environmental _ Laboratory _ as _ Public _ Health _ Laboratories

2 . Adams H , Reeder S , Appleton E , Thomas D , Southard M . ( 2022b ). Industry Workforce Development : The Value of Internships . Journal AWWA . 114 ( 7 ): 54-61 . https :// doi . org / 10.1002 / awwa . 1961

3 . Adams H , Morin E , Holloway N , Cottrell A , Thames B , Gillis L , Wangsness K , Loudon J , Wright S . ( 2023 ). The Future Workforce of the Environmental Laboratory . Journal AWWA . 115 ( 3 ): 8-17 . https :// doi . org / 10.1002 / awwa . 2067

4 . Adams H , Reyes D , Ganegoda S , Thames B , Gillis L , English Z , Thomas D . ( 2024 ). Developing an Effective Environmental Laboratory Workforce . Journal AWWA . 116 ( 2 ): 54 – 60 .

Strategies to Make Connections

Laboratories may consider applying one ( or several ) of the following methods to connect with science , technology , engineering and math ( STEM ) students .

● Social media : make “ A Day in the Life ” posts on Instagram , X or TikTok to highlight a typical day in an environmental laboratory .

● Advertisements : newsletters , blogs , virtual flyers or posters can help to share the exciting work environmental laboratories do daily .

● Outreach : contact local high schools and universities to participate in laboratory tours , post job openings and join career fairs , which are a great place to advertise public health and environmental laboratories and to get to know interested students .

APHL can provide other promotional materials through the Public Health Laboratory Ambassador Program , which gives APHL members access to outreach toolkits , flyers and presentations for career fairs , and a forum to share and discuss resources with other laboratory ambassadors .

● Consider applying to be a mentor to APHL ’ s internship or fellowship programs . APHL has funding and resources available to host laboratories involved in this program .

● View APHL ’ s STEM Recruitment Toolkit for more information and examples on how to connect with students .