MSU students interested in the field of public health research will have a chance to come together Friday.
The Department of Epidemiology will be holding its first research day, “Science in the Field,” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday in the Spartan and Wimbledon rooms of the Michigan Athletic Club’s conference center, 2900 Hannah Blvd.
Madeleine Lenski, a research assistant and project manager for the Department of Epidemiology, is one of the event coordinators.
“One of the main reasons we are putting on this event is to give students an appreciation of the actual practice of epidemiological research,” Lenski said. “Unlike some other, more formal types of meetings that might only be concerned with research, data and results, we are also going to have several presenters who will describe the processes and challenges of community health research.”
Epidemiology refers to the science of community health.
“During the event there will also be a wide variety of subjects both regional and international to acquaint students with a variety of health problems and the questions we are pursuing,” Lenski said.
The outing is being coordinated by the People in Epidemiology Projects group, she said.
“The research day will provide a chance for students to interact with faculty and staff from our department and from the public health community in general,” Lenski said. “In addition, students will also get a chance to talk with representatives from the Michigan Department of Community Health as well as other departments on campus.”
Linda Fortin, editor of the Epicenter, the epidemiology department’s newsletter, also helped in organizing the research day.
“Really it’s been a whole team effort,” Fortin said. “Everyone in the department has been involved.”
Epidemiology has been a department at MSU for three years. It had been classified as a program on campus since its inception in 1989, she said.
Scott Asakevich, an epidemiology graduate student, will be giving a presentation on his own research concerning the effects of toxins in the environment on childhood development.
“This event is going to give students an opportunity to present their research in a semiformal setting,” Asakevich said. “I think there’s a little nervousness involved in presenting to people who I don’t know, but I’m looking forward to it - and to seeing research projects in my department as well as other projects in the community.”
Normally students don’t get a chance to present their research unless it’s at a national conference, he said.
“I think it will go well and I’m looking forward to getting some feedback on my research,” he said. “I know some of the other graduate students are looking forward to that as well.”
