On Wednesday, October 26, Ashlee Johannes, Marisa Salomon Beltran, and Eric Uwimana of the University of Iowa Superfund Research Program (ISRP) traveled to East Chicago, Indiana, to engage eighth grade students at Joseph L. Block Jr High School in learning about polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

During this full day of events supported by the Community Engagement Core of the ISRP, students were instructed how to teach their classmates about PCBs in a team-building environment. One highlight of the event was when the students were asked to build their own PCB molecule using molecular model kits. The students were excited when they got to take their molecule home to show their families and friends.

For ISRP graduate students, these community engagement opportunities with junior high school students are extremely rewarding and eye-opening. It exemplifies how their training and research can be a benefit in the lives of others. Thank you to Joseph L. Block Jr High School’s principal, teachers, and staff for this collaborative effort of educating students about potential health concerns within their community and teaching graduate trainees about the importance of service to the community.