22 - Empowering a community with a paper clip and a plastic cup

Eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina account for about 75% of the 80 US cases of La Crosse virus neuroinvasive disease (LACV-ND) each year. Symptoms vary, but individuals with compromised immune systems and children less than 15 years of age regularly experience symptoms ranging from a summertime illness to serious neuroinvasive symptoms (e.g., seizures, coma, cognitive disorders). Infection occurs after the bite of a LACV-infected Aedes mosquito. Currently, no surveillance or management infrastructure exists for this neglected and persistent vector-borne disease problem.
So, we created a STEM education program grounded in the best practices of the Next Generation Science Standards using inquiry-driven learning and experiences that open the doors to students’ desire to investigate. This community-driven surveillance network is the only infrastructure currently available for this vector and vector-borne disease. As part of the program, students test hypotheses by monitoring and identifying data about specific target populations of mosquitoes. Participation in the program enhances awareness of LAC-ND and helps to identify mosquito populations for management; potentially, serving as a program that can serve as the public health infrastructure currently lacking for reducing cases in children and other vulnerable populations in the region. Educators have guided more than 1000 students on classroom independent experiments to monitor and assess mosquito populations at their schools and generated high-quality datasets that are being used by graduate students. These results will be used to plan and target efficient, cost-effective, and targeted mosquito control efforts. Additionally, students participating in the program have increased STEM knowledge as well as their enthusiasm for and curiosity about the disciplines and subject matter. Students have also engaged in additional activities at participating schools by creating their own projects such as submissions to science fair competitions, podcast contests, and school-newspaper articles. Please visit https://megabitess.tennessee.edu/ for more information (transitioning from www.megabitess.org).