Bringing Pandemic Science to the Classroom: Building Public Health Capacity at a Rural Kentucky High School

Abstract

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a multidisciplinary team at the University of Kentucky developed an interdisciplinary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and environmental health unit—the Wastewater Assessment for Coronavirus in Kentucky: Implementing Enhanced Surveillance Technology (WACKIEST) Unit—for high school students in summer 2022. This case study outlines the WACKIEST Unit, which focused on wastewater surveillance and COVID-19, the obstacles faced during development and recruitment, and implementation of the WACKIEST Unit in conjunction with a rural wastewater surveillance initiative. The unit was implemented in spring 2023 at a rural high school in Kentucky, spanning 12 days and engaging 190 students. Lessons emphasized the importance of wastewater testing in public health decision-making, particularly in the context of COVID-19. A mobile laboratory provided students with hands-on experience in conducting preliminary analyses of wastewater, and a field trip to the local wastewater treatment plant allowed them to observe real-world wastewater management practices. At the unit’s conclusion, students created a public health report aligned with the Evidence-Informed Decision Making in Public Health model, reinforcing the goal of fostering community health resilience. The initiative’s success—measured by the unit’s completion and positive feedback from students and teachers—supports the creation of online modules for broader dissemination. This case study demonstrates how adaptable interdisciplinary approaches can integrate real-world scientific issues into secondary education, offering valuable insights for future efforts in public health education.