The GPH College & Career Lab (CCL) opened its doors this summer to high school students from New York City to provide young scholars with an opportunity to explore the many facets of public health. Organized by the Office of Undergraduate Programs, the CCL curriculum was structured to allow students to consider how social, environmental and other factors shape the health of neighborhoods and communities.
Through both didactic and practical experiences over three weeks, students worked closely with GPH faculty and guest presenters who introduced various public health methods, tools, and techniques, with a particular emphasis on investigating the environmental conditions that impact health and well-being.
In the first week eighth and ninth graders heard presentations by GPH subject experts that explored the history of public health, as well as key concepts of health care systems, health communications, and nutrition and social media. They also learned about Covid-19 through a candid and absorbing discussion by Dr. Howard Zucker, the former New York State commissioner of health, who gave a personal account of the early days of the pandemic. Students ended the week by presenting videos for social media campaigns they had written and produced themselves.
Pictured: Students planning social media campaigns with Ms. Amber McLeod.
During the next two weeks tenth and eleventh graders came to GPH for a look at how neighborhoods affect health, considering ways in which data on neighborhoods in NYC are collected in conjunction with the practice of community mapping. Students were trained in some of the software and methods used, and they gained hands-on experience mapping the neighborhoods surrounding NYU. They were also introduced to environmental factors that impact health, and tested samples of soil they brought from home, as well as the air quality and noise levels of nearby subway stations.
Pictured: Students learning how to test materials for contaminants.
Pictured: Students mapping community using a mobile software with Dr. Thomas Kirchner
Finally, students went on field trips to explore NYU’s Urban Farm Lab, and to the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant to learn how the city processes its wastewater. Using data collected via neighborhood excursions, teams of students gave presentations on community profiles for various neighborhoods in lower Manhattan.
GPH faculty and administrators from the Office of Undergraduate Programs were thrilled to host this year’s CCL students! It was a privilege to be able to work with such bright and inspiring students and they look forward to welcoming the next CCL cohort in 2023.
Pictured: Students visiting the NYU Urban Farm and the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plan.
The GPH College & Career Lab (CCL) would not have been possible without the students, faculty and staff who generously volunteered their time and expertise. Special thank you to Dr. Marie Bragg, Ms. Isabella Calix, Dr. Jack Caravanos, Dr. Janice Chisholm, Ms. Brittany Edghill, Dr. Thomas Kirchner, Ms. Amber McLeod, Mr. Brian McNiff, Dr. Joyce Moon-Howard, Dr. Howard Zucker and Ms. Rachel Wu.