STEM Café
Beyond the Pandemic: Wastewater Surveillance at NIU

Speakers:
Barrie Bode, Ph.D., Director of Wastewater Surveillance Testing, Professor of Biological Sciences, and Interim Associate Vice President of Research, Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships 
Syed Hyder, M.S., Research Scientist and Instructor, NIU Department of Biological Sciences

Since 2021, NIU has had a wastewater testing program in place to monitor levels of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and provide advanced warning of COVID-19 outbreaks. Since then, the program has expanded not only the number of sites around DeKalb County where wastewater is tested, but also what microbes are monitored. 

Join us at the next NIU STEM Café to learn more about current developments in NIU’s wastewater surveillance program and in the broader field of Wastewater Based Epidemiology. 

Although still in its infancy, Wastewater Based Epidemiology is a powerful tool to promote public health. It can inform understandings of seasonal respiratory disease trends, such as influenza, and help health professionals make informed decisions. This presentation will discuss how wastewater surveillance works and describe the expansion efforts of the NIU Wastewater Surveillance Laboratory. Our speakers will also explain how they use the facility to train the next generation of scientists, describe the partnerships they’ve established and offer a brief look into the future of the program. 

Northern Illinois University STEM Cafés are part of NIU STEAM and are designed to increase public awareness of the critical role that STEM fields play in our everyday lives. They are offered in partnership with the NIU Alumni Association and made possible with support from additional sponsors and individual supporters.