The University of Louisville Superfund Research Center  (UofL SRC) trainees participated in a unique, multi-center event organized and hosted by the University of Kentucky Superfund Research Center  (UK SRC) in Lexington and Whitesburg, KY on July 10-11, 2019. This event consisted of various activities with the overall objective being to foster research collaborations between the two Centers and focus on working together to better address environmental concerns in the State of Kentucky.

On July 10^th, UK trainees took UofL trainees on a lab tour and visited numerous labs at the UK campus that are currently involved with different Superfund projects; this was followed by an interactive session among the trainees and PIs where UK and UofL trainees gave presentations on their respective projects. This allowed both Centers to learn about each other’s research goals and progress, as well as stimulate discussions for collaborative work. UofL presenters included graduate trainees Katlyn McGraw, Pradeep Prathibha, Stacey Konkle and Sarah Shrader. Other UofL attendees included trainee leaders, Dr. Marina Malovichko and Dr. Banrida Wahlang, and UofL SRC Training Core Director, Dr. David Hein.

On July 11^th, the trainees from both Centers drove to Whitesburg, KY, a place where the UK SRC Community Engagement Core (CEC) has worked for many years, for a full day of community outreach activities. The day started with trainees arriving at the Community Agricultural Nutritional Enterprises Inc. CANE Kitchen for lunch with kids from the Headwaters on the Creek Camp, followed by activities at the Cowan Community Center and Appalshop. The trainees also toured the Whitesburg downtown area, joined community residents for dinner at CANE Kitchen, shopped at the Letcher County Farmer’s Market and attended the Levitt AMP Whitesburg Music Series. UofL trainees expressed how this event was eye-opening to them in terms of building relationships between researchers and community members as well as how they are able to visualize the interconnectedness between their scientific research and health goals in the community.  

The UofL SRC would like to thank the UK SRC for their hospitality, and key members who were instrumental in successfully organizing the event, including Dr. Bernhard Hennig (Director, UK SRC), Dr. Zach Hilt (Leader of the UK SRC’s Training Core), Molly Frazar (Graduate Trainee), Dr. Kelly Pennell, (Assistant Director, UK SRC), Dr. Dawn Brewer (Leader, UK SRC CEC), Annie Koempel (Program Manager, UK SRC CEC), as well as Whitesburg Community Leader Valerie Horn and Herb E. Smith (Appalshop).