Speaker: Dr. Christine Georgakakos, University of Connecticut
Contaminant tipping points are one facet of global change indicators of rapidly growing concern. With new antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals discovered and fabricated for use in human and animal medicine, our understanding of the broader impacts of the use of these compounds becomes more and more necessary. This research centers on tracing and mitigating anthropogenically sourced antibiotic residues in soil and water systems using interdisciplinary methodologies. The ‘One-Health’ framework of integrating human, animal, and environmental health indicators guides much of this work. Through laboratory experiments, interview and survey studies, and watershed-scale analyses we expand our understanding of agricultural contaminant pathways, extent of impact, and potential mitigation strategies.