{"id":261339,"date":"2026-02-06T16:21:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T21:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=261339"},"modified":"2026-02-09T15:36:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T20:36:57","slug":"using-boston-as-a-lab","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2026\/using-boston-as-a-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Boston As A Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin sphnews-block-editorial-leadin is-style-text-over-image has-media has-media-focus-center-middle has-text-position-x-center has-text-position-y-bottom has-dark-theme\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"3744\" height=\"2496\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327.jpg 3744w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-755x503.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/01\/field-methods-9Q1A4327-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3744px) 100vw, 3744px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Danielle Parchure, Winnifred Brobbey, Charlotte Robbins, and Linz Owor at the Boylston Street MBTA stop, one of several where they collected data as part of field work for EH 804. Photo: Mike Saunders<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-prepress-tag\">Environmental Health<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUsing Boston As A Lab\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"deck\">With the Greater Boston area as an abundant source of data, students in the Field Methods in Exposure Science class learn the fundamentals of exposure assessment and study design.<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar sphnews-prepress-layout-metabar\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">February 6, 2026<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/authors\/michael-saunders\/\">Michael Saunders<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p>The adage \u201cthe path to learning doesn\u2019t stop at the door\u201c has never been more timely for students in the School of Public Health, where the classroom extends beyond lecture halls and into the streets, neighborhoods, and transit systems of Greater Boston. It is especially true for students in EH 804, the School\u2019s course on Field Methods in Exposure Science, which treats the urban environment as a living laboratory where students can explore the complex environmental and socioeconomic factors that affect public health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The class is designed to guide students through understanding why assessment of exposures is critically important to environmental and occupational health practice and research. Case study reviews underscore the role of these evaluations in common academic and work settings, as students learn how assessments can help determine compliance with health and safety regulations, and levels of toxicologic and human health risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Class instructor Kipruto Kirwa, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health, says it is essential that the course reflect the School of Public Health\u2019s surroundings, which are teeming with learning opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe jump on the T, hop on a bike, or in a car and come into the office. But between where we live and where we work, there&#8217;s an entire community that we bypass every morning and every evening,\u201d Kirwa says. \u201cThere&#8217;s a lot of public health between the office and my apartment, and our classroom focuses on this environment of the community around us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-261611\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2-636x477.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2-755x566.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2-1333x1000.jpg 1333w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2-1600x1200.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2-1920x1440.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2026\/02\/IMG_7478-2-copy-Kirwa-2.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Kipruto Kirwa, assistant professor of environmental health, teaching EH 804<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The coursework focuses on fundamentals of exposure assessment, including concepts and methods of study design, basic monitoring strategies, field data collection, and data analysis and interpretation. Students review relevant case studies and consult with subject-matter experts before splitting into teams to design and conduct a field monitoring project. The fieldwork is the course\u2019s core element that allows students\u2014under the guidance of instructors and advisors\u2014to develop their own exposure assessment strategies, collect and analyze data, prepare a final report to be shared with the other teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Winnifred Brobbey, an MPH student who trained as a physician in Ghana, says the course\u2019s step-by-step, hands-on approach was both engaging and practical. \u201cThe class walked us through the entire research process, starting from designing a clear and meaningful research question, to data collection, analysis, and finally communicating findings,\u201d Brobbey says. Perhaps most importantly, she says it provided her with confidence in her ability to conduct research independently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think the best practice starts with very good theory,\u201d Kirwa says. \u201cWe do a lot of work in constructing a feasible question that students can answer within a short time and within the resources that they have available.\u201d Ideally, students learn that the time spent thinking deeply and critically about what they want to research\u2014and how to conduct it\u2014is essential to success. \u201cIt sounds all good until you actually have to do something out there. Then you realize, \u2018I don&#8217;t know, did I ask the right question?\u2019 So we start first by intentionally spending an inordinate amount of time making sure the research question is the right one,\u201d Kirwa says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s also another component, Kirwa says, one as equally important as crafting the right question: acknowledging that none of the instructors knows everything. \u201cThis class benefits from inviting subject matter experts, starting with our colleagues in the department and the school and by inviting people who are actually out there in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those real-world experiences were also bolstered by input from Stephanie Grady, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Environmental Health, who, in a full-circle moment for her, was the teaching assistant for the class she had taken as a doctoral student in 2020. After earning her PhD in 2024, Grady has participated in studies that examined the effects of air pollution, excessive noise, extreme heat, and other environmental stressors on cardiovascular disease, mental health, and behavioral outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grady says the field methods class gives students a genuine perspective of the difficulty of collecting good data. \u201cIt sets students up to basically create their own research design and their own studies. There&#8217;s a lot of planning that goes into a research study.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, Grady says, the occasional unpredictable elements of the real-world laboratory add extra layers of complexity for the class, a mix of master&#8217;s and doctoral students. \u201cIt&#8217;s hard sometimes to piece out your exposure from other correlated exposures. You realize that you can&#8217;t control everything and that things just happen and you have to just roll with it. That&#8217;s the part that usually is the hardest to kind of manage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Student Charlotte Robbins, a PhD candidate in environmental health, says she appreciated the way Kirwa and Grady emphasized close attention to detail and rigor in designing and conducting her team\u2019s exposure assessment, noise levels at various MBTA subway stops. The course was unique in allowing students to \u201cchoose our own projects and connect them to everyday public health issues that are important to people in Boston.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other teams compared air pollution concentrations between gas and induction stoves; manganese levels in residential water in Boston, Brookline, and and Somerville; and the air quality conditions of urban roads under alternating pedestrian and vehicular use. Not all of the studies produced solid findings, but that wasn&#8217;t the primary aim, says Danielle Parchure, a microbiologist who graduated with her MPH in January. &#8220;It was really more of a learning experience&#8230;. I think of this as a pilot project\u2014we figured out how to do this kind of project in a rigorous way by the end of the semester. In the real world, all the data we wrote up for class would be scrapped and we would start fresh on the real study. Our methods changed as we proceeded, but that was part of the point\u2014we learned how much iterating is needed to develop a good field work protocol.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her colleague and teammate Linz Owor says that she expected a theoretical class but the hands-on aspect was a pleasant surprise that helped her learn how meticulous the data collection process could be. &#8220;I remember sitting inside the MBTA Green Line, listening to and watching the rails in a way I never had before, all while taking notes,&#8221; Owor says. &#8220;Our findings showed consistently higher noise levels on curved track sections, which could be a simple detail, but shows how features in the environment can dictate people&#8217;s exposure and health.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The class has a long history in the department yet has evolved and adapted over the years with each new instructor. Kirwa says he made sure to speak with the last few instructors of the class to collect their insights, and teamwork and time management are still key tenets of the course. But, Kirwa says, the class takes pains to address contemporary issues such as environmental justice and ethics and a substantial portion of class time now devoted to artificial intelligence. \u201cThese were not traditionally part of the class, but I think they&#8217;re just so important now that students need to be equipped to know about and use them,\u201d Kirwa says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New learning tools such as AI present new challenges, so Kirwa has adapted the coursework to account for way some aspects are valued. One example is the shift away from valuing a student\u2019s statistical coding to account for the ability of AI tools to craft clean, elegant code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kirwa, Grady, and the students all agree on one thing: EH 804 is a rigorous class. Parchure says, &#8220;It was a huge ask to design, conduct, analyze, and write up a real-world study\u2014even a small one\u2014in the space of one semester.&#8221;  Parchure adds, &#8220;it was a really valuable experience because we got to experience field work for ourselves. This was a great learning-by-doing class.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Ahsan Manji and Sydney Boothe, students in a previous Field Methods class, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2026\/busph-graduate-course-in-exposure-science-field-methods-offers-unique-blend-of-practice-research-design-science-communication-and-teamwork\/\">also shared their observations.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The adage \u201cthe path to learning doesn\u2019t stop at the door\u201c has never been more timely for students in the School of Public Health, where the classroom extends beyond lecture halls and into the streets, neighborhoods, and transit systems of Greater Boston. It is especially true for students in EH 804, the School\u2019s course on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7185,"featured_media":261587,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"tags":[4905,2261,5414,2837,3177,5415],"bu-publication":[3516],"sphnews-article-category":[3519,3529,3541,4084],"sphnews-topic":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"profile_tax":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/261339"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7185"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=261339"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/261339\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":261683,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/261339\/revisions\/261683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/261587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=261339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=261339"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=261339"},{"taxonomy":"sphnews-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sphnews-article-category?post=261339"},{"taxonomy":"sphnews-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sphnews-topic?post=261339"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=261339"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=261339"},{"taxonomy":"profile_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/profile_tax?post=261339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}