To accomplish this, the Laboratory carries out programs in teaching, research and service. These programs reflect the community's concerns with insect-borne diseases and other insect related health problems.

Teaching, Research & Service:
Our 3-fold Mission

Teaching
Public Health Entomology, HSC 389, provides a classroom opportunity for students to study the ways insects affect human health directly, as well as indirectly through disease transmission. Students also learn how to identify and control insect vectors of disease.

This course is valuable for students planning careers in public health or environmental health, and is required for the minor in environmental health. Public Health Entomology, HSC589, is a more rigorous course offered to graduate students. This course covers vector-borne disease transmission cycles, epidemiology, more advanced insect identification and methods of disease detection in vector populations.

Note: Both HSC 389 and HSC 589 are currently offered only every other year in the Fall of odd years.

Learning opportunities are also available for students who choose to enroll in Health Science 498, independent studies. Numerous students have carried out independent studies on topics related to the above courses. Frequently, study topics develop into significant research projects.

Research
The Public Health Entomology Laboratory provides opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students who wish to pursue research interests in public health entomology.

Numerous undergraduate students have carried out research projects funded either through the University's undergraduate research grant awards or through external agencies. Numerous other undergraduates have gained research experience through their involvement with ongoing Laboratory research work.

Opportunities are available for graduate students wishing to earn a Master's Degree in Health Science while carrying out research in the Public Health Entomology Laboratory. The Lab has also provided research space and support to degree seeking students in the Department of Biology and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management.

Service
The Public Health Entomology Laboratory provides service to the professional and lay community in the area of public health education particularly with regard to medical and veterinary entomology. The Lab maintains a reference collection of medically important arthropods which serves the needs of the teaching, research, and service missions of the Laboratory.

Inasmuch as possible, the laboratory provides insect identifications for the public and answers questions from the public concerning public health entomology issues.

The Laboratory carries out cooperative research programs and service contracts with the Indiana State Department of Health and other public and private organizations. These programs include disease surveillance programs, public health education, and research.