Community Engagement Core (CEC)

The Community Engagement Core (CEC) will translate ShARP Center research to increase public awareness of PFAS contamination and related health risks from Superfund hazardous substances. It will serve as a bridge between the Center and local, regional, and national audiences, facilitating two-way communication to ensure research is informed by community concerns. The CEC will collaborate with local leaders, organizations, and healthcare workers to conduct trainings, workshops, and outreach activities aimed at increasing environmental health literacy. It will co-develop prevention strategies and tailor educational materials—both print and digital—to make ShARP research findings accessible and actionable. Community input will inform research priorities, data collection, and dissemination approaches, ensuring that all ShARP projects are responsive to emerging local issues. Collectively, the CEC will ensure collaboration across all ShARP Center projects and cores by informing all Center investigators of local concerns to strengthen scientific dissemination and prioritize emerging research needs.