Making OK Cool
The Intersection of Environmental Health Science and Urban Planning
D
r. Hongwan Li boils the term interdisciplinary down to teamwork. “I enjoy doing interdisciplinary research because my background is interdisciplinary,” she says. Li received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Her master’s thesis focused on testing for and removing methamphetamine-contaminated drywall in housing to ensure that future occupants were protected. After publishing her thesis work, several communities and nonprofit organizations contacted Li to request information and guidance. “I tried my best to provide information based on the results from my experiments,” says Li. “This made me feel like my research was helping people.” Li recognizes the importance of working with people in different fields to help build and maintain healthy communities. After completing her doctoral degree, she spent time with the Environmental Protection Agency. “Then COVID-19 hit, and my research transitioned slightly to the microbial side, focusing on airborne viruses,” she states. During the pandemic, Li took her aerosol instruments to restaurants and fitness centers to collect air samples. She hoped to address questions like: “Is it safe to dine out at a restaurant?” and “Should I wear a face mask when I’m at the gym?” Some business managers asked her not to sample in their locations, but many were open to it. “The businesses that allowed me to sample were very supportive and confident in scientific research,” says Li. She explains that people would ask her what she was doing when they saw her with the instruments. One of the unexpected benefits of this research was it helped Li learn how to talk with various people and share scientific information with them—both of which are critical for interdisciplinary research. “I feel I have a heart to work for the people,” she says. Li is especially interested in research involving vulnerable populations like children and seniors. One of her research projects involves studying how to improve dementia care outcomes in nursing homes by optimizing architectural and environmental quality factors. “When I take my air quality equipment into nursing homes, I get to make a difference in helping to improve the lives of the residents,” says Li. Her main research focus is risk assessment, specifically health risks related to air quality. “I enjoy fieldwork and being out in communities, but I also spend
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OU Public Health | fall 2023
OU Public Health | fall 2023
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