Page 11 - Hormel Institute Annual Report 2021-22

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Educational Tours and Experiences
The Hormel Institute offered educational tours and experiences to a variety of different groups from area schools and organizations. On the tours, students
get to participate in a variety of STEM-related activities, including liquid nitrogen experiments, strawberry DNA extraction, viewing samples under microscopes, and more. The students also get to participate in STEM career panels, learn about our state-of-the-art Cryo-EM technology, and learn about the Institute’s history, mission, and research.
Art of Microscopy at Riverland Community College
The Hormel Institute partnered with Riverland Community College (RCC) to showcase our “Art of Microscopy” exhibit in RCC’s West Building. The exhibit showcases images captured by the Institute’s scientists using microscopes to inspire curiosity and an appreciation for the complexity of science.
Riverland Community College Career Fair
Scientists from The Hormel Institute participated in a career fair hosted by Riverland Community College, showcasing the many paths to a career in research.
Middle School Scientist Visits
The Hormel Institute’s Luke Hoeppner, PhD, Jarrod French, PhD, Seth Richards, and Todd Schuster
visited Ellis Middle School and talked to students about their research, cells, and STEM careers, sparking excitement to engage the next generation of scientists.
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
The Hormel Institute established a Community Advisory Board consisting of
nine members. The board provides recommendations and actions related to community engagement and educational opportunities in Mower County and Southeastern Minnesota related to the biomedical research, training, and education happening at The Hormel Institute. The board helps monitor the effectiveness of authentic community engagement approaches and current community outreach and education activities.
Board members: Chair Oballa Oballa; Chris Weis, Mower County Public Health;
Sara Lee, Mayo Clinic; Dewey Schara, Austin Public Schools; Gema Alvardo-Guerro, Parent Resource Center; Laura Helle, Austin Area Arts; Trish Harren, Mower County; Jessica Vazquez, Mower County Extension; Catherine Haslag, Riverland Community College and Science Fair Mentoring
Community Outreach Booths
The Hormel Institute had booths at several community events. These booths included cancer prevention information, health screenings like blood pressure checks, educational activities, and more.
• Taste of Nations • 4th Ave Fest
Clinical Trials
• Summer Ag Cookout • Farmers Market
The Hormel Institute started its first clinical trial, called the Two Drink Study.
The goal of this study is to determine if consuming one of the two study drinks
will help enhance the detoxification of multiple environmental toxicants and cancer- causing agents.
“Clinical trials are so important because they allow us to gain the knowledge needed to improve the way we prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. The process of coming up with new medications and treatments is a very long, complex process of testing and retesting in the lab. Clinical trials are the result of all that research, and give us the opportunity to test these new treatments in the safest and most effective way possible.”
Emily Heath
Clinical Research and Outreach Nurse