MCC students partner with Brown University to study air, noise quality
MCC students Emma Sowell, left, David Sherman, Elizabeth Shirley, and Kaitlyn Hebig
are collecting data for a Brown University School of Public Health project.
Four Meridian Community College students are teaming up with researchers from Brown University School of Public Health to understand ambient air and noise in the greater Meridian area.
MCC students Elizabeth Shirley, Emma Sowell, Kaitlyn Hebig, and David Sherman are working alongside Dr. Erica Walker, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Ivy League university, and Dr. Christina Nica, of the Community Noise Lab at Brown University and the Mississippi Site research scientist and project supervisor. The study aims to assess environmental conditions and their potential impact on public health.
The MCC team has collected noise and air quality spot measurements in more than 60 locations in the Greater Meridian Area, establishing a baseline exposure map. “This will allow us, together, to effectively design a research plan for the next four years,” Dr. Nica said.
Sowell, 20, from Meridian, is majoring in environmental science; Shirley, 19, from Collinsville, is majoring in physical therapy; Sherman, 19, from Mobile, Alabama, is majoring in orthopedic medicine; and Hebig, 31, is from Meridian majoring in medicine. The four are also students of MCC Chemistry Instructor Dr. Angela Carraway, who also serves as the chair of the College’s Science and Wellness Division.
“When I first heard about it, I knew I wanted to be involved,” Sowell said, adding, “It connects directly to my major and gives me hands-on experience in the field.” It was the opportunity to gain experience that led Sherman to join the group. “I wanted to dive deeper… I’ve never done anything similar to this,” he said.
For Shirley, the project is more than a research opportunity—it’s a chance to strengthen her resume as she prepares for physical therapy school. Hebig sees that by participating she’s gaining a way to better understand populations in local communities. “The research has taught me to approach environmental health with curiosity and awareness,” she said.
The research is part of a five-year study. Data collected by the team will be shared with the community during a public event, where findings will be presented.
Dr. Walker, who blogs about her research, believes this collaboration is an important step in understanding how environmental factors impact everyday life in Meridian. “This project is about more than data collection,” she said. “It’s about raising awareness and helping people see the connections between their environment and their health.”
The MCC students say they are grateful for the opportunity to work on a research project with national significance and look forward to seeing their findings make a difference.
Dr. Carraway supervises the students and notes there are many benefits from the project. “Undergraduate research promotes student retention, enhances student engagement, and promotes student persistence in STEM fields. This collaboration with Brown University broadens the research opportunities we have available to MCC students and helps them find their wings in a field of study greatly relevant to daily life,” Dr. Carraway said.
Dr. Walker added, “These students have done a tremendous job gathering data to create a baseline exposure profile for greater Meridian. I could not think of a better research partner than Dr. Carraway and MCC. They have laid solid groundwork for future students to build upon.”
For more information about MCC, visit meridiancc.edu.