Join us for Science on the Bayou with Dr. Emily Kane and Dr. Kevin A. Caillouet! Speaker bios and talk descriptions below.
Happy Hour: 5:30 PM
Talks: 6:00 PM
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Meet the Speakers!
Dr. Emily Kane, Professor of Biology at UL Lafayette
"Flushed with discovery: the surprising ability of local fishes to survive in residential septic runoff"
The last thing I thought about when moving to southern Louisiana was poop. However, I’ve learned that malfunctioning residential septic systems are a major issue here. As you can imagine, the release of toxic, partially treated waste into drainage ditches means that typical aquatic community structures are disrupted. This is especially problematic for mosquito control - aquatic, air-breathing larvae thrive because their fish predators cannot. To start to understand the fish’s side of this story, we have partnered with local mosquito control agencies to determine the extent of the effects on fish predators as well as whether these effects can be mitigated in some way. What started as a small, easy summer project has ballooned into one of the major lines of questions in my research lab. The more we learn, the more questions we have!
Introduction video produced by local photographer Joe Fontenot:
Dr. Kane is a fish biologist interested in the links between form, function, and survival. She grew up in Maryland and has followed her passion for understanding life in the water at 13 academic, federal, and other agencies across 9 states and all 4 continental time zones. Her graduate and post-doctoral work examined suction feeding biomechanics of marine mammals and fishes. She moved to Louisiana in Fall 2020 (yes, during the height of COVID) where she has taught over 300 students in Physiology and Biomechanics at UL Lafayette! Her lab’s current research questions have diversified, but they all revolve around understanding the physiology, behavior, ecology, and evolution of things that live in water.
Dr. Kevin A. Caillouet, Executive Director of St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement
"Septic bites back: how decentralized wastewater treatment impacts fish and promotes mosquito-transmitted diseases in South Louisiana"
How important is a clean Bayou Teche and Vermilion River to you? What about healthy fish populations? How about enjoying these environments without concern of mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus? Our next Science on the Bayou explores the unintended consequences of sewage pollution from septic and aerated treatment systems on our health, the health of our fish populations, water quality, and what you can do about it.
Dr. Kevin A. Caillouet is a medical entomologist and Executive Director of St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement in Slidell, LA. Dr. Caillouet has explored the linkage between onsite wastewater treatment system effluent and West Nile virus vector production in St. Tammany’s sewage-polluted waterways for over a decade. In his role as a scientist, public health expert, and public servant, he has translated his team’s basic science approach into operational mosquito management and advocacy for better public policies to keep our unique Louisiana environment beautiful while protecting the health of our residents.
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As always, Science on the Bayou welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to join us as we learn about the research and development in our community!
This event is free to attend. Food and drink will be available for purchase from our gracious hosts at Adopted Dog Brewing! Non-alcoholic and non-beer options are available in addition to the variety of beers they offer.
Also check out other Health & Wellness events in Lafayette.
