USAC Montevideo study abroad students visit laboratories advancing the One Health concept
Wildlife is displaced by deforestation, habitats are changed by expanding farmland, and trade requires the rapid movement of people, animals, and animal products around the world. All this disruptive activity accelerates the spread of diseases, such as rabies, Lyme disease, Ebola, and more.
The One Health concept addresses the relationship between human health and environmental issues. While these individual areas have all been studied before, One Health is a relatively new approach to work with local, regional, national, and international agencies to do something and mitigate the damage.
“Understanding how human health is connected to the health of animals and plants, as well as to environmental health, provides society with a new way of conceiving health as a whole,” María José González, Ph.D. said. She is a researcher nivel II, Departamento de Microbiología, at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE) in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Dr. González teaches Social Dimensions of Health and Environment for the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) Montevideo program, where part of the course includes bringing study abroad students to visit the IIBCE microbiology laboratory and tour the facilities.
“Students can observe the day-to-day work conducted on site,” Dr. González said. “This includes the preparation of culture media, recovery of bacterial strains, sterilization of materials using the autoclave, incubation of bacteria, staining procedures for microscopic observation, and the visualization of bacteria.”
Seeing the variety of tasks a center handles in a day is one of the biggest surprises for students on field trips. Scientists study everything from microorganisms found in water, like cyanobacteria, to those that form part of the honeybee microbiota. In these facilities, IIBCE has advanced original research in microbiology, neurobiology, and environmental sciences.
“Another surprise for students is discovering that, even though our Institute has cutting-edge equipment, it is the researchers themselves who take care of everything: from preparing the materials to keeping the lab clean and organized,” she said. Visiting students see that science is a career overseas.
The IIBCE has earned a reputation as Uruguay’s leading science and innovation reference. While it has made a noticeable change in several areas, its biggest impact is creating a visible link between science and public knowledge. For example, it has several influential initiatives:
- Environmental Sciences Research Center (CICA): Trains new generations of researchers on interdisciplinary work in biodiversity, microbial ecology, and environmental health.
- Health & microbiology research: Studies pathogens that affect human health, microbial communities in honeybees, and water microorganisms like cyanobacteria.
- Neuroscience leadership: Continues a longstanding tradition in neurobiology and brain research, contributing knowledge both nationally and internationally.
- Public science engagement: Opens its doors during Día del Patrimonio, organizing talks, seminars, and guided tours for schools and the general public.
- Science advocacy: Raises awareness about the importance of sustained investment in research infrastructure and human resources.
In all this science, there’s also time for fun. Dr. González is also part of a research group that created “ComicBacterias,” a fun and free resource that teaches children about the science behind bacteria.
Scientific studies have created well-respected institutions in Uruguay. Field trips attached to USAC courses provide students with meaningful experiences that can inform their future career opportunities. For more information, visit usac.edu/montevideo.
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