Early-warning system to protect and promote human health and inform Houston’s response to viral outbreaks
A lot of progress has been made to protect and promote human health with the most notable result being increased life expectancy. Yet, the emergence of prominent outbreaks of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance have remained as critical threats to global public health today.
To address the challenge of anticipating and responding to prominent outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston Wastewater Epidemiology has implemented a comprehensive, cost-effective system to monitor community infection dynamics of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19. We are also working to expand the comprehensive wastewater monitoring system to target influenza, mpox, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and other pathogens.

New features help Houstonians understand the prevalence of COVID-19, influenza at the community level
A Consensus Study Report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
With grant, Rice engineer intends to harness microbiomes to improve wastewater treatment processes.
The Houston Wastewater Epidemiology team will deliver an honorary lecture at the 6th Annual TMC Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Conference.
- March 2023
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March 23
Office Hours, Houston Wastewater Epidemiology
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. (Central Time)
Zoom Registration https://riceuniversity.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMudOutqDktGN1cnwE-kfKr_YUCbpKAxqPSMarch 28
Washington Statistical Society Distinguished Speaker Series: Data Science for the Public Good
4:00 – 6:00 pm (Eastern Time)Potomac River Room
UVA Darden Sands Family Ground
Rosslyn City Center
1100 Wilson Blvd 30th Floor
Arlington, VA 22209Community Analytics and the Value of University/City Partnerships
Katherine Ensor, Ph.D.
Noah G. Harding Professor of Statistics
Director of CoFES
Rice University - April 2023
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April 7
NSF Research Coordination Network Webinar
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Time)Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2
Loren Hopkins, Ph.D.
Chief Environmental Science Officer and Bureau Chief, Data Science Division
Houston Health Department
Professor in the Practice of Statistics
Rice UniversityApril 13
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas
Wastewater Surveillance for Monitoring COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases in Houston, TexasCamille McCall, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Rice UniversityApril 17-19
Earth Day HTX Speaker Series
Hermann Square at City HallApril 24
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
Preparedness Summit1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Atlanta, GAWastewater Monitoring and School Health: Improving School Response to Outbreaks
Loren Hopkins, Ph.D.
Chief Environmental Science Officer and Bureau Chief, Data Science Division
Houston Health Department
Professor in the Practice of Statistics
Rice University
- May 2023
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May 11
National League of Cities
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)Using Data to Inform Equitable Decision Making
A webinar for city leadersLoren Hopkins, Ph.D.
Chief Environmental Science Officer and Bureau Chief, Data Science Division
Houston Health Department
Professor in the Practice of Statistics
Rice University
- June 2023
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June 15 - 19
George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, TXLauren Stadler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Rice University