Gracie H
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Stanford University
Expertise
Global water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); environmental microbiology; behavior change; environmental science; global public health
Bio
My name is Gracie Hornsby and my research interests lie at the intersection of engineering, public health, and behavior change psychology in the field of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). My current research involves evaluating a behavior change intervention and an infrastructure maintenance intervention among students in primary schools in northern India. We hope to determine how effective these interventions are at helping students practice hand washing, using clean toilets, and drinking from safe water sources! Outside of research, I like to spend as much time as possible outside! I like to rock climb, backpack, and trail run. I also have a border collie/golden retriever mix named Bailey who likes to hike and run with me. You can find us cooling off together in any river or lake. Spending time outside also makes me care deeply about protecting the environment so everyone can experience the power of being in nature.Project ideas
Attitudes towards municipal tap water
Many people have varied feelings about drinking tap water, especially after the events in Flint, Michigan. A student could survey people from all over their city to understand their attitudes towards city tap water. They could also collect some demographic data to see what factors may correlate with different attitudes. Do people in a certain neighborhood think alike? Do people who drink well water have different attitudes about city water? Do women have different attitudes than men? Does family income correlate with attitudes? A student would also learn to develop a good samples frame, design non-biased survey questions, and have the opportunity to analyze local data!