Since Gwynne Mhuireach, a doctoral student in landscape architecture, left the farm where she grew up near Klamath Falls she became curious about health differences between people who grew up in rural and urban areas.
With a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Washington and a master’s degree from the UO in architecture, Mhuireach initially got involved in the Biology of the Built Environment Center’s pioneering exploration of microbial communities inside buildings.
Now, she’s back outdoors looking at greenery — particularly the microbes in the air above and around the vegetation — in urban areas. She’s just completed a pilot study in which she explored Eugene’s parks and parking lots. Her findings are in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
Editorial Note: original story published by Jim Barlow, University Communications, University of Oregon