In late 2019, Dr. Laurel Schaider, lead researcher at the Silent Spring Institute and co-lead of STEEP’s Community Engagement Core, presented an evening educational session at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth on Cape Cod. She provided preliminary findings from STEEP’s private wells study on Cape Cod and updates of PFAS regulations at the state and federal level. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session for the 45 attendees, who were provided STEEP educational materials on water quality protection and minimizing PFAS exposure in everyday life.

In addition, STEEP members have participated in several 2020 public events, including the Cape Cod Moms Parent Resource Fair, the Rhode Island Land and Water Conservation Summit, and the Local Environmental Action Conference. These events brought together key stakeholders, such as regulators, scientists, elected officials, and community members, to discuss health and environmental concerns. At each event STEEP members hosted information tables to share research and resources on PFAS in drinking water, health effects, regulations, and exposure reduction tips.

STEEP team members participating in  these events included Laurel Schaider, Cheryl Osimo, and Alyson McCann, STEEP trainees from URI and Harvard (Jitka Becanova, Simon Vojta, Maya Morales-McDevitt, and Heidi Pickard), and Silent Spring Research Assistants (Amanda Hernandez and Maia Fitzstevens).