PUTNEY-The National Science Foundation recently awarded $7.9 million to establish the PFAS Environmental Research Network (PERN), a four-year initiative bringing together Vermont researchers, educators, students, and state partners to better understand and address environmental chemical contamination.
Landmark College faculty Denise Burchsted and Ally Hunter will lead research involving Landmark College students, who will collect and contribute data to the collaborative network.
The PERN network will include Landmark College alongside Bennington College, the lead institution on the award, as well as Middlebury College, the University of Vermont, and state agencies in a growing effort to investigate where and how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are suspected to have contaminated groundwater and soil.
PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are a persistent group of industrial and consumer product chemicals, including those used in nonstick cookware, that can remain in the environment for decades, affecting ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
For Landmark College students, the award provides an opportunity to engage directly in scientific research alongside researchers and partners from across Vermont. Through the project, students will gain hands-on experience contributing to research addressing an environmental challenge facing rural communities affected by industrial contamination.
In reflecting on the significance of the award, Hunter said while schools like Landmark are primarily focused on teaching, “many of our faculty are trained researchers and our students are capable of meaningful participation in scientific discovery.”
Previous studies have focused primarily on PFAS contamination in water, but less is known about how consuming contaminated food may affect human health. With a strong culture of hunting and foraging, Vermonters may be exposed to PFAS through wild food sources, yet few studies have investigated how these chemicals accumulate in terrestrial ecosystems.
This work will contribute data toward a more comprehensive understanding of how PFAS move through Vermont’s environment, accumulate in living systems, and potentially affect human health.
Burchsted said that the funding will be used to create opportunities for students to “engage in meaningful research and gain experience working across institutions and disciplines.”
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.