Nebraska Extension Educator Focuses on the Connection between Water Quality and Health
Laura Nagengast grew up on a farm outside Bloomfield, Nebraska, a small farming community with a population of about 1,000 people. Surrounded by corn fields and livestock, as just a young girl Laura developed a strong interest in the environment and conservation practices. Little did she know her early years were so formative they would end up shaping her career.
After high school, Laura attended college at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where she studied Anthropology and Women Studies. She then advanced to graduate studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), obtaining a Master’s of Public Health degree. During her time at UNMC, Laura worked as a graduate assistant for the Water, Climate, and Health Program. This program is dedicated to understanding how environmental factors impact human health. Though Laura participated in a broad range of environmental health projects, she was most interested in water quality and its associated health outcomes.
This personal, academic, and professional foundation led Laura to her current role as a water quality and public health-focused Extension Educator. Her position is a collaborative effort supported by The University of Nebraska, The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, and The University of Nebraska Medical Center. In this role, Laura works to build relationships and improve communication among these entities, while also acting as a crucial link between scientific research and community understanding regarding the health impacts of contaminated water consumption.
Drawing on her anthropological and public health expertise, Laura brings a unique perspective to Nebraska Extension. Her mission extends beyond ensuring safe drinking water; she is deeply invested in the human dimensions of environmental health. Laura prioritizes connecting with communities to foster behavioral changes. She spends time assisting individuals in testing their drinking water for contaminants, promoting the installation of drinking water filtration systems, and working to understand and reduce barriers Nebraskans face when trying to access safe drinking water.
Laura dedicates a significant portion of her time to giving presentations, attending outreach events, and creating educational resources for a diverse array of audiences. Her work spans a broad spectrum of populations, from healthcare providers to farmers. To enhance the accessibility of information, Laura developed the University of Nebraska’s Water and Health website. This platform provides various resources and handouts on water quality and health, which she encourages anyone interested to take advantage of.
Currently, Laura is involved in several communication and educational projects. She is creating continuing education units for medical providers focused on water quality and health, developing a water quality and health communication resource toolbox for Nebraska’s public health departments, and spearheading a mass mailing project. This mailing project will distribute water quality and public health posters and handouts to all Nebraska rural health clinics, public health departments, Extension offices, and other relevant entities. Additionally, Laura also continues to be a part of various research projects and collaborates with stakeholders to meet their water quality and public health needs.
Without safe drinking water, we risk our own health and safety. It is critical we do what we can to provide and protect safe drinking water for everyone.
Laura Nagengast, Nebraska Extension
Laura Nagengast is a statewide Source Water Protection Extension Educator. She is based out of at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s School of Natural Resources. Laura holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Michigan and a Master’s Degree in Public Health (Administration and Policy) from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Her primary focus is to increase awareness and education on water quality issues in Nebraska and their impact on human health. She works to serve as the link between the science and the community’s understanding of the health impacts related to the consumption of contaminated water. Awareness is the first step in creating changed behavior. Laura is interested in community engagement, environmental health, and public health advocacy.