CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (March 9, 2026)–Kirkwood Community College will host the 54th Annual Mel Oliven Lecture on Thursday, March 12, featuring a presentation on how genetic science is helping researchers identify sources of water contamination in Iowa’s recreational waters. The free event is open to the public and will take place from 11:15 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. in Iowa Hall Room B on Kirkwood’s main campus in Cedar Rapids.
The lecture will feature Dr. Claire Hruby, assistant professor of environmental science and sustainability at Drake University, presenting “What’s in Your Water? Using Genetic Techniques to Determine Sources of Contamination in Iowa’s Recreational Waters.” Hruby will discuss research examining E. coli contamination and how genetic tools such as microbial source tracking can help determine where fecal waste in rivers, lakes and streams originates.
Over the past two years, Hruby and her team have sampled waters across Iowa, including the Little Sioux River in northwest Iowa; Catfish Creek and the Maquoketa River in northeast Iowa; Lake Darling and the Skunk River in southeast Iowa; the East Nishnabotna River in southwest Iowa; and areas within the Des Moines and Raccoon River watersheds in central Iowa.
“Kirkwood’s Mel Oliven Lecture is an opportunity for our community to engage with scientific research that directly affects everyday life,” said Kirkwood Dean of Math/Science Wendy Jamison. “Dr. Hruby’s work helps us better understand the health of Iowa’s water resources and why protecting them is vital for both public health and the environment.”
The Mel Oliven Lecture series brings scientists and researchers to Kirkwood to share their expertise with students and the community. The lecture can also be viewed online here.
Hruby joined Drake University in 2023 after spending 20 years with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, where she worked on groundwater monitoring, beach pathogen testing, source water protection and river restoration planning. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Wesleyan University and both a master’s degree in geology and a Ph.D. in agricultural and biosystems engineering from Iowa State University.
*****EVENT*****
What: The 54th Annual Mel Oliven Lecture featuring Dr. Claire Hruby
When: Thursday, March 12, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.
Where: Iowa Hall Room B on Kirkwood’s main campus in Cedar Rapids
Cost: The event is free and open to the public