The incidence of Valley fever, a disease caused by the fungal pathogen Coccidioides, has increased steadily in the Southwestern U.S. over the last decades. To enhance understanding of the pathogen and the disease it causes in the population of Kern County, CA, a known hot spot of this pathogenic fungus, a Citizen Science project was started in 2020. This hands-on inquiry-based project involves students and teachers from California State University Bakersfield and several local high schools. They are using a molecular biological approach to detect the pathogen in dust samples collected by students over the seasons. Being involved in a project that is of interest for the scientific community, students not only develop lab skills needed in scientific careers, but also learn about the importance of being educated on a disease that affects thousands of people each year in California alone.
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