Mosquito Watch: A Summer Research Initiative
Summer not only brings out mosquitoes but also heightens the research endeavors at Christopher Newport University (CNU). Students participated in a project that combines ecology and technology: Mosquito Watch. This initiative aims to identify disease-carrying mosquitoes in Norfolk, utilizing a geographic information system (GIS) to map concentrations of these pests.
Project Overview
The Mosquito Watch website serves as an educational tool as well as a alert system, warning residents about mosquito hotspots. The initiative is part of CNU’s Summer Scholars program, which provides students with hands-on research experience while living on campus during the summer.
Dr. Yan Lu, an assistant professor in the School of Engineering and Computing, stated, “Students gain much more than technical skills… they learn how to take an open-ended real-world problem, understand the data, develop and evaluate AI models, and communicate their findings.” This project reflects the university’s commitment to research, which stands as one of its educational pillars.
The Technology Behind Mosquito Watch
Employing agentic AI, the project aims to classify various mosquito species based on images uploaded by users. This AI system functions autonomously, delivering comprehensive outcomes rather than merely responding to single prompts. The long-term vision is for residents to upload mosquito images and receive real-time identification, enabling them to understand which species are potentially dangerous.
Emma Redash, Computer Science major, highlighted the public health aspect: “This will help keep people informed about the mosquito population and focus efforts on mosquito population control.”
Continuation and Future Prospects
Building on previous research recognized during the Hampton Roads Datathon, the students aim to expand the website further. Dr. Lu anticipates that this project could evolve into a valuable community tool beyond academia.
Ryan Schatzberg, another Computer Science major, emphasized the practical benefits: “The general population will be able to use our website to upload an image of a mosquito and have the model identify the species… This research is essential for classifying species that carry diseases like West Nile Virus.”
Personal Growth and Career Impact
This initiative not only contributes to public health but also enhances the students’ skillsets and resumes. Participants expressed that their experiences provided insight into their future career paths. Emma Redash shared, “This experience has provided me with the opportunity to feel confident in my career choices… it reinforced that I picked the right major.”
Through projects like Mosquito Watch, CNU students are making strides in research while addressing real-world issues in their community.
