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The ToxiCarnival Comes to Town

By Diane Hardej posted 11-13-2014 15:26

  

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The Education and Outreach Committee of the Mid-Atlantic Society of Toxicology (MASOT) Regional Chapter participated in a new outreach program on October 31, 2014. ToxiCarnival featured carnival games paired with toxicology-related questions to gain chances to win prizes and learn basic toxicology concepts. The first ToxiCarnival event was run in conjunction with the Toxicology Club at St. John’s University, Tau Omega Chi (TΩΧ). Diane Hardej, an Associate Professor at St. John’s and the Chair of MASOT’s Education and Outreach Committee, created the program and supervised the club members in conducting the event. Toxicology questions used in the program were recommended by Jessica Placido and Angelique Braen, who are current members of the committee. Members of Tau Omega Chi and Diane Hardej (center in white coat) pose for a group photo before welcoming participants to the ToxiCarnival.

ToxicDuckAmanda.Voke.jpgThe event was a big hit on St. John’s University campus in Queens, New York, drawing roughly 100–150 St. John’s students to the gaming tables on the chilly October day. Some of the featured activities were the Wheel of Poison, Toxic Duck Match, Deadly Disk Drop, and the Circle of Death Ring/Beanbag Toss. In the photo on the left, Toxicology students Amanda Dhaneshwar and Voke Emekeme demonstrate the Toxic Duck game.

At each game, students were invited to answer toxicology questions to gain additional chances to win prizes.  Prizes were donated by TΩΧ members and Diane Hardej for the event. As a means of assessing student knowledge of toxicology concepts, correct and incorrect responses were noted in order to gauge questions for future events. 

Students were delighted with the event and were eager to answer questions, which most of them found to be v2TwoWomenDSC_0911-1.jpgsomewhat challenging. Pictured at the right, a ToxiCarnival participant is answering a question to gain more chances to play carnival games and win prizes. The event was open to all members of the campus community, drawing undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty and staff who supported Tau Omega Chi in this effort. The program was scheduled for Halloween, and as a result, attracted many participants in costume that enhanced the festive climate of the carnival.

The program also was a big hit with the Toxicology Club members, who did an exceptional job of manning the gaming tables and delivering the toxicology questions to the participants, and in the process, reinforced their own toxicology knowledge. All those involved agreed that they not only enjoyed the carnival concept but learned some facts in the process.

Many thanks to the Tau Omega Chi members and graduate students who participated in the event, Jiaqi Lu (TΩΧ President), Chidi Amasiani, Ali Dalgish-Choi, Lesa Deonarine, Kaitlyn Dial, Amanda Dhaneshwar, Voke Emekeme, Naila Habeeb, Randy Liang, Melina Mendoza, Zainab Petiwala, Katerina Stavrou, Olivia Stephenson, Mumtaz Akhtar, Daniel Incalcaterra, Puneet Vij, Benjamin Kistinger, Nikaeta Sadekar, and Ali Shohatee. Special thanks to the Education and Outreach Committee members who approved the event and Louis Trombetta, who kindly loaned us the tent for the show.

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