One of my county's largest health systems has asked me to develop a one‑hour presentation and interactive activity for their high school Summer Enrichment Program. The students participating are early in their exploration of careers in the health sciences, and the organizers want them to walk away with a clearer sense of what applied epidemiology looks like in practice.
They're particularly interested in giving the students a hands‑on experience-something along the lines of a simulated outbreak investigation or a contact tracing exercise that's engaging, realistic enough to spark curiosity, and manageable for a group of about 15–20 students.
Before I start designing something from scratch, I wanted to tap into this community's collective experience. Have any of you used short-format activities, tabletop exercises, or interactive simulations that worked well with high school learners? I'd appreciate recommendations or examples that fit within a one‑hour window. And of course, I'm more than happy to credit the original creator of any resource or activity I use.
Thanks in advance for any ideas you're willing to share!
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Bernhard Kloppenburg CIC, CPH, MPH
Epidemiology Program Manager
Florida Department of Health in Polk County
Bartow FL
(863)578-2052
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