By Rani Chor, Stanford undergraduate studying International Relations (Biology & Human Rights)

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease affecting over 200 million people globally, is the second deadliest Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) after malaria. Hydrological changes introduced by dam construction can expand snail habitats, significantly increasing schistosomiasis transmission in downstream communities.

As part of a research collaboration with Dr. Giulio De Leo, I worked on a project aimed at equipping planners and policy-makers with the tools to incorporate schistosomiasis risk into the design and development of water infrastructure projects—particularly dams—across sub-Saharan Africa. To address this intersection of disease ecology and infrastructure policy, I developed a policy-oriented factsheet now under consideration by the Global Schistosomiasis Alliance.

The document synthesizes ecological modeling findings and policy implications for non-expert decision-makers. Complementing this work, I conducted interviews with global health experts and clinicians—including those affiliated with the World Health Organization—to support a narrative science communication piece designed to broaden awareness of the disease’s socio-environmental drivers.

As the inaugural undergraduate researcher selected for SWAP, I had the opportunity to interact with the important work being done in De Leo’s lab. I took initiative in conceptualizing and drafting the narrative article, engaging with postdocs and PhD students, and soaking up as much information as possible in lab meetings. Dr. De Leo’s willingness and kind openness to explaining complex epidemiological models and ecological systems theory made a significant difference in my ability to engage with the material at a high level.

This experience has shaped how I think about planetary health—specifically, how ecological disruption, infrastructure, and disease burden intersect in policy spaces. I am deeply grateful to Dr. De Leo for his mentorship and am eager to continue working with him on this project beyond the SWAP program.

SWAP advanced my understanding of science communication, particularly through direct engagement with professional science journalists who offered critical insight into the process of crafting and pitching science stories to publications. The cohort-based structure fostered a uniquely collaborative learning environment in which peer-led discussions on a wide range of scientific topics enriched our collective knowledge. It remains one of the most intellectually generative spaces I’ve encountered for science communication—an experience not yet paralleled in my time at Stanford. As someone committed to the translation of scientific research into socially responsive global health policy, I see this project as foundational to the kind of interdisciplinary, impact-driven work I hope to pursue in my career.