Dr. Shirley Chao

Improve Human Health and Literacy: 2 Approaches

1. PESTICIDE RESEARCH
   • The objective of our lab is to understand how chemicals impact organisms in our ecosystem. Through toxicity studies, we believe that we will better able to control pests without harming nontarget organisms. We hope that the knowledge resulting from our research will contribute to improving human health and improve food production.
2. LITERACY RESEARCH
   • The Raising A Reader Program at Fayetteville State University is a collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education. The program began as a pilot program in Fayetteville, NC in 2008 through an initial grant from the United Way of Cumberland County. The purpose of the Raising A Reader (RAR) program is to encourage parents to read to their young children so that children develop pre-literacy skills and a love of reading. Raising A Reader is provided to children from birth to the second grade at home child care, early education centers, and elementary schools.