This research reveals Heterobilharzia americana as a widespread, underdiagnosed parasitic threat to dogs in the US Southwest. Testing showed nearly 25% infection rates, often linked to river exposure. The Drake Project raises awareness and seeks prevention strategies to protect dogs from this deadly waterborne parasite.

This research examines university maker spaces as ecosystems to understand how design choices affect engineering education. Spaces that allow personal projects encourage earlier, broader tool use, boosting student confidence and creativity. These findings help universities design maker spaces that better bridge theory and real-world engineering practice.