The Herbert W. Hoover Foundation advances innovative strategies for community engagement, science, education, and environmental stewardship.
The Hoover legacy stems from a long history of innovation, entrepreneurship, and community leadership ignited by William H. “Boss” Hoover in 1870 when Boss Hoover founded The Hoover Company… Read More
Herbert W. Hoover, Jr., led the effort to create Biscayne National Monument, now Biscayne National Park. Located within sight the metropolis of Miami, Florida and comprised of 95% water, Biscayne… Read More
Elizabeth Lacey Hoover is the daughter of Herbert W. Hoover Jr. She embodies the long family tradition of community service, entrepreneurial skill, and teaching the next generation to preserve… Read More
The biomedical and environmental sciences have predominantly evolved independently of one another, although the two fields can learn immensely from each other. On the one hand, advances in biomedical technology, like CRISPR-Cas9 and genome sequencing, could greatly enhance our ability to understand and protect the natural world. On the other hand, the answers to many pressing biomedical science challenges may be found by more closely studying our environment, as all organisms have had to adapt and evolve to overcome challenges through natural selection. In an effort to catapult interdisciplinary action between the biomedical and environmental sciences, The Herbert W. Hoover Foundation recently funded the first-ever “Pew-Hoover Marine and Biomedical Science Fellowship” jointly administered by the Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation and the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences.
More information about this program can be found at: How Biomedical Innovation is Powering Marine Conservation
The microbiome living within any individual’s gut may be just as crucial to that person’s genome in determining the trajectory of their physical and mental health. Similarly, the microbiomes found in soils, corals, and waterways may play a pivotal role in the overall health of an ecosystem, including carbon cycling, algal bloom production, and disease defense. By understanding the microbiomes that make up our bodies and earth, we may develop early warning systems for disease and develop less-invasive means of alleviating ailments and cultivating healthy ecosystems. Inversely, environmental pollutants, like nanoplastics and other harmful chemicals, may be negatively impacting these microbial communities.
Our staff is currently researching these subjects and seeking to meet scientists studying related topics.
What we’ve been reading on the subject: (1) “The Good Gut” by Justin and Erica Sonnenburg and (2) “Disease Suppressive Soils – Beyond Food Production: A Critical Review (Jayaraman, S., Naorem, A., Lal, R. et al. Disease-Suppressive Soils—Beyond Food Production: a Critical Review. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 21, 1437–1465 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00451-x).
Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically hunt and kill bacteria. With the overuse of antibiotics in most of the world, bacteria are evolving to be resistant to antibiotics, and bacteriophages can be used as a way to both decrease the use of antibiotics and treat patients with antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases. Phages can be found anywhere, but they are exceptionally present in sewage and soils. The adoption of bacteriophage therapy in animal agriculture may slow antibiotic resistance, as the overuse of antibiotics in animal husbandry is a leading cause of antibiotic resistance. Additionally, the coupled use of phage and probiotic therapy may further advance our capability to alleviate diseases caused by negatively altered microbiomes.
Our staff is currently researching these subjects and seeking to meet scientists studying the topics.
What we’ve been reading on the subject: (1) “The Perfect Predator: A Scientist’s Race to Save her Husband from a Deadly Superbug” by Steffanie Strathdee; (2) Sara Federici et al., Targeted suppression of human IBD-associated gut microbiota commensals by phage consortia for treatment of intestinal inflammation, Cell, Volume 185, Issue 16, 2002, Pages 2879-2898, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.07.003.
Living systems communicate and exchange energy in ways that extend beyond traditional biological models. Plants release chemical signals through their leaves and roots to warn neighbors of threats or attract beneficial organisms. Fungi form expansive underground mycelial networks that allow different species to share nutrients and information. At the same time, researchers are exploring how non-traditional mechanisms—such as sound vibrations, light-based signaling, and the structured “fourth phase” of water—might influence communication and energy flow within and between organisms. Our staff is currently investigating how these emerging concepts may help us better understand the interconnectedness of life and its implications for both human and environmental health.
What we’ve been reading on the subject: (1) The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communication – Discoveries from A Secret World by Peter Wohlleben; (2) The Fourth Phase of Water: Beyond Solid, Liquid, and Vapor by Gerald H. Pollack; (3) Sound Medicine: How to Use the Ancient Science of Sound to Heal the Body and Mind by Kulreet Chaudhary; (4) Cancer and the New Biology of Water: Why the War on Cancer Has Failed and What That Means for More Effective Prevention and Treatment by Thomas Cowan; (5) Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology by Johnjoe McFadden; (6) Morphic Resonance: The Nature of Formative Causation by Rupert Sheldrake; (7) Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake; (8) The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoe Schlanger
Light therapy has been around for centuries, but more recently it has been receiving prominent attention from the scientific community in how it may be used to address a multitude of diseases and ailments. In the 1950s, scientists published research on how light therapy can be used to alleviate jaundice in infants, a now common practice used in all US hospitals. Later in the 1990s, NASA began researching light therapy as a tool to assist astronauts in their ventures to the Space Station. Since then, many studies demonstrate how light can be used to heal the body and mind, including light therapy’s ability to improve mitochondrial function, back pain, migraines, anxiety and depression, skin ailments, eyes, mental health, cancer, and more.
Our staff is currently researching these subjects and seeking to meet scientists studying the topics.
What we’ve been reading on the subject: (1) Elżbieta Ostańska, David Aebisher, Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher, The potential of photodynamic therapy in current breast cancer treatment methodologies, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 137, 2021, 111302, ISSN 0753-3322, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111302; (2) Markowitz SN, Devenyi RG, Munk MR, Croissant CL, Tedford SE, Rückert R, Walker MG, Patino BE, Chen L, Nido M, Tedford CE. A DOUBLE-MASKED, RANDOMIZED, SHAM-CONTROLLED, SINGLE-CENTER STUDY WITH PHOTOBIOMODULATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION. Retina. 2020 Aug;40(8):1471-1482. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000002632. PMID: 31404033; PMCID: PMC7392581; (3) Gale GD, Rothbart PJ, Li Y. Infrared therapy for chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial. Pain Res Manag. 2006 Autumn;11(3):193-6. doi: 10.1155/2006/876920. PMID: 16960636; PMCID: PMC2539004; and (4) Lisa A. House & Barry Walton (2018) The Effectiveness of Light Therapy for College Student Depression, Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 32:1, 42-52, DOI: 10.1080/87568225.2017.1321975.
Freeze drying is a process through which 99% of the moisture is removed from an object, allowing it to be preserved more easily and for much longer than if it were in its original state. Freeze drying techniques can be applied to many things from food to bacteriophages and soil. By freeze drying food, it has the potential of alleviating food waste and nutritional deficiencies. Fresh and healthy meals, fruits, and vegetables can be preserved for upwards of 20+ years with little to no loss of nutritional quality. Thus, nutrient dense foods can be stored and transported easily without refrigeration. The transportation of food to areas that need it is a major cost that typically limits the amount of food that can be delivered. The process of freeze drying actually makes food much lighter, which makes it easier to transport more at once. This means that more food can be delivered to people in need, and less trucks could be used, leading to a decrease in the carbon footprint of food delivery. By freeze drying bacteriophages, phages can be preserved longer without freezers allowing for their more efficient use and distribution to hard to reach places. By freeze drying soil, soil scientists may be able to better understand the complex microbial ecosystems found within soil, as microbial communities typically immediately destroyed during soil research may instead be preserved and observed. We are currently investigating the many applications of freeze drying technologies and evaluating potential partners for implementing this technology as a solution to food waste, soil scientific inquiry, and antibiotic resistance.
Our staff is currently researching these subjects and seeking to meet scientists studying the topics.
What we’ve been reading on the subject: (1) Islam, K., Weil, R., Mulchi, C. et al. Freeze-dried soil extraction method for the measurement of microbial biomass C. Biol Fertil Soils 24, 205–210 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003740050232; (2) William A. Clark, Dorothy Geary, Preservation of bacteriophages by freezing and freeze-drying, Cryobiology, Volume 10, Issue 5, 1973, Pages 351-360, ISSN 0011-2240, https://doi.org/10.1016/0011-2240(73)90057-6.; and (3) Freeze Drying Lessens a Farmer’s Financial Risk Plus More by Ernie Watson available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/success-stories/freeze-drying-lessens-farmers-financial-risk-plus-more.
The health of our soil is directly connected to the health of our food—and, in turn, to human well-being. Regenerative agriculture focuses on restoring soil through practices that enhance biodiversity, improve water retention, and increase carbon sequestration. In contrast, certain industrial agricultural methods, along with modern ultra-processing and packaging, can introduce synthetic chemicals into the food system and diminish the nutritional integrity of food.
What we’ve been reading on the subject: (1) Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition and Modern Medicine―Unpacking the Science Behind Food and Health by Robert Lustig; (2) Formerly Known as Food: How the Industrial Food System Is Changing Our Minds, Bodies, and Culture by Kristin Lawless; (3) What your Food Ate: How to Restore Our Land and Reclaim our Health by David R. Montgomery; (4) Kiss the Ground: How the Food You Eat Can Reverse Climate Change, Health your Body & Ultimately Save our World; (5) The Soil Human Health Nexus by Rattan Lal; (6) Calm your Mind With Food: A Revolutionary Guide to Controlling Your Anxiety by Uma Naidoo MD; (7) The Omega Principle: Seafood and the Quest for a Long Life and a Healthier Planet by Paul Greenberg; (8) Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science by Carey Gillam; (9) Feeding you Lies: How to Unravel the Food Industry’s Playbook and Reclaim Your Health by Vani Hari; (10) The documentary “Common Ground”
With support from The Herbert W. Hoover Foundation, researchers at Rutgers University, led by Dr. Phoebe Stapleton, discovered that micro- and nanosized plastic particles can transfer from mother to offspring during pregnancy. The team identified these particles in the brain, heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys of developing offspring—findings now published and presented at national conferences.
In a groundbreaking collaboration between The Ohio State University and UC San Diego, undergraduate students in OSU’s SEA-LAB program worked alongside leading researchers to discover bacteriophages capable of treating antibiotic-resistant infections. The effort, co-led by Dr. Sarah Ball (OSU) and Dr. Steffanie Strathdee (UC San Diego), resulted in the identification and sequencing of 44 novel phages—several of which have been proposed for a clinical trial to treat superbugs in cystic fibrosis patients. One SEA-LAB student interned at IPATH and returned to OSU to help enhance phage discovery efforts. The program also reached hundreds of community members through OSU’s most-attended “Science Sunday” lecture on phage therapy that featured Dr. Strathdee as a keynote speaker.
Researchers at The Ohio State University’s Department of Engineering, led by Dr. Carlos Castro, developed groundbreaking DNA-based nanosensors to detect nanoplastics in tissue environments. Using DNA origami, the team demonstrated the ability to sense plastic byproducts like BPA and laid the groundwork for real-time monitoring of nanoplastic exposure in 3D tissue models. Findings were presented at the 2024 Foundations of Nanoscience conference and supported two competitive NIH grant submissions.
The North Canton Heritage Society expanded its Heritage Trail to celebrate the city’s rich history. Phase III added four new interpretive panels, including one honoring Jacob Gaskins and the Underground Railroad, unveiled during Black History Month, and another spotlighting the 1895 Portage Street School class featuring a young Herbert W. Hoover, Sr. This work builds on the Foundation-funded Phases I and II, which introduced twelve panels highlighting the people and institutions that shaped North Canton.
This project supports The Ohio State University’s Dr. Carlos Castro’s research to understand the mechanistic effects of the chronic buildup of nanoplastics on a tissue, cellular and subcellular level. Dr. Castro creates DNA-based nanosensors and nanobots to study the human body as well as the environment around us. This project will include the development of a nanosensor to monitor live cell interactions with nonplastics in their environment. They will be developing a novel system that could be used to understand the effects of nanoplastics in tissues and cells in a real-world dosing scenario.
A continuation of previous grants, this project supports another cohort of Malone University’s marine biology students obtaining experiential knowledge by working with marine scientists in Florida and furthers Malone University’s partnerships with soil and water focused organizations within Stark County. The experiential trip in Florida includes a tour of Everglades National Park with Richard Kern, coral restoration with Rescue a Reef, debris cleanup in Biscayne National Park with Debris Free Oceans, and manatee research with Dr. Buddy Powell. This project also builds upon research regarding microplastics throughout the Stark County watershed, and provides the opportunity for students to obtain their scuba dive certification. Malone University will also be partnering with Stark County District Library and local elementary schools to expand their educational outreach in relation to the project.
This project supports the research of Dr. Mahmood Shivji, a world-renowned geneticist from Nova Southeastern University, who has studied the genetics of sharks and how those genes may help develop a cure for cancer in humans. As part of this project, Dr. Shivji will sequence the genomes of deep-sea fishes, which could hold the key to better understanding life and adaptations, including some which may help inform human health science, in a generally understudied environment. Additionally, Dr. Shivji is traveling to Stark County to present to the public about his research and the intersection of marine biology and biomedical science, as well as meet with the Conservation Biology class at Kent State Stark, who will have the opportunity to travel to South Florida to participate in a shark tagging research trip with Dr. Shivji.
Photo of a snaggletooth (Astronesthes gemmifer)
EN-RICH-MENT offers many programs that incorporate art for children in the Canton area. This project supports their Bio Art program which will teach students biology through the lens of art. Led by award winning artist Errick Freeman and biologist Dr. Jean Engohang-Ndong, students will learn about microscopy, cells, and the human body by creating sculptures, digital art, and photography
The Hoover-Jackson Marine Biology class has been around for over 32 years and has served around 800 Stark County Students. HWHF provided funding for a scholarship fund to provide 1-2 students yearly with the opportunity to take the class and attend the field study trip to either Andros, Bahamas or the Florida Keys. The scholarship fund was set up with the hopes to give underserved, underrepresented, and/or financially-pressed students the opportunity to take the course and be immersed in the field of marine biology.
Dr. Phoebe Stapleton, an expert in micro and nano plastics in living organisms, previously did a study looking at pregnant female rats’ exposure to micro-nano plastics through the lungs and through the digestive system and found that plastics were also present in the fetal tissues. This project is looking to see whether or not plastics were still present in the offspring after birth, potentially showing the generational implications of micro-nano plastic pollution.
This project builds on the research previously funded by HWHF, but looks more into the impact of cover crops on soil organic carbon stocks. Additionally, other types of soils is being assessed to determine whether remote sensing can be used on them as well. The research team includes Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Eichler (an agroecologist) from Kent State University, Dr. Lal from the Ohio State University, and Dr. Confesor (expert in modeling of agricultural systems).
A continuation of the Hebert W Hoover Foundation Speaker Series, this program features Dr. Anmari Alvarez-Aleman and Richard Kern. Dr. Alvarez-Aleman is the Caribbean Research Director at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and her research is focused on the genetics of manatees. As part of this grant she will use genetics to learn about regional connectivity, diversity, and the genetic structure of the West Indian manatee. She will also travel to Stark County to present to 6 high school classes. Richard Kern has created a new film called “The Siren and the Springs” focused on Florida’s freshwater aquifers and springs as well as the Florida manatee. As part of this grant, Richard Kern will travel to Stark County to present his film to 10 schools. Additionally, funding from this grant is covering the cost of gel electrophoresis equipment for high school biology classes to learn about DNA and genetics
The Stark Library created a special speaker series highlighting successful women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). This program series is featuring two speakers and distributing science kits to over 200 families. The two speakers are Dylan Dreyer, a meteorologist for NBC’s “Today” shows, and Danni Washington, a leader in STEM advocacy and education as it relates to ocean conservation and environmentalism and the first African American woman to host her own science television series.
HWHF provided funding for a project assessing the fundamentals of microplastics in the atmosphere. The Ohio State University, in partnership with Utah State University, is working on the first study ever to provide molecular level information in a controlled environment while incorporating actual microplastic samples collected from the environment. The aim of the research is to assess microplastics on a molecular level and their impacts on climate when they become aerosolized.
This grant provides the funds necessary to restore a pond on the Beech Creek property to a healthy, natural habitat, and it supports educational opportunities for students and teachers in Stark County to learn about ecological restoration and natural habitats throughout the process.
Scientists from Kent State University and Florida International University will collaborate on a scientific study to assess pollutants in the Ohio River using the novel non-target analysis method. This water “fingerprinting” of the Ohio River over time can provide citizens the information needed to understand the health of the Ohio River and how it is impacted by various land use changes.
This grant creates the first-ever Pew Charitable Trusts program linking marine and biomedical scientists. Following the framework of Pew’s Marine Fellows and Biomedical Scholars programs, this grant will provide funding each year over three years for a competitively selected individual to conduct a pioneering project melding these two fields.
Malone University students will engage in local watershed projects in collaboration with the Stark Soil and Water District and Ohio State University Stark County Agricultural Extension. These students would then be eligible to participate in a trip to Florida to conduct scientific research with UM Sharktagging, Rescue a Reef, and Debris Free Oceans in Miami, Florida.
The fifth year of The Herbert W. Hoover Foundation Speaker Series is unique, as it brings National Geographic Fellow and waste systems expert, Dr. Jenna Jambeck, to Stark County to conduct a closed-loop systems assessment of the Ohio River, starting from Canton, Ohio, in collaboration with students in Stark County. This is part of a larger effort to assess waste in the Mississippi River Basin, which drains to the Gulf of Mexico. Other speakers include Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, Dalton Hesley, and Richard Kern in either an in-person or remote setting.
Building on previous research funded by the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation, researchers will automate the novel method of analyzing water quality in the Google Earth Engine and Google Cloud Platform, meaning researchers around the globe could have access to an inexpensive and consistent method of assessing water health.
Using novel techniques developed by Dr. Robert Richmond of the University of Hawaii, scientists will assess the health of coral reefs in Florida and Hawaii with the goal of pinpointing their main stressors with specificity. Ultimately, this will allow resource managers the opportunity to enhance coral populations in their regions by stopping these pollutant stressors at their source.
Building upon prior grants provided by the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation, this project by Ohio State University and Kent State University seeks to assess the quality of soil through imaging. This will enable farmers, scientists, and resource managers to more readily assess carbon sequestration capacity in soil as well as overall soil health at a fraction of the cost.
This funding to the South Florida National Parks Trust will support Biscayne National Park’s efforts to rebuild and restore its coral reef populations, providing habitat for the multitude of species that reside there.
Scientists at the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank will continue to study the linkages between BMAA, a blue-green algal toxin, and neurodegenerative disease. By analyzing donor brain tissue, this study will build upon long-term funding from HWHF investigating the link between blue-green algae and brain disease.
HWHF is providing funding to The Ohio State University to conduct groundbreaking soil health research under the direction of world-renowned soil scientist Rattan Lal in Stark County. On-farm studies will assess the impact of agronomic management for restoration of soil health on crop yield and nutritional quality. Improved management practices, including conservation agriculture with and without cover crops, and with and without use of farmyard manure, will be implemented. The project will produce globally relevant outcomes by adding new insights to the literature on assessing the carbon footprint of small landholder production systems.
Funding was provided to the North Canton Heritage Society for the installation of seven permanent signs spread throughout the city of North Canton. These signs showcase important historical events and contributions of local residents and organizations throughout history, including the impact of The Hoover Company and family.
HWHF funds the development and creation of the online course “Ocean Health Voyage,” an innovative educational online platform that weaves a modular syllabus with adventurous documentary-style films. The educational cinematic experience features marine researchers on-site from field locations, above and underwater, as they teach fundamental ocean science and shine a light on the real-life complexities of working with stakeholders, finding solutions for balancing resource consumption, and conservation. This course is offered to members of the Hemispheric University Consortium, bringing the course from the United States to 6 other countries – Universidad Austral in Argentina, Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in the Dominican Republic, Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador, Tecnologico de Monterrey and Universidad de las Americas Puebla in Mexico, and Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru.
HWHF-supported researchers investigated how harmful algal bloom (HAB) exposure impacts brain health by studying stranded dolphins in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon. They found that levels of the neurotoxin 2,4-diaminobutyric acid […]
We are delighted to announce that the HWHF-backed documentary “Defend the Deep” has been recognized for several awards this year, including: Additionally, the documentary has also been recently awarded by: […]
How Biomedical Innovation Is Powering Marine Conservation Crosscutting fellowship links ocean and human health Human well-being and ocean health are closely intertwined: The marine environment plays a critical role in […]
Nanoplastic-Induced Disruption of DPPC and Palmitic Acid Films: Implications for Membrane Integrity With funding from the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation, Dr. Heather Allen of The Ohio State University published a […]