From cave to CHAOS to community: Rachel Washburn shares geohealth research with Hidden River Cave stakeholders
Rachel Washburn, postdoctoral fellow with the Geohealth Team at the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) and Director of the CHAOS Lab (Center for geoHealth and Applied Omics Studies), recently visited Hidden River Cave and the American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA) to present new research findings generated directly from the cave system.
Washburn’s presentation highlighted how the CHAOS Lab’s interdisciplinary research connects microbiology, geoscience, and medicine. The talk showcased microbial and geochemical data collected from Hidden River Cave, connecting long-term restoration efforts with current systems-level analyses to better understand ecosystem recovery and resilience. By sharing site-specific findings with Hidden River Cave staff, local cavers, and ACCA members, Washburn emphasized a core commitment of KGS: science should be transparent, accessible, and grounded in the communities that make it possible. The event brought together the very stakeholders who have invested years in protecting and managing the cave, reinforcing the importance of returning research results to those who steward these environments.
The collaboration reflects the strength of trusted partnerships between researchers and local communities. Through these relationships, KGS gains access to important field sites that enable high-quality research on environmental health and recovery. In turn, findings are communicated in ways that are relevant and applicable, helping community members better understand the systems they work to preserve.
Rather than treating research sites as distant study areas, the CHAOS Lab’s approach centers on shared ownership of discovery. Community partners are integral to the scientific process that transforms local environmental questions into measurable, actionable insight. Washburn also plans to disseminate her research to the broader professional scientific community. Washburn’s research at Hidden River Cave has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and is currently under review for publication.
The Hidden River Cave partnership exemplifies KGS’s commitment to rigorous, community-engaged science that builds trust, supports environmental stewardship, and makes research both relatable and impactful.