Dr. Justin Harbison

Across the US and around the world, cities spend enormous amounts of time, money, and effort on large-scale efforts to kill mosquito adults and larvae. Justin Harbison has worked on mosquito control in Kenya, California, Illinois, and beyond, and his research suggests that at least some of those resources are not doing what what they’re intended to do. He wants answers to very practical questions: which measures consistently reduce mosquito numbers and cases of human disease? Which ones don’t, why not, and how should policies and procedures change to get better results? Given that many urban mosquitoes breed in catch basins, stormwater retention ponds, and other parts of sewage systems, Justin spends enough of his time in sewers to have earned the nickname “Sewer Monster.”