Sean's Envirome Inst. '26 Ohio River Way Challenge

In 2026, I will be participating in the Ohio River Way Challenge, an interdisciplinary expedition that explores the history, culture, and ecology of the Ohio River and the communities along its banks. Through paddling, storytelling, community engagement, and shared adventure, the Challenge brings together participants who care deeply about the future of the river and the health of the region it sustains.

The Ohio River Way is a designated 308-mile National Water Trail following the borders of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Along the way, it has become a coalition that connects communities and works to create a more vibrant and healthy region. Its mission is to help people find adventure, inspire care for the land and water, and strengthen the economies of Ohio River communities by building partnerships that promote safe, healthy outdoor recreation, education, and tourism.

My participation in the Challenge is also connected to my work with the Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute at the University of Louisville, where our team studies how the environment—including the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the landscapes around us—affects human health. The Ohio River is the defining natural resource of our region and supports millions of people through drinking water, recreation, industry, and ecological habitat. Protecting and restoring the health of the river is deeply connected to improving the health and resilience of the communities that depend on it.

Thank you for supporting my paddle in the 2026 Ohio River Way Challenge and the mission of the Ohio River Way to celebrate, protect, and strengthen the river and its river towns.