Wastewater Surveillance Symposium 2026
New York State Museum - Albany, NY
May 19, 2026
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We value your feedback! Please fill out the feedback survey. Thank you! • • •
Feedback Survey
We value your insights! Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts on the 2026 Wastewater Surveillance Symposium. Your feedback will help us improve future events. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous.
About the Symposium
The 2026 Wastewater Surveillance Symposium, hosted by Syracuse University and the New York State Department of Health, brings together partners and jurisdictions of the New York NWSS Center of Excellence to foster collaboration and advancements in wastewater surveillance. Together, we’ll examine challenges and successes in wastewater surveillance and strengthen knowledge sharing.
This year’s Symposium is an invitation-only, in-person event. Virtual streaming is also now available for those unable to attend onsite.
If your plans change for any reason prior to the Symposium or if you have any questions, please reach out to Mila Blatz at mineyra@syr.edu.
We look forward to hosting you soon!
Agenda
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
The Symposium will be held at the New York State Museum (222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230).
Lunch and dinner will be provided.
Click here to download the agenda (PDF).
All agenda items subject to change. Agenda last updated May 18, 2026 at 10pm.
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Please check in at the West Gallery Corridor of the New York State Museum, located immediately on the right from the main lobby entrance.
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Welcome Remarks
Speaker: Daniel Lang, New York State Department of Health, Center of Environmental Health Deputy Director (Daniel.Lang@health.ny.gov)
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System Design: Sampling Points vs Sampling Frequency
Presenter: David Larsen, Syracuse University (dalarsen@syr.edu)
Less, More, Better: A State-Guided Right-Sizing Framework for Sustainable and Representative Coverage
Presenter: Samantha Long, New York State Department of Health (samantha.long@health.ny.gov)
Are Wastewater Treatment Plants Representative of Unsewered Communities?
Presenter: Edem Fiatsonu, Syracuse University (efiatson@syr.edu)
Predicting Where an Outbreak Pathogen Might Be Found Next
Presenter: Dustin Hill, Syracuse University (dthill@syr.edu)
Noise is the Signal: Variability Patterns in Surveillance Data as Early Warning Indicators for Epidemic Surge Onset and Termination
Presenter: Joe Moran, Syracuse University (dthill@syr.edu)
Multiple Signals, One Picture: Integrating Surveillance Data for Public Health Monitoring
Presenter: Sylvia Byun, New York State Department of Health (sylvia.byun@health.ny.gov)
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Please head to the Student Center at the New York State Museum for lunch and office hours. Enter through the “Birds of New York” Hall.
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Post-National Contract Preparedness (closed session)
Moderator: David Larsen, Syracuse University (dalarsen@syr.edu)
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Pathogen Selection
Presenter: Kirsten St. George, New York State Department of Health (kirsten.st.george@health.ny.gov)
Assay Validation
Presenter: Jennifer Laplante, New York State Department of Health (jennifer.laplante@health.ny.gov)
Laboratory Set Up and Expansion
Presenter: Jonathan Plitnick, New York State Department of Health (jonathan.plitnick@health.ny.gov)
From Sampling to Submission: Mapping the Complete Wastewater Data Flow
Presenter: Haley Kappus-Kron, New York State Department of Health (haley.kappus-kron@health.ny.gov)
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Data Visualization Challenges and Best Practices
Presenters: Gena Gallinger, Akhila Thota, Paul Dougall, & Haley Kappus-Kron, New York State Department of Health (gena.gallinger@health.ny.gov; akhila.thota@health.ny.gov; paul.dougall@health.ny.gov; haley.kappus-kron@health.ny.gov)
Communicating the Value of Wastewater
Presenters: Shaz Damani and Stephanie Facchine, New York State Department of Health (shaz.damani@health.ny.gov; stephanie.facchine@health.ny.gov)
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Closing Remarks
Speaker: David Larsen, Syracuse University (dalarsen@syr.edu)
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Join us for dinner at the City Beer Hall (42 Howard St, Albany, NY 12207)
Symposium Logistics
Venue
The 2026 Symposium will be held at the New York State Museum in Albany, New York.
New York State Museum
222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230
Parking
Parking is available in the Madison Avenue Lot adjacent to the Museum, accessed from Madison Avenue. Card payments only - cash not accepted.
New York State Museum Parking
$10 Flat Fee
An additional paid parking visitor lot, V-LOT (P-3) is available under the Empire State Plaza Concourse. Limited metered street parking is also available. For additional parking information, visit: https://empirestateplaza.ny.gov/parking/
Lodging
If you are visiting the Albany area, you may book your stay at one of the hotels listed below. We have reserved a limited number of room blocks to help facilitate your stay; however, all attendees are responsible for booking their own accommodations individually, even if travel support is being provided.
Renaissance Albany Hotel ($239 per night)
144 State St, Albany, NY 12207
Book by April 21, 2026
Registration
Join us at the 2026 Wastewater Surveillance Symposium, a gathering focused on knowledge sharing, collaborations, and advancing wastewater surveillance for public health. This event brings together researchers and public health professionals across New York State’s Center of Excellence region.
Jurisdictions from the New York NWSS Center of Excellence, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Vermont, may request travel support to cover transportation, lodging, and meal expenses.
Date: May 19, 2026
Time: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Venue: New York State Museum
Address: 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230
Registration Fee: Free
Registration Deadline: April 15, 2026
This is an invitation-only, in-person event and registration is required!
