Meet ‘Spike’ at the State Fair Aug. 16

"Spike," the State Hygienic Laboratory mascot created for the Iowa State Fair, will be the central figure in the Lab's Fair exhibit from 3 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16, in the Varied Industries Building on the Des Moines fairgrounds.

Spike's message to fairgoers is to "Explore Lab Science - Discover Your Future." According to a report by the Association of Schools of Public Health, the nation is expected to face of shortage of more than 250,000 public health workers, including 4,250 in Iowa, by 2020. The Hygienic Laboratory's State Fair display depicts many of the careers in laboratory science.

The cartoon mascot represents the 228 environmental and public health scientists and staff who protect and improve the quality of life in Iowa through their work at the Hygienic Lab.

Fairgoers are invited to stop by the Hygienic Lab booth, which is part of The University of Iowa display, to take a turn at a bean bag game and to visit with staff about careers in Iowa's environmental and public health laboratory.

The Hygienic Laboratory is the state of Iowa's environmental and public health laboratory, with facilities located at the University of Iowa's Research Park campus in Iowa City, in the Des Moines suburb of Ankeny and at the Lakeside Lab in northwestern Iowa.