Center for Earth and Environmental Science
Indiana University ~ Purdue University, Indianapolis

IUPUI
School of Science
Department of Earth Sciences

Water Quality Studies Programs currently being offered in Water Quality Studies include: Physical Assessment of Stream Water Quality Chemical Assessment of Stream Water Quality Biological Assessment of Stream Water Quality Groundwater Analysis Physical Assessment of Stream Water Quality     Description:  As one component of water quality research, students observe, calculate and map physical characteristics of a stream edge (riparian) habitat.  Quantitatively, using Vernier LabQuest scientific handhelds and stream flow sensors, students measure stream flow velocity and calculate average stream discharge. Qualitatively, students use observation skills to note specific physical stream characteristics.  Including titles, legends, and symbols, students compile and analyze quantitative and qualitative information on a stream map, drawing conclusions about local stream water. Length of Program:  Two visits per participating class. First visit (classroom) will be introductory, occur either inside or outside, with or without trailer, for a typical class period.  Second visit (trailer) will follow program description, occur outside, with trailer and equipment for 1.5-2 hours.  For ease of programming, classroom visit should occur the day before the trailer visit. If school schedule allows, the program can be one day, 3 hours. Program Availability:  September 2, 2008 – November 28, 2008 and March 30, 2009 – June 12, 2009. Site Requirements:  Access to flowing river or stream Cost:  None.  All equipment, teaching materials, and technology are provide free of charge.   Indiana Academic Standard and Environmental Education Guideline Alignments: Indiana Academic Standards for Science and Math Excellence in Environmental Education - Guidelines for Learning (Pre K - 12)   To schedule a program or receive more information, please contact Brooke Furge, Education Specialist. Top  Chemical Assessment of Stream Water Quality Description:  As one component of water quality research, students use Vernier LabQuest scientific handhelds and sensors to measure stream pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and turbidity.  Electronic field notebooks, running interactive water quality software, aid students in hypothesis creation, data entry, observation records and scientific conclusions concerning local stream water. *If desired, to demonstrate the principles of wet chemistry, nitrate and phosphate levels can be measured using a CHEMetrics multi-analyte photometer.  Length of Program:  Two visits per participating class. First visit (classroom) will be introductory, occur either inside or outside, with or without trailer, for a typical class period.  Second visit (trailer) will follow program description, occur outside, with trailer and equipment for 1.5-2 hours.  For ease of programming, classroom visit should occur the day before the trailer visit. If school schedule allows, the program can be one day, 3 hours. Program Availability:  September 2, 2008 – November 28, 2008 and March 30, 2009 – June 12, 2009. Site Requirements:  Access to flowing river or stream Cost:  None.  All equipment, teaching materials, and technology are provide free of charge. Indiana Academic Standard and Environmental Education Guideline Alignments: Indiana Academic Standards for Science and Math Excellence in Environmental Education - Guidelines for Learning (Pre K - 12) To schedule a program or receive more information, please contact Brooke Furge, Education Specialist. Top  Biological Assessment of Stream Water Quality  Description:  As one component of water quality research, students collect, identify, and analyze benthic macroinvertebrate populations.  Hester Dendy samplers are placed in streams two weeks prior to collection and removed the day of the program.  Using dichotomous keys, flow charts, and interpretive macroinvertebrate identification software, students identify and count different macroinvertebrate species, categorize them based on pollution tolerance, and create distribution graphs.  This information is analyzed to draw conclusions about local stream water.      Length of Program:  Two visits per participating class. First visit (classroom) will be introductory, occur either inside or outside, with or without trailer, for a typical class period.  Second visit (trailer) will follow program description, occur outside, with trailer and equipment for 1.5-2 hours.  For ease of programming, classroom visit should occur the day before the trailer visit. If school schedule allows, the program can be one day, 3 hours. Program Availability:  September 2, 2008 – November 28, 2008 and March 30, 2009 – June 12, 2009. Site Requirements:  Access to flowing river or stream  Cost:  None.  All equipment, teaching materials, and technology are provide free of charge. Indiana Academic Standard and Environmental Education Guideline Alignments: Indiana Academic Standards for Science and Math Excellence in Environmental Education - Guidelines for Learning (Pre K - 12) To schedule a program or receive more information, please contact Brooke Furge, Education Specialist. Top  Groundwater Analysis Description:  Students explore the water cycle and investigate unseen characteristics of groundwater.  Acting as scientists, they use CHEMetrics multi-analyte photometers and Vernier LabQuest handhelds and sensors to measure pH, temperature and nitrate.  Students conduct simple percolation tests to measure soil infiltration rates, observe soil cores near the well, make qualitative observations, and use collected data to draw conclusions about area groundwater quality.  Length of Program:  Two visits per participating class. First visit (classroom) will be introductory, occur either inside or outside, with or without trailer, for a typical class period.  Second visit (trailer) will follow program description, occur outside, with trailer and equipment for 1.5-2 hours.  For ease of programming, classroom visit should occur the day before the trailer visit. If school schedule allows, the program can be one day, 3 hours. Program Availability:  September 2, 2008 – November 28, 2008 and March 30, 2009 – June 12, 2009. Site Requirements:  Onsite groundwater well or pump accessible for programming Cost:  None.  All equipment, teaching materials, and technology are provide free of charge. Indiana Academic Standard and Environmental Education Guideline Alignments: Indiana Academic Standards for Science and Math Excellence in Environmental Education - Guidelines for Learning (Pre K - 12)   To schedule a program or receive more information, please contact Brooke Furge, Education Specialist. Top     Brooke Furge Education Specialist IUPUI Center for Earth and Environmental Science 723 West Michigan Street, SL 118 Indianapolis, IN  46202 bfurge@iupui.edu

We are pleased to announce that Veolia Water Indianapolis has made the lead philanthropic gift to this program. We have also received significant funding support from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Dow AgroSciences, Duke Energy, Hoover Family Foundation and Indianapolis Power & Light Company with proposals currently in review by additional foundations and corporations. For more information about the program and opportunities for program sponsorship, please contact us.

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Center for Earth and Environmental Science
 School of Science
 Indiana University~Purdue University, Indianapolis
 723 West Michigan Street, SL118
 Indianapolis, IN 46202
 www.cees.iupui.edu
 cees@iupui.edu