Thirty-five Russellville High School students attended an aquatic ecology workshop hosted by the Arkansas Tech University College of Natural and Health Sciences on Saturday, Oct. 27.
Thirty-five Russellville High School students attended an aquatic ecology workshop hosted by the Arkansas Tech University College of Natural and Health Sciences on Saturday, Oct. 27.
The RHS students attended the workshop as part of their studies in advanced placement environmental science and biology.
“We wanted to reach out to students and provide them with a point of reference as to how they can apply science using biological monitors,” said Dr. Rosemary Burk, assistant professor of biology at Arkansas Tech and one of the organizers of the event. “It was valuable for them to gain this kind of hands-on experience. When you are in a classroom you can learn all about the diversity within the animal kingdom, but it is important to get out and see how the various species interact with each other and the environment. Hopefully, it will help some of the students envision themselves pursuing a career in science.”
The workshop was conducted in and around the creek that runs across the north side of the Arkansas Tech campus.
Burk and Dr. Charlie Gagen, head of the Arkansas Tech Department of Biological Sciences and professor of fisheries science, organized the event.
Fisheries and wildlife graduate students Ian MacLeod and Kevin Schanke as well as undergraduate student Karalea Wells led a workshop about stream habitat and water quality assessment.
“I think some of the students really enjoyed getting their hands dirty,” said MacLeod. “They had a chance to use some different equipment they hadn’t used before, and they enjoyed the chance to apply what they have learned outside the classroom.”
Burk taught students how to identify and use aquatic invertebrates as biological indicators of water quality.
Six additional undergraduate students from Arkansas Tech — Brooke Garrigus, Matt Gideon, Long Her, Larkin McDaniel, Kevin Massery and Taylor Tolleson — helped teach the high school students.
Len Weeks from the U.S. Forest Service was on hand to teach the high school students about soil analysis.
Chuck Campbell serves as the the AP environmental science and biology teacher of the RHS students who participated in the event.
At the end of the morning, the RHS students met with Dr. Jeff Robertson, dean of the Arkansas Tech College of Natural and Health Sciences, and learned more about opportunities to study science at Arkansas Tech.
Learn more about the Arkansas Tech College of Natural and Health Sciences.
]]>
