Undergraduate Laboratory and Field Experiences in Environmental Geochemistry and Hydrogeology

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There is a need to train undergraduates in environmental global-change issues that range from the microscale (e.g., pollutants in groundwater) to the macroscale (e.g., CO2 and global climate change) within the context of natural Earth processes. At the heart of this training is laboratory experiences, particularly those that involve field work. This project provides funds to develop and upgrade laboratories for two fundamental courses in the Environmental Geosciences Program: Environmental Geochemistry and Hydrogeology. Environmental Geochemistry addresses the origin, occurrence, distribution, and flow of chemicals in the water cycle. This is a relatively new course offering at colleges and universities and one for which there are few textbooks or laboratory exercises. With these funds, one of the first series of laboratory exercises in this discipline is being developed. Hydrogeology addresses the origin, occurrence, distribution, and flow of water. This laboratory is being upgraded. A unique and exciting feature of this project is that these two laboratory courses are highly integrated. Integration is facilitated through the study around a common theme -- the hydrologic, chemical, and physical dynamics of a local watershed. These laboratories give the student hands-on experience in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Students use equipment and technologies in field and laboratory settings that will be useful to them in graduate study or in industry. After these labs have been offered for a few semesters, students can study temporal changes in the watershed by comparing their results to those from previous years.