Field and Lab-based Activities for Undergraduate Students to Study the Hydrologic Environment

地质学（42）北爱荷华大学的水文学课程中纳入了体验式学习的机会。水科学专业的本科生正在爱荷华州东北部雪松河流域的几条支流和主河道进行实地研究。此外，他们还利用校内监测井场作为室外实验室，学习水文学的科学概念。学生们正在收集溪流、地下水和沉积物样本，并对它们进行分析，以了解流行的化学、生物和水文特征的时间变化。通过小组合作，学生们了解了污染区域是如何与污染源联系在一起的。农业径流中的营养物质是来自爱荷华州的意外出口，对远至墨西哥湾的环境造成不利影响。来自爱荷华州东部流域的营养物质有助于形成缺氧区，通常被称为墨西哥湾的“死亡区”。本项目为本科生提供了一个研究当地及区域水文环境及相关水质问题的机会。学生们正在学习制定采样协议，使用环境现场设备，并进行现场和实验室分析。该项目的长期目标是通过促进各种感官体验来培养大学生的科学素养。该项目的一个重要方面是将生命科学纳入地质水文课程。在完成作业或解决问题时，学生们在跨学科的环境中相互学习。该项目的广泛影响包括为学生提供进行实地和实验室研究的机会，以了解跨学科科学研究的应用性质，并调查重大的环境问题。墨西哥湾的缺氧问题目前是一个优先考虑的国家问题，需要政策的改变和管理模式的发展，这可能会涉及到广泛的公民参与。

Geology (42) Experiential learning opportunities are being integrated into the hydrology curriculum at Northern Iowa University. Undergraduate students in water science courses are conducting field projects within several tributaries and main channel sites of the Cedar River watershed in northeast Iowa. Additionally, they are using the on-campus monitoring well site as an outdoor laboratory to learn scientific concepts in hydrology. The students are collecting stream water, groundwater, and sediment samples, and analyzing them to understand the temporal variability in prevalent chemical, biological, and hydrological characteristics. Working in teams, the students are learning how the polluted areas are linked to their source components. Nutrients in agricultural runoff are unintended exports from the state of Iowa, having adverse environmental consequences as far away as the Gulf of Mexico. Nutrients from eastern Iowa watersheds contribute to the formation of a hypoxia zone commonly referred to as the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico. This project is providing an opportunity for undergraduate students to study the local as well as the regional hydrologic environment and related water quality issues. The students are learning to develop sampling protocols, to use environmental field equipment, and to conduct on-site and laboratory analyses. The long-term goal of this project is to develop scientific literacy among undergraduate students by facilitating a variety of sensory experiences. An important aspect of this project involves the integration of life sciences into the geo-hydrology curriculum. While working on their assignments, or solving problems, the students are learning from one another in an interdisciplinary setting. The broader impact of this project includes providing students the opportunity to conduct field and laboratory research to learn about the applied nature of interdisciplinary scientific research and to investigate a significant environmental problem. The problem of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico is currently a prioritized national issue that will require policy changes and the development of a management model that likely will involve broad citizen participation.