IOWA WATER QUALITY ISSUES: GETTING THE WORD OUT! 

  Jennifer E. Rouse, Joe G. Silva, Katie S. Venter and Leslie S. Jones

   Due to the declining quality of Iowa’s surface water, efforts are being made to inform citizens of issues pertaining to water quality. Over the last five years, UNI undergraduates participating in the Iowa Lakes Water Quality Student Internship have been researching Iowa’s current surface water conditions and disseminating information to citizens. Education and Outreach interns have focused on developing curricular lessons, piloting activities through summer science camps, and providing information to Iowa’s teachers via internet resources and credit bearing graduate experiences. The ultimate goal of this effort has been to provide teachers with pedagogical content knowledge, through informal education experiences, that share ways they can facilitate the understanding of water issues with their students. By increasing teachers’ understanding of water issues, there is hope of raising the awareness of future leaders of Iowa, the students.

This research was supported by the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust and the Iowa Space Grant Consortium.