RESEARCH PROJECTS
WESTERN PA WATER WATCH (WPAWW) and WESTERN PA WATERSHED COLLABORATION (WPAWC) funded by PA DEP: Citizen Science Water Quality projects that get local K-12 students and interested organizations involved in collecting data and monitoring water quality in local watersheds. Area teachers also create curriculum materials for classrooms that use data collected by students to meet PA State Standards for Ecology and Environment. SCIENCE EDUCATION: Projects assessing the impact of science education programs, both formal and informal, on participant attitudes and interest in science are a key focus. Current research projects include evaluating the impact of citizen science projects on science attitude and interest with a variety of participants (K-12 students, college students, and adults), assessing the merit of student-centered teaching, and quantifying the value of high school student involvement in active science research. PA GREEN ROOFS: We have an active green roof research group studying native plants, self-seeded plant succession, and urban gardening in green roof settings, and recently expanded this to include evaluating rainwater runoff and acid rain remediation. STICK INSECTS AND SOIL MICROARTHROPODS: Impacts of diet and temperature on stick insect reproduction and development have been studied by several undergraduate students. Projects comparing soil microarthropod assemblages found near different tree species are ongoing. |