Tag: UW Oshkosh

New Camp Introduces High School Students to Freshwater Experiences

Posted on by Heidi Jeter

The UW Oshkosh Environmental Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) hosted 18 high school students from Wisconsin and Illinois for its inaugural residential “Freshwater High School Experience” on the UW Oshkosh campus. 

Along with the ERIC staff, professors from Biology, Environmental Studies, Engineering, and Geology ran sessions for the students. The goal was to introduce high school students to academic and professional career options related to water resources and technology.

During the three-day camp, students participated in extensive hands-on experiences. Topics included drinking water treatment technology, field sampling techniques, groundwater resources, wastewater treatment, laboratory analysis of E.coli, microorganisms causing dangerous algal blooms, and much more. 

Students took advantage of the location by using the Fox River and Lake Winnebago for lake sampling via boats, High Cliff State Park for field experience, and the many lab facilities available at UW Oshkosh.

The program was sponsored through a grant from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin. The ERIC team hopes this will become an annual event!

Undergrads Explore Freshwater Science in Western Wisconsin

Posted on by Heidi Jeter

Thirteen undergraduates from UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout, and UW-Milwaukee took part in this year’s Freshwater Science Field Studies in Western Wisconsin course. Undergraduates spent two weeks exploring watersheds, contamination and restoration, and groundwater and surface waters throughout western Wisconsin.

Instructors from UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout, and UW Oshkosh taught students field and laboratory skills needed to conduct freshwater research. During the two-week advanced course, students conduct a wide variety of applicable fieldwork to prepare them for the freshwater science workforce.

Highlights this year included:

  • visiting a boiling spring in River Falls
  • measuring water quality impacts from the impoundments on the Kinnickinnic River
  • evaluating groundwater flow conditions on the UW-Eau Claire campus

The data collected in Gilbert Creek in Menomonie will contribute to the Water Action Volunteers (WAV) stream monitoring program, a partnership between the WDNR and the UW–Madison Division of Extension that empowers volunteers to gather and share data to help natural resource managers in Wisconsin make decisions.

Students conduct freshwater research.