Hello, and welcome to a site where you can learn about the experience of a Woodrow Wilson Fellow attending the Environmental Science Institute at Princeton University during the summer of 1997. The unique synergy will continue as teachers from all over the country meet to share common interests in Science Education. Focusing on Environmental Science teachers will go through a unique process of inquiry and investigation of self generated topics of local environmental interest. Using the help of the talented Princeton scientists and visiting scientists, all participants will gain new insight to the rigorous scientific process, and the open ended inquiry that will be transferred back to their local classrooms.

Let's begin by looking at who the team 38 members are and where they come from:
 

Tom Hoskin	James Hart School	Homewood, Illinois
Nancy Greenwood	Northwood School	North Little Rock, Arkansas
Jodi Bell	Richland   School	Fort Worth, Texas
Lee Wagstaff	North Richland School	Fort Worth, Texas
Bob Bowman	Jacksonville  School	Jacksonville, Arkansas

 

Princeton University is surrounded by an environment that is open to a rich and diverse exploration of  many chemical and biological forces at work. Among the many ecological systems present is a unique wetland area that is host to a wide diversity of environmental influences.  These include a bird sanctuary, stream effluent, and a varied and rich plant life that integrate in a way to have a healthy ecological impact on the area. One such impact  is the ability to filter out unwanted nitrates. An investigation that could confirm this would lead not only to preservation of a needed resource, but contribute to the investigation of other wetland areas across the country and their potential contribution as a natural bio-filter alternative and/or supplement to present water filtration systems.
 

HYPOTHESIS:
The level of nitrates introduced into the Princeton wetland are higher than the level of nitrates that are leaving the wetland.
 
PROCEDURE:
The source of the wetland inflow of water is from a neighboring stream. Another stream received the outflow which occurs at the opposite end of the inflow. The following procedure was used to test the nitrate level of the water inflow and outflow:

Using a LaMotte nitrate testing kit, samples were collected at the same time over a period
of 4 days. The following results were obtained.
 
 

DATE	Nitrate level of Inflow ppm(parts per million)	Nitrate level of outflow ppm(parts per million)
July 10, 1997	.3 ppm	0 ppm
July 11, 1997	.3 ppm	0 ppm
July 15, 1997	.3  ppm	0 ppm
July 16, 1997	.3  ppm	0 ppm

 

CONCLUSION:
Based on the results of the data collected , the nitrate levels of water leaving the wetland are lower than nitrate levels entering the wetland. This data only suggests that the wetland is acting as a bio-filter for nitrates, but is not conclusive in proving that the wetland as a system is filtering nitrates. Further inquiry is needed to investigate in more detail what indeed is responsible for the filtration of these nitrates. This leads to many questions. Where exactly are the nitrates coming from? (water source, or soil source)  What processes are acting alone or together to allow a reduction in nitrates? (plant, plants, sedimentation, or combination thereof? ) So, the data leads to new and interesting questions that have yet to be investigated. With this will come the challenge of new, creative, and interesting testing procedures.
 
 

PROCESS:
 

Initial inquiry into the wetland created a mystery. As we began to study the hydrology of the area looking for the source of water for this wetland, we were initially frustrated,  gradually challenged, and ultimately motivated to solve the mystery. On a walk around the lake we could easily identify where the water was flowing out of this wetland. But, as we searched for the source of water that enters the wetland we were initially confused.  So, we searched out someone of authority that could help identify the source. This effort led us to the Elizabethtown water company, Princeton Borough sewage department, and Princeton University professor Dr. Henry Horn. Surprisingly, there seemed to be no clear explanation as to the state of this wetland, other than by  Dr. Horn. Professor Horn led us in the right direction by explaining the general hydrology of the area. The natural source of water for the wetland was ground water seepage from a near-by stream. Later, we identified a secondary source of water. A large pipe was the conduit for water being transported by a nearby pumping station. This unnatural source of water is relied upon 365 days a year (this pumped water originates from the stream mentioned above).
    Once the hydrology of the area was established we could easily pursue data collection. But the very nature of inquiry forces us to look at many issues besides data collection and nitrate filtration of wetlands. You can't help but see the wetland as a combination of systems working together in the  environment,  one by-product being filtration of nitrates. So what is a wetland? Should we be preserving wetlands? How does nitrogen play a role in this system? How do plants play a role in this system? How can we monitor the system? What organizations would allow us to share our data with other schools, and support us in maintaining out wetland. Can we share our data with scientists? What ways can we bring technology into use for monitoring.
 

 
EXTENSIONS:
The research that is generated from the wetland study will allow for  various ways to transfer the study of local environments to the study of regional, and global issues. Local school level collaboration with Universities in the measurement process will allow for "real" data to be shared among students and scientists.  Students nurture strong personal interests in their local environment as they take field trips to their wetland and engage in a hands-on approach through the planting of seedlings, identification of plant and animal species, and water sample collections.