The LSC-University Park Division of Math and Sciences faculty are looking for high school students to assist in understanding Spring Gully and improving it for future flood events!
Friday, Feb. 18, 2022
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lone Star College-University Park
Spring Gully is a small stream that runs through the LSC-University Park campus and feeds into Cypress Creek.
High school students interested in STEM have an unique opportunity to spend a day outside collecting and analyzing data on Spring Gully’s water quality, flow rate, sediment transport, and biodiversity alongside UP’s Division II faculty.
By participating, students will walk away with:
- Knowledge about local stream processes, stream health, and flooding processes.
- Experience collecting and analyzing real field data, and
- Ownership in helping our local streams be healthier while also improving drainage for flood events.
Act fast… there are ONLY 30 spots available!
What You Can Expect:
The day will consist of collecting data from Spring Gully, working with Math and Science faculty, and discussing creative solutions for increasing water drainage and ways to maintain a healthy stream ecosystem. Cypress Creek Watershed Partnership will kick the day off by introducing the challenges our local tributaries and streams face. Groups based on a preferred discipline (biology, chemistry, physics, geology, or math) will then head out to the field (Spring Gully) and make measurements that characterize the gully’s health. Measurements will involve testing water quality, assessing the biodiversity, characterizing the sediment and identifying areas prone to erosion, measuring flow rate, and calculating discharge. After lunch, new groups will form to propose a creative solution to improve the current drainage system. Each creative idea will have the opportunity to be modeled and tested on the interactive stream table, and then presented to a panel of stakeholders (campus administrators, Cypress Creek Watershed Partnership, LSC-UP faculty, and community members). Best solution wins a prize!
Lunch, water and light snacks are provided.
What You'll Need to Bring:
- Arrive on-time and stay for the duration (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
- Closed-toe shoes for the outdoors
- Bookbag
- Pencil
- Water bottle
- Willingness to learn and participate in discussions
Contact Information:
Christa L. Spears, Ph.D.
Professor of Geology
Division of Math & Sciences
Phone: (281) 290-3747
Email: Christa.Spears@LoneStar.edu