SENCER Mid-Atlantic WATER Conference (REGISTRATION IS FREE)

  • 15 Jan 2022
  • 10:30 AM - 3:15 PM
  • zoom

SENCER Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for Innovation 
2022 Conference Registration

WATER

REGISTRATION IS FREE!

January 15th, Saturday, 2021 via Zoom; 10:45 am to 3:15 pm EST

Development of natural landscapes and climate change are impacting how humans and ecosystems are experiencing the water cycle.  Some areas receive more water than infrastructure can handle now; other areas are receiving less; and any of these locations might experience increased challenges in maintaining the safety of water for humans and other organisms.  This conference is designed for K-16 and informal educators to explore this theme in order to advance their abilities to infuse  civic awareness and engagement into their instruction and students’ learning.  We welcome presentations from educators at all levels and contexts about the science and societal implications of changes in global and local water cycles as well as issues regarding equitable access to clean water.

Keynote Speakers
Water: An integrative, socially relevant context for connecting science and society, Bhawani Venkataraman, Associate Professor & Chairperson, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, The New School.
Water is a molecular marvel. Its seemingly simple formula – H2O –dictates the properties that make water the “universal solvent” and essential for life on Earth. Yet, paradoxically, this same property of water makes it susceptible to contamination which can then potentially threaten life. As will be discussed in this talk, exploring the science behind this paradox and the social implications of access to safe drinking water makes water a powerful context for integrating disciplines and connecting science and society.

Water: Waste not want not, Davida Smyth, Associate Professor, Department of Life Sciences, Texas A & M University San Antonio.
This session will focus on research investigating the impact of human activity on our water bodies and aquatic ecosystems. Overuse and lack of oversight has led to many of our water bodies being heavily contaminated with biological and chemical agents, particularly with sewage and run off from agricultural and industrial activities. Around the world, intrepid individuals, groups, and communities are working to improve sanitation, and to prevent contamination of our precious natural potable water resources. We’ll also learn about new ways to use our waste from developing creative methods to make money from wastewater and using our wastewater to conduct surveillance for emerging infectious diseases.

For K-12 Teachers attending the conference, Next Generation Science Standards that may be addressed in the conference include: 

-Cross Cutting Concepts - Systems and Systems Models, Stability and Change, Cause and Effect, Energy and Matter

-Disciplinary Core Ideas - Water (ESS2.C), Climate (ESS2.D), Human Impacts (ESS3), possibly others


For College Instructors and Informal Educators:

-Topics from the sciences as well as other disciplines are likely to be included in the conference.


Conference Schedule

10:45-11:00  Greets and socializing

11:00-12:00 pm  Opening and Keynote address: Bhawani Venkataraman (The New School), Water: An integrative, socially relevant context for connecting science and society 

12:05-12:50 pm  Round 1 Lightning Talks [5mins each with Q&A at end]

  1. Kenneth Nicholson, Gregory Anderson & John Kasmer (Northeastern Illinois University) Field Methods in Environmental Science at Northeastern Illinois University

  2. Jeannine Lanphear, Candy Hoffman & Brianna Ryan (North Brunswick Township Public Schools), Using an Ecological Water Mystery to Drive Water Cycle Instruction and Updating it to Include Environmental Justice and Civic Engagement

  3. Laura Guertin & Matthew Bodek (Penn State University Brandywine), Turning the 2021 Earth Science Week theme of Water into a campus-wide photography competition

  4. Diana Samaroo & Sandie Han (NYC College of Technology), An Interdisciplinary Study on Water Quality of a Local Lake in New York City

12:50-1:20 pm  Lunch break/Zoom socializing

1:20-2:05 pm  Round 2 Lightning Talks  [5mins each with Q&A at end]

  1. Hazel England (Great Swamp Watershed Association), How Much is It Worth? Understanding Ecological Value of Open Space

  2. Fernando Nieto & Hugh Fox (SUNY Old Westbury, Bettina Fantal-Pinckombe (Westbury High School), Piloting an environmental thematic course-embedded research project to develop the scientific skills of first year students participating in the Community Learning and Leadership Action (CALL) program at SUNY Old Westbury

  3. Christopher Badurek, Connor Brierton & Shelby Soule (SUNY Cortland), Developing Citizen Science Web GIS Applications for Monitoring Invasive Plants

  4. Ji Kim & Ayisha Sookdeo (Guttman Community College-CUNY), Implementation of culturally relevant projects in STEM courses to promote civic awareness

2:10-3:00 pm  Closing Plenary & Closing: Davida Smyth (Texas A & M University San Antonio), Water: Waste not want not.

The virtual conference will be held on Saturday, January 15th from 11 am to 3:45 pm EST via Zoom.  There will be no fee to join the conference.  We anticipate it will include keynote speaker(s), workshops, lightning talks, and possibly other formats for sessions.

Program Web Page: http://sencer.net/midatlantic/

Organizers:

  • Kathy Browne, Rider University, browne@rider.edu
  • Missy Holzer, Great Minds, PBC, missy.holzer@gmail.com
  • Jessica Monaghan, Princeton University, Jmonaghan@princeton.edu
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