Engaged Opportunity Grants
Advancing Citizen Science Programs for Harmful Algal Blooms
Teaching K-12 students about the dangers of HABs in New York’s Finger Lakes
The beauty of the Finger Lakes drives tourism as well as pride among the region’s residents. Unfortunately, a new water quality problem, Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), is creating toxins that threaten the lakes as recreational and drinking water resources.
In a grassroots effort, citizen groups, often in collaboration with nonprofits, are taking the reins for sampling, analyzing and disseminating data about HABs. This project team has been doing scientific research on HABs and is using the grant to widen that effort by adding a community-engaged learning aspect to the project. Specifically, the team is expanding the partnership to include the Ithaca Sciencenter so that K-12 children and their parents can learn about the local HABs issue.
Topics: Children, Youth, Seniors and Families; Education; Energy, Environment and Sustainability; Health, Nutrition and Medicine
The Team
-
Ruth Richardson, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
College of Engineering
- Lisa Cleckner, Finger Lakes Institute
- Community partner: Cayuga Lake Watershed Network “CLWN”
- Community Science Institute
- Community partner: Sciencenter
Engaged Opportunity Grants
Supporting a wide range of community-engaged learning projects, from student leadership programs and partnership building to events and conference travel. Open to all faculty and staff.