Program aims to keep river healthy

It’s a 21st century tool for 21st century learners.

Riverworks at Sturgeon City unveiled a water quality data computer mapping system for schools and universities Wednesday that can be used to study water quality and other water-related issues such as hurricanes and other weather-related items.

The system, called River Run, is a data visualization tool (DVT) that will allow students to manipulate various water quality parameters to see changes that occur in various parts of a river system over time using real-time data.

The program is geared toward students in middle and high school, but J.P. McCann, executive director at Sturgeon City, said students from third grade and up will make use of the program which is accessible from any computer with an Internet connection.

“It really puts into context what’s going on with the river,” McCann said. “Is it healthy? Is it clean? Can we fish? Can we swim? It provides a little bit better understanding of water quality and what role it plays in their everyday life.”

The DVT is accompanied by a geographic information system where students can plot the locations of farms or hurricanes in areas surrounding a river and compare data from the sources to find evidence of water quality degradation due to agricultural run off or hurricane impacts.

“The kids of the community really need to be connected to what’s going on their community,” said Pat Curley, Division of Academic Innovation and Riverworks liaison for Onslow County Schools. “What we’re doing is connecting these kids to their world in their community. We talk about water quality, but now we can actually see it.”

River Run also gives students practice in working with graphs, maps and other types of technology while understanding real-world data and environmental concepts.

 This type of technology also better prepares students for the future where skills such as data collection, problem solving and the ability to use technology are and will continue to be sought after, Curley said.

The style of learning provided by the River Run program is something students don’t get enough of these days, said Dennis Kubasco, an associate professor at the Watson School of Education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington who was involved with the creation of the project.

“There’s a classic graph where traditionally students lose their interest in science in the fifth grade,” he said. “We’ve got to smooth that curve. Kids are just so curious and intuitive by nature, we’ve got to find a way to maintain that interest in science. This is one outlet that supports that.”

The Wal-Mart Foundation provided Sturgeon City with a $35,000 grant to help finance the River Run project.

“Without their assistance we just wouldn’t be where we are right now,” McCann said.

For more information about the DVT program or Riverworks at Sturgeon City visit www.sturgeoncity.org.

Contact Molly DeWitt at 910-219-8455 or mdewitt@freedomenc.com.