| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.64 |
| Liaison | Rob Andrejewski |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Richmond
IN-25: Innovation B
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Rob
Andrejewski Director of Sustainability Office for Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
James River Rock Pool Study: Species Diversity, Inter-School Collaboration, Open Access Education
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
Since May 2017, University of Richmond Geography and Biology faculty have been conducting teaching modules at the Belle Isle rock pools in downtown Richmond every semester as part of Introductory Biology (BIOL 202) and Geography (GEOG 250) classes. This work is conducted in collaboration with a community ecologist at VCU and includes several graduate student research projects. These active learning and inquiry-driven practices include field work and laboratory exercises in addition to independent student research projects.
Faculty participating in this project have developed an online learning module that can be used anywhere (https://qubeshub.org/qubesresources/publications/1056/1). This course can be used for high school or college students to teach spatial analysis, map building, ecological concepts, and biodiversity.
During the summer of 2017, 17 Richmond Public Schools tenth-grade students participated in the projects, along with four UR student mentors, to map the ecology of the James River rock pools using GIS technology on smartphones and tablets to collect, update, and analyze information on the aquatic insects living along the river in downtown Richmond.
In 2018, UR faculty members Kristine Grayson and Todd Lookingbill received National Science Foundation funding to continue the project. With support from the NSF grant, Grayson and Lookingbill will collaborate with UR’s Spatial Analysis Lab to further develop mapping components of the project. They will examine factors such as predators and flood frequency and their impact on aquatic invertebrates, such as snails and mosquito larvae, found in the pools. Long-term, this research can be used to test predictions about the impacts of climate change and storm frequency on species living in the rock pools and other aquatic habitats.
Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
Research
Public Engagement
Water
Public Engagement
Water
Optional Fields
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Open education: https://qubeshub.org/qubesresources/publications/1056/1
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