Water is a precious and vital resource, essential for the flourishing of life.听CU Science Discovery鈥檚 newest Immersive听Professional Development STEM Experience,听Water in the West, explores the use听of data to predict how access to water may change with climate change, the science of watershed and resource management, and energy storage and generation using water. Each of the three 75-minute learning modules will be centered around听how we understand and use water in the west:

  • 厂肠颈别苍肠别:听Water is important in every part of our lives, from eating and drinking to cleaning and creating. The water cycle governs not only what we wear on any given day, but where and how we live our lives. In this module, we'll look at the properties of water, how water reacts with heat, and look at the water cycle, precipitation, and how water can affect the weather around us.
  • Stewardship:听Why do our communities form near rivers? What do rivers provide for us? How can we care for our rivers? Southwest Colorado is near the headwaters of several major river systems. Being high in the watershed of these waterways means we have a responsibility to those downriver, just as those upriver have a responsibility to us. In this module, we'll look at the science of a watershed, how rivers form and evolve, and what communities can do to help protect these limited and necessary resources. An understanding of how water interacts with the environment is the first step towards being responsible stewards of our shared resources.
  • Sustainability:听As the world is generating more and more energy from renewable sources, how can we make sure the power stays on when the sun stops shining or the wind stops blowing? In this module, we'll explore how water plays a crucial role in addressing this challenge by generating and storing vast amounts of energy as needed. Participants will explore the principles and applications of energy use and transformation with opportunities to generate and measure electricity and experiment with cutting-edge science and engineering.

Program logistics:

  • Each team must pre-register with site coordinator.
  • Cost per team of 5 students and 1 teacher/adult chaperone is $195. This cost can be adjusted based upon a school鈥檚 Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Rate.听听for more information. To reiterate, each team must be led by either a teacher or an adult chaperone.
  • Participants must arrive at the workshop site at 8:45am with a sack lunch and water bottle.
  • Participants can expect to leave between 2:30-3pm.

Are you interested in this topic but looking for a different format? Consider听Science Discovery's student-centered听STEM Workshops听- full-day tactile learning experiences designed to be held at your school for up to听three听classrooms.

Questions? Please听contact Scott Sieke听via email.