Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, University of Kentucky

ITEST Community-Based Science Program Over 15 schools across 10 counties in KY Hands-on learning with professional educators

ITEST Community-Based Science Program Presentations at State & National Conferences (KSTA, NSTA, ESRI ) Summer Conference for Teachers and Students Professional Development for Teachers School Tours to Streams & Watersheds Presentation days at the University of Kentucky

Research at Belfry High School from NSF-ITEST grant Herbs namely hydrangea, sassafras, ginseng, winter green and lycopodium that are used for medicinal purposes on Pigeon Roost Mountain were located and collected. GPS system was used to locate the points in which these herbs were grown and GIS techniques was used to place the point on the pike county map. Different samples of the soil were excavated to study the chemical compositions to understand the environment in which these herbs are grown. Two different laboratory facilities (BHS and University of Kentucky) were used to test the soils chemical composition. Good agreement between the values of pH, nitrogen and potassium obtained from two different laboratories. Experimental values of pH suggest that samples A, B and C have more acidity compared to samples D, E and F. Atomic Absorption spectrometer at ERT lab was used to find the chemical composition from the leaves and roots of the herbs collected.

Mapping the Field GPS system was used to locate the position of sites where the soil was excavated and GIS technique to insert the points on the regions map. Sampl e LocationHerbs AN ’ W ’ Queen of meadow Hydrangea BN ’ W ’ Winter green, Green brier, Lycopodium CN ’ W Sassafras DN ’ W ’ Ginseng EN ’ W ’ Cohash, Ginseng, yellow root, Golden seed FN ’ W ’ Ginseng

Cassidy Elementary Plant Growth in Different Soil Samples PLANT GROWTH Cassidy 4 th Grade Type of Soil Group Member Height on 3-11 Day 3 Height on 3-15 Day 7 Height on 3-25 Day 17 Height on 4-5 Day 28 Height on 4-15 Day 38 School Soil Christian2 cm9 cm12 cm16 cm19 cm School Soil Caroline N.3 cm11 cm15 cm20 cm23 cm School Soil Will3cm10 cm14 cm17 cm20 cm School Soil Caroline C.1 cm7 cm9 cm14 cm18 cm School Soil Parker2 cm10 cm12 cm14 cm19 cm 4-H Soil Kayce3 cm12 cm16 cm19cm22 cm 4-H Soil Evan2 cm9 ½ cm14 cm16 ½ cm19 cm 4-H Soil Elizabeth2 cm9 cm12 cm20 cm24 cm 4-H Soil Emelia3 cm10 cm15 cm 17 cm (first leaves)20 cm 4-H Soil Josiah3 cm10 ½ cm13 cm18 cm23 cm Potting Soil Zoe1 cm8 cm15 cm20 cm21 cm Potting Soil Joseph1 cm7 cm11 cm16cm17 cm Potting Soil ProctorNo Growth5 cm9 cm15 cm17 cm Potting Soil SheridanNo Growth6 cm10 cm15 cm16 cm Potting Soil Kate Marie2 cm10 cm14 cm17 ½ cm19 cm Students Using GPS Environmental Effects on Soil Samples Plant Growth in Different Soil Samples

Deming School - 6 th Grade What are the seasonal changes that occur at a pond ecosystem? What is an ecosystem? How water flows in an ecosystem. – Groundwater – Water pollution – Topographic maps – Water cycle Data Collection – Air and water temperature – Dissolved oxygen – Electrical conductivity – pH – Macroinvertebrate Tally

What causes the seasons? Invasive species of our area Life cycles Fossils and history of land Career Day (Grades 4-12)

Georgetown Middle School The Impact of Urbanization on Our Watershed

Grant County Middle School Our question – How natural is our community? Focus on native v. invasive species Building a living laboratory for ongoing environmental study Our methods: Visit various land and water ecosystems and test for the ph, temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity; Collect organisms; Take soil samples and survey what invasive species were in that land ecosystem; Use GPS to plot our location.

Data analysis and results/findings In general Grant County has a problem with four main environmentally invasive species. These species are Asian Clams, Winter Creeper, Bush Honeysuckle and Multiflora Rose.

Morning 2.0 mph Noon 1.2 mph Evening 1.9 mph Friday, May 21, 2010 Morning 1.5 mph Noon 1.2 mph Evening 1.05 mph Saturday, May 22, 2010 Morning 1.0 mph Noon 1.5 mph Evening.5 mph Sunday, May 23, 2010 Morning 2.3 mph Noon 2.4 mph Evening 2.8 mph Monday, May 24, 2010 Morning 3.0 mph Noon 1.8 mph Evening 1.4 mph Morning 1.9 mph Noon 1.6 mph Evening 1.5 mph Tuesday, May Wednesday, May 26, 2010 Grant County High School

As you observed from the information we gathered and from the map, the wind power in Kentucky is extremely poor; therefore, wind energy would not be a viable energy source. We plan to look into other alternative energy sources that will be useful in Kentucky.

Lebanon Middle School How has soil usage changed?

HOW DOES THE URBANIZATION OF SCOTT COUNTY, KY AFFECT THE ELKHORN CREEK WATERSHED?

Scott County Middle School, Georgetown, KY

Southern Elementary-Creek Project

St. Charles Middle School Marion County, Kentucky By: Abby Blandford, Joey Costello, and Mr. Crum

Nitrates pH Dissolved Oxygen Ecoli

Woodford County Middle School