Understanding Wetlands “ Wetland Awareness: Results of a Campus Wide Survey” S. A. Isiorho & Katie M. Beard* Indiana University- Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW)

Outline of Presentation Designing an Honors Course Course Structure /Grading Why the chosen topic? Introduction to this project Methods Results Discussion Conclusion

Designing an Honors Course Challenges – Relevant topics – Interdisciplinary in nature – Class size – Research

Structure of course Requirement…2 science courses Syllabus – Part I Introduction to geology…minerals, rocks, glaciations, etc. – Part II Hydrology…surface water and groundwater – Part III Human interaction with environments – Part IV Design, experiments, projects

Grading Tests (20%) Weekly lab experiment /or field report (20%)

Grading Field trips to wetlands (10%)

Grading Student’s project (50%)

Course Outcomes Education Hands-on Methods & techniques

Why Wetland? An important societal topic Interests in the media and the public

Understanding Wetlands is Interdisciplinary in Nature Interdisciplinary with help from Anthropology to Zoology Draws on Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Fine Art, Law, Medicine, Geology etc.

Where are wetlands found? Location, location, location

Finding wetlands Aerial photographs

Finding wetlands Satellite images

Finding wetlands Topographic maps

Finding wetlands Published Reports

Finding wetlands Field visits

What comes to mind when you hear the word WETLAND? – A yucky place? – Or frightening place?

Do you think of Wetland as an area with – Openwater with plants?

Or as – Something that needs to be studied?

Introduction to this project

Definition criteria Definition  Hydrology

Definition criteria  Hydric soil

Definition criteria Hydrophytes

Wetland Functions Wetlands  Water source for aquifers & streams  Curb flooding & erosion

Wetland Functions Contd.  Sanctuary for wildlife

Wetland Functions Contd.  Food source RiceCranberry

Wetland Functions Contd.  Energy source Peat mining

Indiana Wetlands  Once comprised of 5.5 million acres  Now 813,000 acres remain  Destruction continues

Demise of Wetlands in NE Indiana Problems with wetlands – Obstacles to progress (development) – Hazards to humans

Purpose  Identify wetland awareness levels

Methods Questionnaire  15-Questions

Survey: Demographic Questions Where were you raised? A. Urban / Suburban / City area B. Rural / Country area What is your gender? A. Male B. Female Under which university are you seeking your degree? A. Indiana University B. Purdue University C. Undecided

Survey: Wetland Awareness Wetlands are lands where water is present for at least part of the year and the extended presence of water creates a wet habitat for certain plants and animals. A. Yes B. No Wetlands can be found in nearly every county in the US A. True B. False Wetlands are not as productive an ecosystem as rainforests and coral reefs. A. True B. False

Collection of data  Approach  Served to 525 students  Exclusion

Categorization of data  High  Intermediate  Low

Results Survey Participants

50.8% scored in the ‘Low” category 41.4% scored in the “Intermediate” category Only 7.8% scored in the “High” category

Results Urban/Rural

Tabulated Statistics Rural Urban High 20—8.6% 19—7.1% Intermediate 106—45.5% 101—37.8% Low 107—45.9% 147—55.1% Chi-Square = P-Value = Descriptive Statistics N Median Minimum Maximum Rural Urban

Results Gender

Female Male High 15—5.1% 24—11.8% Intermediate 121—40.9% 86—42.1% Low 160—54% 94—46.1% Chi-Square = P-Value = Gender N Median StDev Min Max Female Male

Results University

University N Median St Dev Min Max Indiana Purdue Undecided Undecided Indiana Purdue High % % 1-2.8% Intermediate % % % Low % % % Chi-Square = P-Value = 0.183

Need for Wetland Education? Seventy five percent show lack of wetland understanding Results show need for wetland education Limitations  Framing of questions  Categorizing by major  Approach Strengths  High success rate in survey completion

Conclusion Results show low wetland awareness level This proves need for wetland education Future research suggestions  Larger study  More researchers involved  Ongoing research  Standard randomization testing