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

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

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

4. 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

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

6. Grading Field trips to wetlands (10%)

7. Grading Student’s project (50%)

8. Course Outcomes Education Hands-on Methods & techniques

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

10. 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.

11. Where are wetlands found? Location, location, location

12. Finding wetlands Aerial photographs

13. Finding wetlands Satellite images

14. Finding wetlands Topographic maps

15. Finding wetlands Published Reports

16. Finding wetlands Field visits

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

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

19. Or as – Something that needs to be studied?

20. Introduction to this project

21. Definition criteria Definition  Hydrology

22. Definition criteria  Hydric soil

23. Definition criteria Hydrophytes

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

25. Wetland Functions Contd.  Sanctuary for wildlife

26. Wetland Functions Contd.  Food source RiceCranberry

27. Wetland Functions Contd.  Energy source Peat mining

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

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

30. Purpose  Identify wetland awareness levels

31. Methods Questionnaire  15-Questions

32. 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

33. 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

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

35. Categorization of data  High  Intermediate  Low

36. Results Survey Participants

37. 50.8% scored in the ‘Low” category 41.4% scored in the “Intermediate” category Only 7.8% scored in the “High” category

38. Results Urban/Rural

39. 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 = 4.153 P-Value = 0.012 Descriptive Statistics N Median Minimum Maximum Rural 233 70.000 50.000 80.000 Urban 267 50.000 50.000 80.000

40. Results Gender

41. Female Male High 15—5.1% 24—11.8% Intermediate 121—40.9% 86—42.1% Low 160—54% 94—46.1% Chi-Square = 8.504 P-Value = 0.014 Gender N Median StDev Min Max Female 296 50.000 10.75 50 80 Male 204 70.000 11.49 50 80

42. Results University

43. University N Median St Dev Min Max Indiana 267 50 10.932 50 80 Purdue 197 70 11.354 50 80 Undecided 36 50 10.55 50 80 Undecided Indiana Purdue High 17-6.3% 21-10.7% 1-2.8% Intermediate 105-39.4% 86-43.6% 16-44.4% Low 145-54.3% 90-45.7% 19-2.8% Chi-Square = 6.221 P-Value = 0.183

44. 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

45. 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