Scientific Paper:
Communicating Science about the Gold King Mine Spill and Water Quality in the Animas River:
Essential Questions:
1. How have geological, biological and human factors created and exacerbated acid mine drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River?
2. What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
3. What ecological and human health threats might be associated with the Gold King Mine spill: initially, currently and in the future?
4. What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
2. What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
3. What ecological and human health threats might be associated with the Gold King Mine spill: initially, currently and in the future?
4. What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
Reflection:
Piper Rossi
1. To what degree do scientists have an obligation to communicate scientific concepts and data to the public in an understandable manner?
When something dramatic changes in the world, people tend to look to scientists to explain what is happening. If the scientists give information and graphs to the public that don't make sense to non-scientists, then the public will have no clue what is going on and will continue to ask questions until they understand. If the scientists make data understandable the first time it will save them time so they do not have to re explain everything in a more easy way for the public to comprehend.
2. How has your understanding of scientific knowledge and/or the process of doing science changed throughout the semester as you’ve examined and manipulated data collected by professional scientists and performed analogous experiments to collect and analyze your own data?
I have fallen more in love with science after conducting many experiments with data that professionals were also doing. I always knew I liked science but I never knew exactly what kind I was most interested in until this semester. I know that my grades may not show that I am learning or paying attention but I really have been getting better this year. I am excited for next semester and I plan to work harder so my grades show my learning accurately.
3. How have geological, biological and human factors created and exacerbated acid mine drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River?Humans began mining long ago. Since then, mines have been abandoned to accumulate pyrite, water and oxygen which creates a chemical reaction resulting in sulfuric acid, or acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage then leaks into a nearby water source, such as the Animas River, through a hole in the bulkhead of the mine.
4. What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
We can look back and take a look at what the pH levels of Cement Creek and the Animas River were before the spill and see what they are now and determine if we need to add a basic or acidic compounds to the water to make the pH levels return to normal. I haven't done enough research about how to improve the water quality much further than to change the chemical imbalance that occured because of the spill. Another thing that we can attempt to do that would help a substantial amount would be to close up the mines that are leaking and prevent them from spilling. This will help the river be healthier for the wildlife and for communities around that utilize the water source.
1. To what degree do scientists have an obligation to communicate scientific concepts and data to the public in an understandable manner?
When something dramatic changes in the world, people tend to look to scientists to explain what is happening. If the scientists give information and graphs to the public that don't make sense to non-scientists, then the public will have no clue what is going on and will continue to ask questions until they understand. If the scientists make data understandable the first time it will save them time so they do not have to re explain everything in a more easy way for the public to comprehend.
2. How has your understanding of scientific knowledge and/or the process of doing science changed throughout the semester as you’ve examined and manipulated data collected by professional scientists and performed analogous experiments to collect and analyze your own data?
I have fallen more in love with science after conducting many experiments with data that professionals were also doing. I always knew I liked science but I never knew exactly what kind I was most interested in until this semester. I know that my grades may not show that I am learning or paying attention but I really have been getting better this year. I am excited for next semester and I plan to work harder so my grades show my learning accurately.
3. How have geological, biological and human factors created and exacerbated acid mine drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River?Humans began mining long ago. Since then, mines have been abandoned to accumulate pyrite, water and oxygen which creates a chemical reaction resulting in sulfuric acid, or acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage then leaks into a nearby water source, such as the Animas River, through a hole in the bulkhead of the mine.
4. What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
We can look back and take a look at what the pH levels of Cement Creek and the Animas River were before the spill and see what they are now and determine if we need to add a basic or acidic compounds to the water to make the pH levels return to normal. I haven't done enough research about how to improve the water quality much further than to change the chemical imbalance that occured because of the spill. Another thing that we can attempt to do that would help a substantial amount would be to close up the mines that are leaking and prevent them from spilling. This will help the river be healthier for the wildlife and for communities around that utilize the water source.
Project Product:
chemitsry_poster.pptx | |
File Size: | 1437 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Other Work That Is Related To This Project:
Humanities "Voices from the Animas" Project: