CLARION – Applications are being accepted through May 31 for Clarion University’s Summer Academy 2011, Geospatial Technologies and Our Water Resources. The academy will be held July 31 to Aug. 6.
Each summer, Clarion University offers a program for academically talented high school students, designed to promote creativity and encourage an interest in higher education. Students interested in the sciences who are entering their sophomore, junior or senior year of high school may apply.
This academy will train students in the use of the tools of aquatic ecology and the emerging technology of geospatial analysis. Students will assess the chemical and biological integrity of local streams using data collection and GIS techniques to analyze their findings and to present their final results. The class will involve extensive field work, and students will play an active role in designing research projects and shaping data analysis. Students will present the results of their projects in a symposium at the conclusion of the week. Activities will be carried out in the laboratories of the new Joseph P. Grunenwald Center for Science and Technology, as well as at the many excellent local field sites.
Wise management of water resources is key to both economic growth and environmental integrity. Professional aquatic scientists, trained in modern methods, are in demand by industry and government. Advances in instrumentation and analytical methods provide freshwater scientists with a powerful array of tools with which to assess and restore water quality. In addition, digital mapping, Global Positioning Systems and Geographic Information Systems are useful tools that can be used to better assess the health of our water resources and aid in developing restoration strategies.
“This is an exciting and unique opportunity to learn about the world of digital mapping (geospatial technologies), one of the top three employment opportunities defined by the Department of Labor,” said academy instructor Dr. Yasser Ayad, professor in the department of anthropology, geography and earth sciences.
The academy will also be taught by Dr. Andrew Turner, professor in the department of biology and environmental science.
Registration is $100. Tuition and room and board are covered through a gift from Pennsylvania General Electric Co., LLC, Warren, Pa. To download an application, visit here.