2:18 p.m., June 5, 2008--Donning three-dimensional glasses, young students in New Castle County schools this spring went on a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) aerial map “trip” to learn about water resources in northern Delaware. They looked at streams, rivers and bays and learned about watersheds, water conservation, and pollution and its causes.

Next the children played a memory match card game, matching pictures related to water resources, such as an unhappy fish in a polluted stream. When a match was made the student read the message under the picture aloud about water conservation, such as not letting faucets run or not watering lawns in the middle of the day and other water-related issues.

The game was developed by UD graduate research assistants Maureen Seymour, Erika Farris and Kelly Wolfe, enrolled in the master's program in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy, and undergraduate research assistant Laura Yayac, who is a Dean's Scholar in global environmental governance. All are working with the Water Resources Agency in UD's Institute for Public Administration.

The activity was part of the “What in the World” program sponsored by the Business, Industry, Education (BIE) Alliance to expose students, K-12, to various careers and to stress the importance of science, math and/or technology.

Stations are set up with “mystery” items such as a firefighter's oxygen tank, representing different careers. Groups of six to 12 students gather for a 10-minute interval at each station to learn about a career from volunteers before moving on to the next one.

Martha Corrozi, assistant policy scientist with the Water Resources Agency, along with undergraduate and graduate research assistants, has participated in the program since 2005 at elementary schools in Appoquinimink, Brandywine and Christina school districts. At each session, Corrozi explains the education and training required for jobs in the water resources field.

“It's an extremely worthwhile program, and I enjoy talking to the children who are interested in learning about watersheds and run off from populated areas and farms,” Corrozi said. “One of the perks of the program is letters we receive from the children.”

One student wrote “Thanks you for showing me what's happening to the Delaware River....I will pick up trash off the ground so the river will be very clean....I will tell kids and teenagers to stop littering so the Delaware River can be very clean.”

Another praised the program by writing, “I had a really fun time with you....It was like going to the circus....You taught me a lot of stuff I didn't know.”

Article by Sue Moncure
Photo by Kathy Atkinson