Summer 2010 Science Internships at Northwest Indian College Final Report. By Brian D. Compton, Ph.D. NWIC Science Internship Coordinator

Transcription

1 Summer 2010 Science Internships at Northwest Indian College Final Report By Brian D. Compton, Ph.D. NWIC Science Internship Coordinator September 16 th, 2010

2 Contents Introduction...3 Overview of the 2010 Summer Science Internship Projects and Presentations...5 Alaska...5 Lummi Campus... 5 Nez Perce Extended Campus Instructional Site...7 Port Gamble Extended Campus Instructional Site...7 Final Assessment of Intern Perceptions Regarding Their Learning...8 Summer 2010 Science Internship Final Report.doc page 2

3 Introduction This year Northwest Indian College (NWIC) continued its Science Internship Program supported by Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) funding and offered in support of students interested in Native Environmental Science. Internship funding was not provided to students during the fall quarter of the academic year, but beginning in winter quarter and continuing to mid-august, 2010, several students participated in internship projects supported by REU funding. As in the past, an application process was conducted to identify interested and eligible students. The Science Internship Selection Committee, which was formed in 2008, was not convened to review applications as during 2010 as it had done in the past. Instead, the Science Director and Science Internship Coordinator evaluated the applications based on the established application criteria, and the Science Director made the final selections. This summer 10 students originally were supported by REU funding, with one student later being funded by the USGS for participation in the 2010 Canoe Journey (Vincent Feliciano). Another student (Adriana Kernak) received travel support to work in Alaska. Three students participated in projects at extended campus instructional sites two at Port Gamble (Stonechild Moran and Juliana Sullivan) and one at Nez Perce (Casey Mitchell). As during last year, one project at the Lummi Campus involved water quality and related issues in Bellingham Bay with mentorship and supervision provided by Dr. Jude Apple (WWU) and Charlotte Clausing (NWIC Water Quality Technician). Another project focused on aspects of vascular plants in salt marshes and other local habitats. It included two interns (Justin Johnny and Mariya Williams) working in association with a third student (Rosa Hunter) who was enrolled in ENVS 201 and a teaching assistant, La Belle Urbanec. Ms. Hunter collaborated on a research project with the botanical interns and also pursued an independent project involving the ethnobotany of several local plant species. Mark Moss (NWIC GIS Lab Manager) provided technical support for all REU students regarding digital imaging and poster preparation. Representatives of the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe Natural Resources Department worked with two students on topics related to water quality and marine biodiversity in the Hood Canal, and a habitat restoration project in the Little Quilcene River. The intern at the Nez Perce site worked at the U.S. Department of Energy s Hanford Site in Richland. This summer's internship program began on June 22 nd, and extended until August 12 th, a briefer period than last year when the program continued through the first week of September. As in the past, students received $12.00 per hour for their efforts but those on the Lummi Campus worked no more than 30 hours per week from Monday-Thursday while site representatives determined working situations at sites. Four of the students enrolled this summer in NESC 497, Internship in Native Environmental Science in order to receive academic credit in addition to their experience and income. By the official end of the summer science internship program, two of those students (Amanda and Lance Brockie) had completed their required internship credit requirements for application to their program of study, the B.S. in Native Environmental Science. The culminating event of the summer science internship program was a gathering on August 12, 2010 for the interns to present and discuss their work with each other, their supervisors and others involved in the internship program. Summer 2010 Science Internship Final Report.doc page 3

4 The students' final presentations included posters that were developed in accordance with guidelines developed by the All Nations Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (ANLSAMP), which are employed for presentations at the annual AIHEC (American Indian Higher Education Consortium) and AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Societies) conferences, and using an assessment rubric for a research poster presentation based on those ANLSAMP poster guidelines and reviewer score sheet. At the suggestion of students involved in the botanical work, a presentation assessment comment sheet was developed to allow students the optional opportunity to provide commendations and recommendations on each other's work. This represents an extension of a critical thinking and assessment element associated with evaluating posters from a variety of sources that was part of the botanical team's work this summer. One of the interns (Justin Johnny) participated in a workshop conducted by the Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium at the University of Washington this summer in which scientific poster design and evaluation was a focus. He later led a session on this topic for students involved in the summer science internship program at NWIC. Details regarding each student's presentation are provided in the following section. Summer 2010 Science Internship Final Report.doc page 4

5 Overview of the 2010 Summer Science Internship Projects and Presentations Alaska Adriana Kernak accepted a temporary summer position as Environmental Planner with the Cultural and Environmental Sciences department of the Association of Village Council Presidents in Bethel, Alaska. She did not complete a presentation on her internship experience and no further details were available at the time of the production of this report. Lummi Campus Amanda Brockie contributed to the Bellingham Bay hypoxia study with Dr. Jude Apple (WWU) and Charlotte Clausing (NWIC). Her poster is entitled "Investigating Phosphate Levels in Surface and Deep Water in Bellingham Bay." Abstract from Amanda's poster: Phosphate (PO 4 3- ) samples were taken at nine stations in Bellingham Bay which included a sampling site near the Post Point Waste Water Treatment Plant. Surface and deep water samples were collected then analyzed at the Northwest Indian College and Shannon Point Marine Center laboratories to compare surface and deep water (13-32 meters deep) phosphate levels in Bellingham Bay. Jack Dunn contributed to the Bellingham Bay hypoxia study with Dr. Jude Apple (WWU) and Charlotte Clausing (NWIC) and learned how to use the NWIC Science division's Shimadzu TOC-Vcsh total organic carbon analyzer, and prepared a PowerPoint presentation on that work, entitled "TOC-Vcsh+TNM-1." Extract from Jack's PowerPoint presentation: All nutrients (phosphate, nitrogen, organic carbon, etc.) promote algae growth (bloom) which depletes oxygen levels in the water, creating hypoxia (dead zones). Other organic substances are grease and oil. This is why we want to know the levels of such contaminants in our local water systems. Based upon work conducted since last year, Jack also updated his "Smuggler's Slough Biodiversity Baseline Study: Summer 2009" poster detailing a project focused on the establishment of sampling transects and the creation of a baseline inventory of vascular plant and other biological diversity in the Smuggler's Slough. This work is in preparation for a monitoring project associated with the Lummi Natural Resources Department, which is working on habitat restoration within the slough and to reduce the prevalence of invasive reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) in the slough. Jack worked with Melissa Brown (Lummi Natural Resources Department), Dr. Jude Apple (WWU), Charlotte Clausing (NWIC), Dr. John Rombold (NWIC Science Faculty) and Dr. Brian Compton (NWIC Science Faculty). Extract from Jack's poster: Plants are a valuable indicator of ecosystem health and function, which will change over time as they adapt to new environmental conditions. This project uses plant diversity and abundance as a tool to evaluate the potential effects of changes in flow to Smuggler s Slough as a result of Lummi Nation s Department of Natural Resources restoration project. The restoration project will increase water flow to the wetlands and replant native vegetation in the hope they will hold their own against the invasive species. Summer 2010 Science Internship Final Report.doc page 5

6 Justin Johnny and Mariya Williams worked in collaboration with Rosa Hunter, Jack Dunn, La Belle Urbanec and Brian Compton on "The Significance of Vascular Plants in Cherry Point Salt Marsh." Their research included a preliminary survey of vascular plants at a salt marsh at Cherry Point, WA with a focus on the botanical and ecological aspects the plants found there. In that research they extended the Washington Native Plant Society's species checklist for that area, including the addition of Cuscuta salina Engelm. (saltmarsh dodder; Convolvulaceae), which parasitizes Salicornia depressa Standl. (Virginia glasswort; Chenopodiaceae). This finding, in light of the opportunity to study dodder and glasswort in other nearby salt marshes, suggests the value of conducting further research to gain a better understanding of various local salt marsh features including those regarding this host-parasite relationship. Extract from Justin's and Mariya's poster: The soil, plants, and the water are all key to the life every where in the world We figured out the plants are very important to the ecosystem in the Cherry Point because they can survive in such a diverse environment. Vascular plants are crucial to the ecosystem Lance Brockie contributed to the Bellingham Bay hypoxia study with Dr. Jude Apple (WWU) and Charlotte Clausing (NWIC). He produced a poster, entitled "Equipment Used for Bellingham Bay 2010 Hypoxia Study," as well as a PowerPoint presentation on his work, entitled "Bellingham Bay Hypoxia Study Summer 2010." Extract from Lance's poster: During the summer of 2010 I conducted a study measuring levels of dissolved oxygen in Bellingham Bay. The purpose of this study was to check for hypoxia zones at five specific locations in Bellingham Bay. The study was done by comparing levels of dissolved oxygen at the surface with levels of dissolved oxygen at the depths of Bellingham Bay. The Winkler Method was utilized to measure the dissolved oxygen levels deep in the Bay. Maggie Picard worked during the winter and spring quarters with faculty advisor Brian Compton and internship supervisor Jay Conway (NWIC Campus Construction Manager) on a study of the newly constructed Native Environmental Sciences Building (formerly the Natural Resource Lab) at NWIC involving the concepts of sustainability, traditional indigenous construction and LEED certification of the NWIC NES Building. Her work involved interning with Jay Conway and working directly with John Quirarte of the Bellastro Construction Inc., the main contractor for the new NWIC Natural Resource Lab (NRL), and Western Washington University student Noe Penny, who has a background in sustainability studies and who was hired by the contractor as an office assistant to assist in documentation of the LEED features of the NRL. Brian Compton served as Maggie's NES Faculty Advisor for this work. The materials she prepared based on her internship work included an informational placard, pamphlet and related signage for display in the NES Building. Maggie's Bachelor of Science thesis is entitled, "LEED Certification Coming Full Circle in Indian County." Abstract from Maggie's B.S. thesis: From years gone by, Native Americans have worked in harmony with the natural habitat in which they lived. Homes and community buildings were made from nature, not from man-created materials. Every resource was utilized to its highest degree, wasting nothing and keeping in mind that careful attention to the elements in design, building and structure were critical to the purpose of the structure. This paper will show many similarities between the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification process and the past building practices of Native Americans. Included is a brief examination of the building practices of three tribes, a look at some examples of current day Tribal LEED policies and an example of a case study which will emphasize one tribe s building of a college science lab hoping to gain LEED certification. The Northwest Indian College Natural Resource Lab is a project with many green features. It is a 4,750 square foot building that incorporates critical cultural design aspects with Summer 2010 Science Internship Final Report.doc page 6

7 energy efficiency and plans for follow through ensuring that any negative impact upon Mother Nature will be minimal, thus ensuring use for generations to come in a positive way. The Northwest Indian College through collaboration with Lummi Nation has shown through as a commitment to sustainability in this project as well as other buildings located on the College campus. Energy efficiency, waste management, solar energy generation and purposeful placement of the building are highlights of this project. It has been a wonderful and exciting experience researching, writing and developing this report for my thesis project. Gaining insight into true green building is good for the Tribe, good for Education and a very good example of a Tribal facility process that may help others to follow. Maggie's work has contributed to the attainment of LEED certification for the NRL, including the use of her work in future curricular and other educational applications at NWIC. Tyson Oreiro participated in an internship project with the Lummi Health Clinic during the spring and summer of No further details were available at the time of the production of this report. Nez Perce Extended Campus Instructional Site Casey Mitchell participated in an internship with the U.S. Department of Energy s Hanford Site in Richland. He had not completed a presentation on his work by the time this report was prepared. Port Gamble Extended Campus Instructional Site Julianna Sullivan was involved in work associated with water quality and marine biodiversity in the Hood Canal, and a habitat restoration project in the Little Quilcene River. Her research project is entitled "Relating Fluctuations in Temperature to the Presence and Distribution of Biota in the Nearshore Area." This research was conducted with Hans Daubenberger, Habitat Biologist, and Abigail Welch, Information Specialist with the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe Natural Resources Department. Abstract from Julianna's poster: We developed and implemented a monitoring method which can track fluctuations in temperature and water quality parameters to the presence and distribution of biota within the nearshore area. As expected, our project demonstrated how dynamic this environment is. Stonechild Moran worked on research project entitled, "Port Gamble Bay: Comparing Nearshore and Mid-Bay Water Quality during a Tide Cycle." This research was conducted with Hans Daubenberger of the Port Gamble S'Klallam Natural Resources Department. Abstract from Stonechild's PowerPoint presentation: The depletion of dissolved oxygen can cause fish kills. Humans sometimes add nutrients such as sewage input, agricultural and domestic fertilizers (Castro). And those nutrients can increase algae growth resulting in lower oxygen levels. At one time we did have a wood mill located on the Port Gamble Bay. Collection of water quality data for the bay would assist in the water management for the Port Gamble Bay. There is emerging evidence that water quality and climate changes are linked (Sackman). The Puget Sound ecosystem gives a glimpse into the environmental conditions of our home, including the population and a complex water system, as well as animals and tiny microorganisms (Sackman). My hypothesis is the water quality of Mid-Port Gamble Bay will be the same as the Summer 2010 Science Internship Final Report.doc page 7

8 Nearshore area of the bay. This information is valuable to the Port Gamble S Klallam since it provides an insight to the health of the Bay, which provides fisheries subsistence. Final Assessment of Intern Perceptions Regarding Their Learning Last year the summer interns and their supervisors were asked to complete evaluations of the summer internships, including quantitative and qualitative responses to several questions. This year the Science Director directed the summer interns to utilize a pilot assessment instrument developed by Ethnography & Evaluation Research (E&ER), an independent research unit at the University of Colorado at Boulder, with input from BIO REU site directors (of the National Science Foundation Biology Directorate's REU program). This assessment instrument the Undergraduate Research Student Self-Assessment (URSSA) is an online survey intended for nation-wide use at BIO REU sites. It was delivered via a web platform originally developed for a classroom instrument, the Student Assessment of their Learning Gains (SALG, < A summary of the results of that survey is presented as a separate addendum to this report. Summer 2010 Science Internship Final Report.doc page 8