Student Mitchell Kloc, of Freeland, participates in SVSU, Dow Chemical Foundation research project

2015 Jul 31

Saginaw Valley State University educators are leading six environmental research studies this summer with the help of 10 teachers and 21 students from a dozen K-12 schools in Bay, Gladwin, Midland, Saginaw, Shiawassee and Tuscola counties.

Mitchell Kloc, of Freeland, is among 10 SVSU students also involved in the studies.

The studies are coordinated through SVSU's Dow Science and Sustainability Education Center. The education center is the result of a partnership between SVSU and the Dow Chemical Co. Foundation aimed at increasing interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Kloc, a professional technical writing major, is participating in research that evaluates the effects of soil conservation practices for agricultural fields. Martin Arford, associate professor of geography, is leading the research examining how soil conservation efforts impact the amount of agricultural nutrients that enter waterways from agricultural fields. Participants are collecting and testing soil from across the region, creating a databank for the information, and analyzing the results.

David Karpovich, SVSU's H.H. Dow Endowed Chair in Chemistry and one of the Dow Science and Sustainability Education Center's leaders, said the education center and its research projects will benefits all participants.

"The high school students get their first big experience of STEM outside of the classroom by working on real research," Karpovich said. "The college students also gain very beneficial experience. Most of all, I hope that all of the students are inspired by the program as they decide what careers to pursue."

"The high school teachers benefit from the experience in many ways from their own professional development to finding ideas for their own classrooms," he added. "Our faculty certainly enjoy the chance to share their research, but they are especially enthusiastic about the interactions with all of the participants."

This marks the second summer of the Dow Science and Sustainability Education Center summer research experience. Adrianne Cole was a teacher at Heritage High School when she participated in 2014's research initiative.

"I was also able to explore the engineering aspect of STEM -- something that had always intimidated me as a biology and chemistry teacher," she said. "Being part of the overall research on the Saginaw Bay watershed also allowed me to bring my newfound knowledge back to my own classroom and make chemistry relevant to the area that my students live in."

Since last year, Cole joined SVSU as the university's STEM program manager, putting her in a leadership role with the summer research projects.