Timeline and Schedule
The dates for Summer 2009 are June 1st - August 7th.
Week 1: Orientation to Research Environment (EKU GIS LABS & CLASSROOMS): Students will be introduced to principles of watershed environmental sciences and environmental applications of GIS, and a general overview of carbon cycling as well as the specific role of soil storage and flux on carbon cycling, surface coal mining methods, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope geochemistry and basic water chemistry.
Week 2: Refining a Research Question (LILLEY CORNETT WOODS FIELD CAMP): Participants will conduct preliminary studies at several field study sites, be exposed to a variety of water, soil, and ecological field sampling techniques; will gather preliminary data related to their area of interest; and by the end of the week define a research question. We'll eat and sleep in tents with a full camp kitchen or at a local school building--weather permitting!
Week 3: UK- Developing a Hypothesis and Experimental Design (UK- ENVIRONMETNAL RESEARCH TEACHING LABORATORY)): We'll learn proper laboratory principles and procedures for prepping and analyzing soil and sediment samples for isotopic analysis at UK's state-of the art analytical laboratory . Students will also further define a hypothesis for their own research question and develop an experimental design that involves field sampling and analysis to test their hypothesis.
Week 4. Field Collection of Experimental Data (LILLEY CORNETT WOODS FIELD CAMP):We'll return to the field, and participants will work in teams to collect the samples they need to execute their own research experiment.
WEEK 5: Sample Processing of Experimental Data (UK-ENVIRONMETNAL RESEARCH TEACHING LABORATORY):): Then, it's back to the laboratory to prep, process, and analyze our samples. Using one of two ThermoFinnigan Delta Plus XP Mass Spectrometers run in continuous flow mode coupled to an elemental analyzer that allows total nitrogen and carbon analysis, which are located in ERTLAnalysis will include fractionation of soils into carbon pools including: mineral associated soil organic carbon, fine- and coarse-soil organic carbon, and light- and heavy- fractions of soil organic carbon Litter and roots will be cleaned and processed. Samples will be dried and ground in preparation for elemental and isotopic analysis. In addition, samples will be analyzed using microscopy to assess the amount of ancient carbon (i.e., coal) within the surface soil samples for correction of the soil organic signatures.
WEEK 6, 7, 8, 9: Two Field Trips, plus Analysis, GIS Mapping, and Preparing Results (EKU GIS LABS & CLASSROOMS: The second half of the summer will focus on analysis of data and comparison with data found using GIS and results in other studies reported in the literature. Some students may required additional laboratory time, others may need additional field site visits, and others may require more time in the GIS laboratory. During this period, we'll also take two recreational field trips--one to Kentucky's legendary Red River Gorge to climb, hike, and enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery in the Appalachians; and the other to Laurel or Cumberland Lake to beat the heat Kentucky style with boating, fishing, and swimming. Teachers will be working on their research project and unit development independently under the supervision of Dr. Melinda Wilder.
WEEK 10: Communicating Scientific Research: (In house conference, final write-up): In the final week, all participants will present their findings at a multidisciplinary in-house conference. REU participants will finalize their manuscript for submission to a scientific journal. Teachers will participate in the in-house conference.
