AN INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH EXPERIENCE WITH INTRODUCTORY GEOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY CLASSES

At the University of Nebraska at Omaha, we have involved students in introductory Geology and Chemistry classes in an interdisciplinary study of drinking water quality in the Omaha area. The goals of this project are to introduce the students to the scientific method, get them to actually "do" relevant science, discover the interdisciplinary nature of science, and show how science affects their lives. We have also used this exercise to help some students overcome their fear of science by allowing them to actively learn science, rather than absorb it passively.

This exercise involves students from two different departments who work together on a research project. Students from an introductory Geology course collect drinking water samples from around the Omaha area. Samples of Omaha’s municipal water are collected, as well as well water samples for comparison. These samples are taken to the Chemistry class, where students analyze the samples using ion chromatography in one of their labs. The results of these analyses are sent in spreadsheet form to the Geology class, who analyzes the results. Geology students then ask questions. For example, softened water samples are compared to non-softened water samples. Or, filtered water is compared to non-filtered water. These questions lead to the discussion of how water-softeners work (zeolites) and filtering systems work, what geologic factors control the composition of drinking water, and why there might be a variation geographically in Omaha in drinking water composition. The Geology class is divided up into teams to discuss one of these topics. A volunteer then presents the results to the rest of the class and then a discussion ensues.

Finally, volunteer teams from Geology and Chemistry develop presentations to deliver to the other classes. The Chemistry presentation involves the theory of ion chromatography, analytical methods, and analytical error. The Geology student presentation involves the analysis of the data.