AN ALL-INCLUSIVE FIELD-BASED APPROACH TO TEACHING GROUNDWATER SAMPLING AND MONITORING

The task of groundwater sampling and monitoring is complex, nonetheless, increasingly it has become an integral part of preparing geoscience students for the environmental workforce. Increased interest and demand for environmental jobs has led to many academic institutions including more emphasis on the study of the principles of groundwater flow and geochemistry. As a result, many institutions now include some type of hydrogeology and/or geochemistry courses as part of their mainstream geoscience curriculum. While these changes are significant, challenges still arise in thoroughly ensuring students have the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in careers that involve the collection, analysis, and interpretation of groundwater. Many institutions simply do not have the facilities or finances (ex. access to wells and pumping equipment) available to support field-based hydrogeology programs. In light of this, Western Michigan University’s Hydrogeology Field Course includes a one-week module dedicated to introducing students to state-of-the-art techniques for sampling, monitoring, and evaluating ground-water systems and surface water interactions. Over the course of the week students are introduced to equipment (ex. peristaltic and submersible pumps) and protocols (ex. low flow sampling) used by industry professionals. There are ample opportunities for each student to gain valuable experience operating equipment and practicing standard methods. In addition, students are introduced to both government and industry professionals, whom share their knowledge and experiences about sampling and monitoring. Once students are comfortable with the equipment and protocols, they are challenged with writing a formal sampling and analysis plan (SAP) to evaluate surface-water groundwater interactions on campus. Students then follow standard protocols to sample surface water, shallow wells (<30 ft deep) and deep wells (>30 ft deep) across campus. Samples are then analyzed for a wide range of geochemical parameters and results are summarized in a formal report. By the end of this module students gain valuable insight and practical experience in conducting a rigorous hydrogeology/geochemical investigation and are better prepared with the skills necessary to pursue environmental careers.