Food Project
Communicating Science about the Gold King Mine Spill and Water Quality in the Animas River
Essential Questions
a. How have geological, biological and human factors created and exacerbated acid mine drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River?
b. What ecological and human health threats might be associated with the Gold King Mine spill: initially, currently and in the future?
c. What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
d. What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
a. How have geological, biological and human factors created and exacerbated acid mine drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River?
b. What ecological and human health threats might be associated with the Gold King Mine spill: initially, currently and in the future?
c. What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
d. What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
Luke Stetler
Steve Smith
Period 1
12/7/15
Project Reflection
What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
There are many actions that could be taken to improve the water quality. The first, but likely the most expensive option, is a water treatment plant. This would cost a lot of money but it would solve the problem once and for all. Another option is bulk-heading all the mines. However, we have tried this a couple of times and it was a very big mistake. It made all of the water divert to their openings in the mountain and increasing the pressure, that is one factor that contributed to the Animas River Spill.
How have geological, biological and human factors created and exacerbated acid mine drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River
Since the beginning of the Animas River, it has always been polluted due to the high concentrations of minerals in the mountains. However, the problem did not become a problem until mining started. pyrite, water and oxygen combine to make sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid runs through the mines and dissolves metals making a dangerous combination. Until mining was introduced into the mine, there was very little sulfuric acid being created because the 3 factors that are needed weren’t there.
To what degree do scientists have an obligation to communicate scientific concepts and data to the public in an understandable manner?
If scientists do not present data to the public in an understandable manner, then they shouldn’t present it at all. They have to make people understand what the data means, otherwise it is useless. Scientists need to help the public understand the data so that people know what is going on. If they don’t, people will make negative assumptions.
How has your understanding of scientific knowledge and/or the process of doing science changed throughout the semester as you’ve examined and manipulated data collected by professional scientists and performed analogous experiments to collect and analyze your own data?
At the beginning of the semester, I did not understand what data meant. I could read a simple graph and understand it but if you were to give me the EPA data, I wouldn’t have any idea what is going on. We learned the logarithmic scale, and at the beginning of the semester I would not understand that. I can go on and on about all the things I have learned but I think you get the gist.
Steve Smith
Period 1
12/7/15
Project Reflection
What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
There are many actions that could be taken to improve the water quality. The first, but likely the most expensive option, is a water treatment plant. This would cost a lot of money but it would solve the problem once and for all. Another option is bulk-heading all the mines. However, we have tried this a couple of times and it was a very big mistake. It made all of the water divert to their openings in the mountain and increasing the pressure, that is one factor that contributed to the Animas River Spill.
How have geological, biological and human factors created and exacerbated acid mine drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River
Since the beginning of the Animas River, it has always been polluted due to the high concentrations of minerals in the mountains. However, the problem did not become a problem until mining started. pyrite, water and oxygen combine to make sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid runs through the mines and dissolves metals making a dangerous combination. Until mining was introduced into the mine, there was very little sulfuric acid being created because the 3 factors that are needed weren’t there.
To what degree do scientists have an obligation to communicate scientific concepts and data to the public in an understandable manner?
If scientists do not present data to the public in an understandable manner, then they shouldn’t present it at all. They have to make people understand what the data means, otherwise it is useless. Scientists need to help the public understand the data so that people know what is going on. If they don’t, people will make negative assumptions.
How has your understanding of scientific knowledge and/or the process of doing science changed throughout the semester as you’ve examined and manipulated data collected by professional scientists and performed analogous experiments to collect and analyze your own data?
At the beginning of the semester, I did not understand what data meant. I could read a simple graph and understand it but if you were to give me the EPA data, I wouldn’t have any idea what is going on. We learned the logarithmic scale, and at the beginning of the semester I would not understand that. I can go on and on about all the things I have learned but I think you get the gist.
Popcorn Counting Activity
In this activity , we were working on molarity and how to measure moles.
Link to Storycore interview: