tracy farmer institute for sustainability and the environment, university of kentucky

GIS & The Kentucky ITEST ProgramTracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment,

University of Kentucky

ITEST Community-Based Science Program

Over 15 schools across 10

counties in KY

Hands-on learning with professional educators

ITEST Community-Based Science Program

Presentations at State & National

Conferences (KSTA, NSTA,

ESRI)

Summer Conference for Teachers and

Students

Professional Development for Teachers

School Tours to Streams & Watersheds

Presentation days at the

University of Kentucky

Research at Belfry High School from NSF-ITEST grant

•Herbs namely hydrangea, sassafras, ginseng, winter green and lycopodium that are used for medicinal purposes on Pigeon Roost Mountain were located and collected .•GPS system was used to locate the points in which these herbs were grown and GIS techniques was used to place the point on the pike county map. •Different samples of the soil were excavated to study the chemical compositions to understand the environment in which these herbs are grown. •Two different laboratory facilities (BHS and University of Kentucky) were used to test the soils chemical composition. •Good agreement between the values of pH, nitrogen and potassium obtained from two different laboratories. •Experimental values of pH suggest that samples A, B and C have more acidity compared to samples D, E and F.•Atomic Absorption spectrometer at ERT lab was used to find the chemical composition from the leaves and roots of the herbs collected.

Mapping the FieldGPS system was used to locate the position of sites where the soil was excavated and GIS technique to insert the points on the regions map.Sampl

eLocation Herbs

A N370 35.6’W820 18.7’

Queen of meadowHydrangea

B N370 35.6’W820 18.6’

Winter green, Green brier, Lycopodium

C N370 35.5’W820 18.6

Sassafras

D N370 35.5’W820 18.6’

Ginseng

E N370 35.5’W820 18.6’

Cohash, Ginseng, yellow root, Golden seed

F N370 35.5’W820 18.6’

Ginseng

Cassidy ElementaryPlant Growth in Different Soil Samples

PLANT GROWTH

Cassidy 4th Grade

Type of SoilGroup

Member

Height on

3-11

Day 3

Height on

3-15

Day 7

Height on

3-25

Day 17

Height on

4-5

Day 28

Height on

4-15

Day 38

School Soil Christian 2 cm 9 cm 12 cm 16 cm 19 cm

School Soil Caroline N. 3 cm 11 cm 15 cm 20 cm 23 cm

School Soil Will 3cm 10 cm 14 cm 17 cm 20 cm

School Soil Caroline C. 1 cm 7 cm 9 cm 14 cm 18 cm

School Soil Parker 2 cm 10 cm 12 cm 14 cm 19 cm

4-H Soil Kayce 3 cm 12 cm 16 cm 19cm 22 cm

4-H Soil Evan 2 cm 9 ½ cm 14 cm 16 ½ cm 19 cm

4-H Soil Elizabeth 2 cm 9 cm 12 cm 20 cm 24 cm

4-H Soil Emelia 3 cm 10 cm 15 cm17 cm (first

leaves) 20 cm

4-H Soil Josiah 3 cm 10 ½ cm 13 cm 18 cm 23 cm

Potting Soil Zoe 1 cm 8 cm 15 cm 20 cm 21 cm

Potting Soil Joseph 1 cm 7 cm 11 cm 16cm 17 cm

Potting Soil Proctor No Growth 5 cm 9 cm 15 cm 17 cm

Potting Soil Sheridan No Growth 6 cm 10 cm 15 cm 16 cm

Potting Soil Kate Marie 2 cm 10 cm 14 cm 17 ½ cm 19 cm

Students Using GPS

Environmental Effects on Soil Samples

Plant Growth in Different Soil Samples

Deming School - 6th GradeWhat are the seasonal changes that occur at a pond ecosystem?• What is an ecosystem?• How water flows in an

ecosystem.– Groundwater– Water pollution– Topographic maps– Water cycle

• Data Collection– Air and water temperature– Dissolved oxygen– Electrical conductivity– pH– Macroinvertebrate Tally

What causes the seasons?

Invasive species of our area

Life cyclesFossils and history

of landCareer Day (Grades

4-12)

Georgetown Middle SchoolThe Impact of Urbanization on Our Watershed

Grant County Middle SchoolOur question – How natural is our community?

Focus on native v. invasive speciesBuilding a living laboratory for

ongoing environmental studyOur methods: Visit various land and

water ecosystems and test for the ph, temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity; Collect organisms; Take soil samples and survey what invasive species were in that land ecosystem; Use GPS to plot our location.

Data analysis and results/findings In general Grant County has a problem with four main

environmentally invasive species. These species are Asian Clams, Winter Creeper, Bush Honeysuckle and Multiflora Rose.

Morning

• 2.0 mph

Noon

• 1.2 mph

Evening

• 1.9 mph

Friday, May 21, 2010

Morning

• 1.5 mph

Noon

• 1.2 mph

Evening

• 1.05 mph

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Morning

• 1.0 mph

Noon

• 1.5 mph

Evening

• .5 mph

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Morning

• 2.3 mph

Noon

• 2.4 mph

Evening

• 2.8 mph

Monday, May 24, 2010

Morning

• 3.0 mph

Noon

• 1.8 mph

Evening

• 1.4 mph

Morning

• 1.9 mph

Noon

• 1.6 mph

Evening

• 1.5 mph

Tuesday, May 25 2010 Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Grant County High School

As you observed from the information we gathered and from the map, the wind power in Kentucky is extremely poor; therefore, wind energy would not be a viable energy source.

We plan to look into other alternative energy sources that will be useful in Kentucky.

Wind Energy Potential

Lebanon Middle School

How has soil usage changed?

HOW DOES THE URBANIZATION OF SCOTT COUNTY, KY AFFECT THE ELKHORN CREEK WATERSHED?

Scott County Middle School,Georgetown,

KY

Southern Elementary-Creek Project

St. Charles Middle School Marion County, Kentucky

By: Abby Blandford, Joey Costello, and Mr. Crum

8

66

8

8

88.3

8.3 8.2

8.3

8.2

6.8

8.2

8.28.17.7

7.8

7.25 3

2 4

1

0

0

0

2

13

2

0

1

111

0

2

NitratespH

6

10

10

10

1010

14

10

10 5.8

6.4

8.5

9.3

12.8

11.2

12.8

12.5

11.2

Dissolved Oxygen

50/ml

50/ml

50/ml50/ml

150/ml

200/ml

350/ml14,000/ml

Ecoli

Woodford County Middle School

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=054xTEc1h3w&hd=1