News :: Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach

Freshmen at the School for Science and Math have been thinking about water and, as they do each Monday, asking questions: What does water look like? Where does it come from? Where does it go? What can it tell us about the past?

From a string of articles by the Tennessean, students learned that millions of gallons of water is “lost” through leaks in the middle Tennessee water distribution system. Students brainstormed ideas for improving leak detection throughout the system, and then held a class vote to determine the best idea. The class then visited and got a first-hand look at Nashville’s wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities. During the wastewater plant visit, the student who had generated the winning (by a landslide) leak detection method, presented her idea to Metro Water Services representative Sonia Harvat.

Looking at water as a link to the past, Vanderbilt researcher Dr. Molly Miller shared stories from her numerous voyages to the Antarctic Ice Shelves including the recently discovered underground lakes below the shelves. Students witnessed an ice core sample through videoconferencing with Mark Twickler of the National Ice Core Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire prompting some students to begin planning their expedition to Antarctica!

Students have begun their semester project using Wisconsin Fast Plants to discover what happens when plants are exposed to caffeine, the most common drug found in water bodies, due to the incomplete breakdown in the wastewater treatment process. Stay tuned for the results-which could make us think twice before ordering that next frappuccino!

Uyen, a senior at the School for Science and Math, is one of 7 semi-finalists chosen from Tennessee in the Siemens-Westinghouse Science Competition. 8 seniors from the School for Science and Math entered the competition which is held annually and is open to high school students. Five regional finalists were chosen from Tennessee and will go on to compete for the national finals.  School for Science and Math seniors have the opportunity to enter their projects in two additional science competitions, Intel and the Middle Tennessee Science and Engineering Fair. Congratulations Uyen!

On a recent Monday, freshman students of the School for Science and Math conducted a survey of water quality in the Little Harpeth River. Students learned how to use Global Positioning System devices to map their coordinates. They also collected water quality sample data and they identified species living in the river. The students used the data they collected to assess the water quality and overall "health" of the river.