Project and Water News

CI-WATER research assistant and USU graduate student Adel Abdallah chose a career in STEM after discovering a passion for science through science fairs and activities. In this one-minute spotlight video, he describes how school science fairs led to his career in STEM.

He says, “I grew up in the desert and I know the value of water. When I was in junior high and high school, I started participating in the science projects and the science fairs, and that helped me discover my passion for science.”

Watch Video...

Wondering how to keep kids busy now that school is out? Check out CI-WATER’s to-do list for a summer of science: 

• Build a solar oven and host a dessert party for friends and family.
• Make ice cream without a machine! (Extra credit if you can explain how the rock salt helps.)
• Make new friends at the CI-WATER Code Camp. For teens who like to code. Utah State University, 7/10. Free; pre-registration required.
• Don’t know how to code? Learn how with free online tutorials for self-paced learning at code.org.
• Explore the world of semiconductors (computer chips). CI-WATER partner Brigham Young University is offering Chip Camp 2014 for kids grades 7 & 8. Brigham Young University, 8/12 & 8/13. $39.
• Stay busy with science-themed Summer Camps. CI-WATER partners The Science Zone (WY) and Natural History Museum of Utah (UT) offer various camps by age and interest. Variable dates and tuition.
• Learn chess (or hone your game). Chess.org offers a free series of web tutorials for newbies; numerous online sites offer tips for more experienced players.
• Experiment with stop-motion animation. It’s not only fun to make a movie, it’s a great way to integrate planning, technology and communication—skills used by STEM professionals every day.
• Get scientific about your favorite sport or hobby: pick a set of data points to track and measure your progress over the weeks to come.
• Turn a trip to the beach into an experiment. Sand, water, marine life—Science Buddies has loads of great ideas, like this one.

CI-WATER congratulates the winners of the Wyoming EPSCoR “Communicating About Water” essay contest. Allison Cetak, Michael McNamee III and Erin Jones were honored at a May 1 reception at the University of Wyoming.

Cetak’s essay, “Water in Wyoming: Three Stories Over My Life as a Wyomingite,” pulled the top honor in the undergraduate category. McNamee and Jones shared first prize for “Cool, Clear Water” and “The River.” At the reception, the authors read excerpts from their essays, which appear unabridged in an online anthology along with other work ranging from personal reflection to investigative reporting on the history, culture and ecology of water in the West.

Engaging with water-themed issues through expressive writing can provide important context for water science. Projects such as CI-WATER collect data and produce models to help inform water resource management; ultimately, it’s humans that choose whether and how to respond to the science.

“By bridging the sciences and humanities through thoughtful dialogue, Wyoming EPSCoR hopes to continue to grow these conversations about water and other natural resource issues throughout the state,” says Liz Nysson, Wyoming EPSCoR Education, Outreach and Diversity Coordinator.

 Excerpt from Erin Jones’ “The River”:
“Look at a map of this country. […] Western state boundaries were drawn by people who had not attempted walking the land, or living on it.”

 Excerpt from Michael McNamee III’s “Cool, Clear Water”:
“When my grandfather went to these farms and ranches, he was able to communicate about water in ways that were applicable to each individual.”

 Excerpt from Allison Cetak ‘s “Water in Wyoming: Three stories over my life as a Wyomingite”:
“As my dad starts the ice auger, it is apparent that it will take both of us to break through the thick ice. He drills down through the ice and I scoop the shavings out of the hole with my gloved hands, making sure the auger doesn’t burn up.”

Thanks to the success of last year’s Summer Code Camp, CI-WATER is once again inviting high school students to solve real-life code challenges in a day-long event at Utah State University (USU).

The 2014 USU Summer Code Camp will be on Thursday, July 10. Participants in this free, one-day event will learn and practice computer coding, work in teams and compete in a fun coding challenge. CI-WATER project faculty and graduate students facilitating the event will be on hand to guide and answer questions, and a tour of the USU high-performance computing and date centers is included.

Last year’s USU code camp was rated highly by the participants, who cited the real-world challenges, collaboration and quality of instruction (and great pizza!) as highlights.

Register Now