Suffolk County Community College is one of six (6) institutions in New York working with the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement (NCSCE) to promote STEM student success through civic engagement.  This project focuses on water quality, a critical citizen science issue on Long Island (NY).  Students enrolled in courses from four (4) different disciplines - chemistry, journalism, engineering science, and construction technology- have explored this issue as a common theme and have identified and proposed solutions to the problem of water quality degradation, mainly due to increased Nitrogen loading.  This topic is of particular interest since Long Island’s drinking water is drawn from a sole-source aquifer and the primary means of waste disposal is through individual cesspools/septic tanks, particularly in Suffolk County, the easternmost county on Long Island, NY.<br/> An important component of the project features the use of Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities (SENCER) approach that features the teaching of course content through the lens of student identified civic issues and proposed solutions. The societal effects of the implementation of proposed solutions are also considered.  An interdisciplinary Blackboard site complemented the coursework and provided a central communication link for students and professors to share resources, research and insights.  In addition to the professors involved, a Chemistry post doc with experience studying water quality issues, experts in local groundwater, politicians and community leaders led online discussions.  These discussions included an examination of a new septic system currently being piloted in Suffolk County which reduces Nitrogen loading.  Students synthesized scientific information, along with economic, societal and renewable energy implications to arrive at a recommendation.<br/> This presentation will highlight lessons learned from this Citizen Science project including insights from student research, dialogue and assessments of all stakeholders.

Impact of septic systems on Long Island’s aquifer water quality: An Interdisciplinary study

256th National Meeting (2018)

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