Animas Test Kitchen Project
Communicating Science About The Gold King Mine Spill
Essential Questions
- How have geological, biological and human factors created and exacerbated acid mine drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River?
- What ecological and human health threats might be associated with the Gold King Mine spill: initially, currently and in the future?
- What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
- What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
Reflection
To what degree do scientists have an obligation to communicate scientific concepts and data to the public in an understandable manner?
I think that scientists have a big obligation to communicate these concepts to the public in a way that they can understand because the public should have to right to understand what is going on with all of this scientific research and exploration. I would want to understand what scientists are doing and why. I find it extremely helpful when a scientist explains something to me in a way that anybody could understand. It helps me connect to what they are doing and I can possibly give them my opinion on what I think. Having an opinion from someone who is not in the field of science may help sometimes. I understand that sometimes scientists want to hide things from the public so that they don’t freak them out but I think that everyone has the right to know about these things.
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?
I believe that my understanding of scientific knowledge has grown quite a bit. I enjoy the labs that we do, I think that they are interesting. The only thing is the lab reports, I think that these are a bit excessive, I enjoy talking about the things that we found as a class, I personally find that more beneficial. I find that physically doing these labs are very helpful because I can understand what is is that is going on. I understand the process that you have to go through in order to acquire this information.
What actions can be taken to improve water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
The animas river spill happened in august of 2015, so the question of what to do to improve water quality is still out there. But there are things that the EPA has been doing that has helped the water quality. After the spill happened, the EPA was dumping line into the water in order to help bring the pH levels up. This is something that will help on the short term side of the spectrum. Something that will help with water quality in the long run would be a water treatment plant, or a superfund. Silverton has accepted the idea of having a superfund cleanup after rejecting it for two decades. This should help improve the water quality in Cement Creek and in the Animas River.
What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
Science is very important in making decisions, it is a way to show proof for things. For example the superfund in Silverton, CO. Scientists have been measuring the water quality in Cement Creek and in the Animas River for a long time, and by doing this they have evidence to show that the mines in Silverton need to be cleaned up. I believe that science is one of the best types of evidence to show when making decisions. Everything that happens in the world involves science. So I think that science plays a big role in making policy decisions.
I think that scientists have a big obligation to communicate these concepts to the public in a way that they can understand because the public should have to right to understand what is going on with all of this scientific research and exploration. I would want to understand what scientists are doing and why. I find it extremely helpful when a scientist explains something to me in a way that anybody could understand. It helps me connect to what they are doing and I can possibly give them my opinion on what I think. Having an opinion from someone who is not in the field of science may help sometimes. I understand that sometimes scientists want to hide things from the public so that they don’t freak them out but I think that everyone has the right to know about these things.
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?
I believe that my understanding of scientific knowledge has grown quite a bit. I enjoy the labs that we do, I think that they are interesting. The only thing is the lab reports, I think that these are a bit excessive, I enjoy talking about the things that we found as a class, I personally find that more beneficial. I find that physically doing these labs are very helpful because I can understand what is is that is going on. I understand the process that you have to go through in order to acquire this information.
What actions can be taken to improve water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
The animas river spill happened in august of 2015, so the question of what to do to improve water quality is still out there. But there are things that the EPA has been doing that has helped the water quality. After the spill happened, the EPA was dumping line into the water in order to help bring the pH levels up. This is something that will help on the short term side of the spectrum. Something that will help with water quality in the long run would be a water treatment plant, or a superfund. Silverton has accepted the idea of having a superfund cleanup after rejecting it for two decades. This should help improve the water quality in Cement Creek and in the Animas River.
What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
Science is very important in making decisions, it is a way to show proof for things. For example the superfund in Silverton, CO. Scientists have been measuring the water quality in Cement Creek and in the Animas River for a long time, and by doing this they have evidence to show that the mines in Silverton need to be cleaned up. I believe that science is one of the best types of evidence to show when making decisions. Everything that happens in the world involves science. So I think that science plays a big role in making policy decisions.