Our Model

ENGAGE: Interactive classroom instruction.

Whether in the classroom or UVM’s Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory located on the waterfront in Burlington, the WA has the knowledge and tools to engage students in the scientific process. Our three dimensional watershed model, which helps sutdents visualize a watershed and understand how humans impact water quality, is just one of the many resources available.

INQUIRE: Hands-on field science.

Students become “citizen scientists” as they learn about the scientific method and put it into practice in their own stream or lake study. Students gain a better understanding of aquatic ecosystems as they test chemical, biological, and physical parameters of a local stream using kick nets, identification keys, chemical test kits, and probes. Aboard the Melosira, the university’s state-of-the-art research vessel, students learn about scientific research conducted on Lake Champlain while collecting their own data.

EMPOWER: Community outreach and service.

Learning in a real-world context empowers students to take action. Students extend what they learned to the community through presentations and written materials, and contribute to watershed health though on-the-ground conservation service projects.