Communicating Science about the Gold King Mine Spill and
Water Quality in the Animas River
Essential Question: How has the rainfall affected the concentration of magnesium, calcium, and iron in the water column of the Animas River at Baker's Bridge during the month of August 2015?
Reflection: To what degree do scientists have an obligation to communicate scientific concepts and data to the public in an understandable manner?
Scientists should be able to structure data for different types of audience to communicate the same content in different tables, clear titles and explained clearly. Scientists are obligated to communicate scientific concepts and data to the public in simple ways of simplified data chart as well as difficult data charts for the more scientific educated audience.
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?
My understanding of scientific knowledge and processes has changed throughout the semester as I examined and manipulated data collected from professional scientists and perform corresponding experiments to collect and analyze my own data. The corresponding experiments we have performed have been testing the different ions, using spectroscopy to detect what metals are in the Animas River watershed, and water treatment simulation and analysis using Cement Creek water samples. As these three experiments were being observed, I gained a lot of knowledge on the Animas River and the metals it contained and how it is being treated. If I ever needed to experiment on a different body of water for metals, ions and how to treat/ clean the water, I would know how to repeat these experiments and obtain the correct data.
What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
The of of science in making a policy decisions is to make the more affordable, most effective and in the “Animas River Spill case” environmental friendly. A policy decision is a guided decision with positive outcomes. The policy is a statement of which what actions are going to be taken in a procedure form. For the Animas River Spill they contemplated several different water treatment plans and the damage costs. As they brainstormed several solutions, the EPA decided to start with the Water Treatment Simulation. This will be effective for a period of time before they start the SuperFund site. The SuperFund site will be a role of science in making a policy decision because it is a guided system with a policy statement of intent.
What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
There are already actions being taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed. The action is adding a lime base to separate the metal concentration from the water. This is a temporary water treatment until SuperFund starts, but is effective treatment as it is settling out metals from the water and bringing the water to a neutral pH level of around 7. These actions are one step closer to improving the water quality in Cement Creek and Animas River watershed.
Project: For my project I was in a group of three, Brynn, Isabel and myself, we constructed a question to be answered through our project. Our question was “How has rainfall affected the concentration of magnesium, iron, and calcium in the water column of the Animas River at Baker’s Bridge during the month of August 2015?” We had different roles in this project to complete in a timely manner. My role was to complete all the data charts of the three metals and their concentration levels throughout the month of August. Brynn had completed the chart showing the inches measured of rain measured throughout the month of August. Once we finished our charts we created an infographic to professional display our work. Although we did answer our main question incorrectly because lack of communication in our group and not closely examining the data. Wrong answer: After graphing the concentration levels of magnesium, calcium, and iron and tracking the precipitation in the month of August 2015. We have come to the conclusion that there is no visible correlation between the amount of precipitation and the metal concentration level in the water. Correct answer: After graphing the concentration levels of magnesium, calcium, and iron as well as recording the precipitation throughout the month of August 2015. We have come to the conclusion that there is a very small correlation between the amount of precipitation and the metal concentration levels. The more it rains the more it stirs up the sediment at the bottom of the Animas River, so the days metal concentrations were measured while it was raining more sediment was contracted because the sediment was brought up to surface water making the concentration levels on our charts rise.
Scientists should be able to structure data for different types of audience to communicate the same content in different tables, clear titles and explained clearly. Scientists are obligated to communicate scientific concepts and data to the public in simple ways of simplified data chart as well as difficult data charts for the more scientific educated audience.
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?
My understanding of scientific knowledge and processes has changed throughout the semester as I examined and manipulated data collected from professional scientists and perform corresponding experiments to collect and analyze my own data. The corresponding experiments we have performed have been testing the different ions, using spectroscopy to detect what metals are in the Animas River watershed, and water treatment simulation and analysis using Cement Creek water samples. As these three experiments were being observed, I gained a lot of knowledge on the Animas River and the metals it contained and how it is being treated. If I ever needed to experiment on a different body of water for metals, ions and how to treat/ clean the water, I would know how to repeat these experiments and obtain the correct data.
What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
The of of science in making a policy decisions is to make the more affordable, most effective and in the “Animas River Spill case” environmental friendly. A policy decision is a guided decision with positive outcomes. The policy is a statement of which what actions are going to be taken in a procedure form. For the Animas River Spill they contemplated several different water treatment plans and the damage costs. As they brainstormed several solutions, the EPA decided to start with the Water Treatment Simulation. This will be effective for a period of time before they start the SuperFund site. The SuperFund site will be a role of science in making a policy decision because it is a guided system with a policy statement of intent.
What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed?
There are already actions being taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the Animas River watershed. The action is adding a lime base to separate the metal concentration from the water. This is a temporary water treatment until SuperFund starts, but is effective treatment as it is settling out metals from the water and bringing the water to a neutral pH level of around 7. These actions are one step closer to improving the water quality in Cement Creek and Animas River watershed.
Project: For my project I was in a group of three, Brynn, Isabel and myself, we constructed a question to be answered through our project. Our question was “How has rainfall affected the concentration of magnesium, iron, and calcium in the water column of the Animas River at Baker’s Bridge during the month of August 2015?” We had different roles in this project to complete in a timely manner. My role was to complete all the data charts of the three metals and their concentration levels throughout the month of August. Brynn had completed the chart showing the inches measured of rain measured throughout the month of August. Once we finished our charts we created an infographic to professional display our work. Although we did answer our main question incorrectly because lack of communication in our group and not closely examining the data. Wrong answer: After graphing the concentration levels of magnesium, calcium, and iron and tracking the precipitation in the month of August 2015. We have come to the conclusion that there is no visible correlation between the amount of precipitation and the metal concentration level in the water. Correct answer: After graphing the concentration levels of magnesium, calcium, and iron as well as recording the precipitation throughout the month of August 2015. We have come to the conclusion that there is a very small correlation between the amount of precipitation and the metal concentration levels. The more it rains the more it stirs up the sediment at the bottom of the Animas River, so the days metal concentrations were measured while it was raining more sediment was contracted because the sediment was brought up to surface water making the concentration levels on our charts rise.