Poster Details
DESKTOP WETLAND PROJECT: AN OPEN-SOURCE STUDY SYSTEM FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH
The desktop wetland (DW) is a microcosm that was designed for research applications. However, the configurability of DWs make them an excellent tool for facilitating lessons for learners of all ages. DWs have several qualities that will be attractive to educators. They are in expensive and easy to build and they can be used to facilitate hands-on, hypothesis-driven laboratory exercises for the high school or college-level classroom. DWs also have qualities that will appeal to researchers. Their relatively small space requirement per unit of replication makes it possible to increase sample sizes. A calibrated weir monitors real-time flow and valves allow easy sampling of influent and effluent. Finally, a quality that can be appreciated by educators, researchers, and government agencies alike is the portability of DWs. We designed DWs to travel well so that they can be used in outreach applications, providing hands-on activities that pique interest and draw in open minds of all ages. My goal in presenting this tool is to collect feedback on how to improve the design, so please stop by and tell me what you think.
Simon Pearish (Primary Presenter/Author), Norwich University, spearish@norwich.edu;