Project Grant 00A01090

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB TO CONDUCT THEIR 'LIVING DOWNSTREAM' PROJECT WHICH FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN ASSESSING AND UNDERSTANDING LEGACY MERCURY POLLUTION IN THE NORTHEAST.ACTIVITIES:THE LIVING DOWNSTREAM: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN ASSESSING AND UNDERSTANDING LEGACY MERCURY POLLUTION IN THE NORTHEAST PROJECT SEEKS TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES TO COLLECT AQUATIC DRAGONFLY LARVAE BIOSENTINELS LINKED WITH FISH AND HUMAN HEALTH BENCHMARKS AND DOCUMENT LEGACY POLLUTION IN THE WATERSHED WITH HISTORICAL INFORMATION, REFINE CURRICULUM MODULE ON THE INDUSTRIAL HISTORY AND DEVELOP MODULE ON HG EXPOSURE AND RISK, WITH TEACHER AND PRACTITIONER INPUT AND GUIDANCE, TO DEPLOY IN FORMATS TARGETED FOR CLASSROOMS AND INFORMAL SCIENCE AUDIENCES, AND CONVENE A VIRTUAL (OR IN-PERSON) SYMPOSIUM FOR PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND GROUPS TO PRESENT RESULTS OF THEIR WORK. SUBRECIPIENT:DARTMOUTH WILL COLLABORATE WITH THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB TO CONTINUE TO ADAPT THE CURRENT DRAGONFLY MERCURY PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITIES IN URBAN AND INDUSTRIALIZED AREAS SUCH AS COMMUNITIES IN LOWELL-LAWRENCE AND PROVIDE TRAINING TO TEACHERS AND WORK WITH THEM IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. USING AN INQUIRY-BASED APPROACH, STUDENTS WILL BE GUIDED TO DEVELOP QUESTIONS THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TEST WITH THEIR OWN DATA AND THOSE OF OTHER SITES.OUTCOMES:EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF RELATIVE HG RISK IN THE WATERSHED AND BE MADE FINDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND RE-USEABLE TO THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS; ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IN SAMPLE COLLECTION AND DATA TO DRAW CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE LOCAL RIVERS; AND INCREASED STUDENT/YOUTH EXPERIENCE WITH THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS AND RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE THE RESIDENTS LOWELL AND LAWRENCE, MA.