180-19 Beyond the Classroom: Empowering Native American Youth Through Hands-On Water Science

Session: Geoscience Outreach Efforts to Broaden Participation (Posters)

Presenting Author:

Authors:

Abstract:

This workshop showcased water quality education to equip Native students at White Shield High School on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation with essential scientific knowledge and hands-on skills critical for addressing environmental challenges in their communities. Students explored the importance of clean water for human health, ecological balance, and sustainability. Using advanced field instruments, such as the Hanna Multiparameter Meter and Apera Pocket Tester, they measured vital water quality parameters, including pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), temperature, and salinity, while learning the real-world implications of each. For example, low DO levels can lead to fish mortality, and unsafe pH levels can threaten both human and aquatic health. Through group-based sampling and data interpretation activities, students practiced accurate field techniques and evaluated whether their school’s drinking water met environmental and health standards. Many had never used water quality instruments before, and the workshop significantly boosted their technical confidence, data literacy, and critical thinking skills. Importantly, this initiative was designed as a culturally responsive, place-based learning experience to uplift Native youth and strengthen environmental leadership within Tribal communities. After the workshop, 16% of students reported it was “very likely” they had learned a new scientific concept or tool, while 68% said it was “likely.” Additionally, 36% stated it was “very likely” they found measuring water quality with the meters exciting, and 48% said it was “likely.” These outcomes highlight the effectiveness of place-based, hands-on STEM education in fostering student interest and engagement. Such workshops help bridge longstanding educational disparities, often intensified by limited access to STEM instruction in Native-serving schools, and create opportunities for students to explore hydrologic sciences in a context that is both locally relevant and empowering. By extending the impact beyond the classroom, this initiative encourages community-wide awareness of water issues and supports the development of future Indigenous leaders equipped to address environmental and resource challenges facing their homelands.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

© Copyright 2025 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved.