Partnering Engineering Graduate Students and Secondary Science Teachers to Teach Water Quality

This paper discusses several lessons concerning drinking water treatment both locally and internationally, that were developed through the collaborative efforts of Project STEP and RET. These lessons were implemented in eight environmental science classes by two STEP fellows and one secondary science RET teacher. Locally, students explored drinking water treatment in Cincinnati and the processes that treatment plants perform. Internationally, students explored drinking water issues in South Africa as well as participated in a UC Research project that brought drinking water treatment to a small village in Tanzania. Students discussed issues of water quality and quantity, global water sustainability/reuse, and protection of public health. In addition, students constructed sifting screens which were then transported to Tanzania and used to make a water filter at an elementary school