ENVS 275 - Methods in Environmental Science

This course involves students in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment in conjunction with a Community group. It is the center piece of the Environmental Science Program's commitment to Community Service Learning. Students meet with the sponsor group to determine the questions they need to answer about the site under study. They use a variety of field and laboratory techniques, GIS, interpreting historical aerial photos, plant and animal inventories, chemical analysis, soil studies, etc. The specific techniques are tailored to the problem, but always include the core tools of Environmental Science. Approximately half of the labs are field work and the rest involve analysis of samples collected from the site. The Trinity College Field Station is also used as a control site.

2003 - Working with The Knox Parks Foundation, students did a baseline study of a site on the South Park River. the site is being developed for passive recreation and is adjacent to a major commercial development. Future years will see students return to the site for follow up studies on the impact of the new uses of the site. Photos of students at work and a sample report are available.

2004-  Working with Mr. Al Levere of the CT DEP, students conducted an assessment of the Trout Brook River in West Hartford. The Trout Brook flows back and forth through most of West Hartford before it empties into the Park River near the Trinity Campus. Along the way, it flows through a golf course, several parks, and includes several impoundments. Much of the lower section of the river is channelized.  Photos of students at work.

    As part of the project, students learned to measure the stream basin, flow rate and discharge rate. This was done at the American School for the Deaf site. Trinity students and faculty worked with middle school students to explain their project and to provide a science activity for the students.