REH/REU ENRICHMENT
SYLLABUS FOR SUMMER 2016
Name: Dr. Richard W. Griffin, PG, CPSSc Project Title: Natural Resources and
Environmental Systems Research Program
Office Address: 117 CARC
E-mail: rwgriffin@pvamu.edu
Office Telephone: 936.261.5039
Willing to Mentor: 1 High School Student
1 Undergraduate Student
Abstract:
The Natural Resources and Environmental Systems (NRES) team of the Cooperative
Agricultural Research Center (CARC) will provide interactive laboratory and field research experiences focused on the SWAPA components used by the United States Department of
Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA - NRCS) to administer programs that help people to help the environment to better provide resources for everyone within our global ecosystem. SWAPA, an acronym for Soil, Water, Air, Plants, and Animals, will be examined from a global spheres and subcomponents perspective with specific points interjected to instill knowledge tidbits that jolt the inquisitive mind to foster questions that lead to scientific inquiry about our home – Planet Earth. Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences related topics will be researched to examine the interconnected nature and the importance of the STEM fields - Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. The objectives of the research projects include: 1) to research Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences topics using SWAPA components; 2) to link academic disciplines that underpin Natural Resources and Environmental
Sciences; & 3) to identify types of measurements used to gather, summarize, analyze, and report
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences data. The expected outcomes from the research projects include: 1) the research participant will learn how to use the scientific method and to apply this knowledge to examination of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences; 2) the research will foster a sense of connectedness to the global ecosystem and our collective responsibility to leave our home in better condition for future generations; and 3) the student will be exposed to research topics by using STEM supported methodologies and solutions that can be included in a presentation at the end of the session. Scheduled activities include: 1) interactive discussion of possible research topics; 2) hands on (tactile) sample handling; 3) sensory immersion identification of samples (sight, smell, sound, touch (feel); 4) project setup and experimentation; 5) data collection, summary, and analysis; and 6) project results delivery in a visual PowerPoint presentation.