1. Addressing Critical Issues in Your Community: Examples for Introductory Courses
Develop course projects/activities that:
Incorporate local, regional, and global concerns
Resonate with students
Increase science literacy
Promote civic engagement
Advocate for citizen science
Top image: Photo courtesy of Dr. Zach Fowler (WVU) – with permission
Bottom image: Photo courtesy of Dr. Zach Fowler (WVU) – with permission

2. Seeking Campus Resources
Where to Start: Identifying Community Partnerships and Campus Resources
Seeking Campus Resources
Top image: West Virginia Water Research Institute website image (
Bottom (left) image: Friends of Deckers Creek website image (
Bottom (right) images: Logos from - WVU energy institute ( WVU Institute of water security and science ( WVU soil testing laboratory ( WVU Center for Excellence in STEM education (

3. Service Learning Examples
Community Lectures
Service Learning Examples
Project scale/focus
campus, local, or regional issues
Project goals
outreach, advocacy, problem solving, or data collection
Campus Cleanup
Partnership Events
Community Activities
Photos: Courtesy of Dr. Ken Brown and Dr. Zach Fowler (with permission)

4. Critical Issue Example: Lead Contamination in Soils
from Filippelli et al., 2005
Critical Issue Example: Lead Contamination in Soils
This example emphasizes:
The importance of soil as a resource
The temporal and spatial scale of environmental issues
The impact on the environment and human health
Sources of pollution and possible solutions
Opportunities for community outreach and education
Citizen scientist participation
from West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
Top Image: from Filippelli et al., 2005: Urban Lead Poisoning and Medical Geology: An Unfinished Story: GSA Today, v. 15. no 1.
Bottom Image: from West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey (WVGES) (

5. Critical Issue Example: Lead Contamination in Soils
Census
Data
Critical Issue Example: Lead Contamination in Soils
Background and Data Collection:
Census data
School locations
Traffic data
Soil properties
Pb concentrations
Testing Kits
MORGANTOWN, WV
Traffic Data &
School Locations
pXRF
Soil Properties
Cencus Data Image: image from the US Census Bureau (
Traffic Data & School Locations image: from West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) showing traffic counts in Morgantown, WV. (
pXRF image: Creative commons image - By U.S. Department of Agriculture OSEC-LSC-0042, Public Domain,
Testing Kit image: Creative commons image - By National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) from USA - Lead testing, Public Domain,
Soil Properties: photo courtesy of Holly Pettus (WVU geology senior) – used with permission
Traffic Data
School N
1 mile

6. Critical Issue Example: Lead Contamination in Soils
Data Analysis:
Census data
Traffic data
Land use
Soil properties
Pb concentrations
Potential Partners:
Schools*
Health Department*
Extension Office*
Environmental Groups
Morgantown, WV
Google Earth Map
Top image: photo courtesy of Holly Pettus
Bottom Image: Brown and Frier, 2017, Incorporating local issues: Exploring service learning projects within West Virginia University’s Core Arboretum, GSA abstracts with programs. Vol. 49. no. 6. (
0.5 km
Schools
Coal facilities
Core Arboretum
Health Sciences Campus
Evansdale Campus N
Downtown Campus
Personal Rapid Transit (PRT)
*subject to FERPA and/ or HIPAA laws that protect the privacy of education and health records.
Core Arboretum Trails
from Brown and Frier, 2017

7. Critical Issue Example: Lead Contamination in Soils
Average Percent of Homes Built Before 1950
Critical Issue Example: Lead Contamination in Soils
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
Example Products:
Outreach brochures
Poster sessions
Maps - Pb concentration and risk maps
Average Soil Lead Levels (ppm) by County
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
Image (left): WVU student example: GEO 107 – Environmental Geology (used with permission)
Image (right): Images from Research Environmental Health Statistics ( Data compiled from USGS National Geochemical Survey; Center for Disease Control and Prevention; USA Census Bureau.

8. Critical Issue Example: Lead Contamination in Soils
Community involvement:
Outreach and education events
Partnership lecture series
Citizen science
Photos: courtesy of Dr. Ken Brown and Dr. Zach Fowler (WVU) – with permission

9. Share Your Examples! Complete the Google Form
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