CSU now has new courses in geographical information systems, remote sensing, landscape ecology, and various kinds of multivariate and spatial statistical methods that did not exist even ten years ago. In November we had our Second Annual Student Symposium on Water Research and we have a new minor in water resources. Grade Schools, High Schools and Other Groups have increased their outreach efforts. On campus we try to keep up with curricular changes in the grade schools and high schools because many science teachers have developed new ways to stimulate students to learn how water resources can be managed. Chemistry and biology teachers are teaming up to provide their students with first-hand opportunities to learn about rivers and their ecological functions.
Students are excited to learn about science that affects their daily lives.
The study of ecology is one way to integrate many different sciences in ways that students can use. Now students are out collecting their own data on dissolved oxygen levels, dissolved nutrients, turbidity, temperature, and fish kills. Outside of school there is also increased and sustained interest in teaching students about environmental issues from many sources. Cattlemen's organizations, farmers' organizations, 4-H groups, and scouting troops are just a few of the ways that students have increased their participation in environmental education programs. As a result, we have many more organized groups interested in environmental issues than in the past.