Students Investigate Fish Kill in Local Stream
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Westminster College students in a Reading the Environment cluster course recently helped solve a mystery of what was killing fish and causing strong odors in McClure Run, a stream that runs through the campus.
Students collected samples of contaminated water, dead fish, sediment, invertebrates, and plant life for chemical and biological analysis.
Results suggested the presence of a volatile organic compound that was causing a strong odor and killing the fish. The Department of Environmental Protection confirmed an upstream release of propylene glycol, a compound used for refrigeration, was the culprit.
The 17 students in the cluster course worked with eight students from the Chemical Analysis class.
Cluster courses are two linked courses taught by faculty from different disciplines to the same group of students, offering students the opportunity to integrate knowledge.
Reading the Environment encompasses an environmental science class taught by Dr. Helen Boylan, Westminster associate professor of chemistry and 1995 Westminster graduate, and environmental literacy taught by Dr. David Swerdlow, professor of English.
Boylan said, "This has been a wonderful collaborative experience involving numerous faculty members, students, and community residents. This project confirms that environmental issues require interdisciplinary perspective.
Swerdlow added, "It was very enlightening to have a real-life impact on the community, using education in an effective way."
Junior business administration and accounting major Tony Carbone commented on his first hands-on experience with environmental issues: "I am excited for the chance to apply what we learned in class to a real-world situation that concerns the College and borough residents."
Boylan, who has been with Westminster since 2001, earned an undergraduate degree from Westminster College and Ph.D. from Duquesne University.
Swerdlow has been with Westminster since 1990. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and master's and Ph.D. from Ohio University.
Contact Boylan at (724) 946-6293 or e-mail boylanhm@westminster.edu for more information.
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