Appalachian Research Initiative for Environmental Science Powers Researchers the "Creek Geeks" and More
(PRWEB) August 19, 2015 -- Since 2011, the Appalachian Research Initiative for Environmental Science (ARIES) has supported more than 60 academic researchers in energy and the environment and over 75 student researchers at Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, West Virginia University, the University of Kentucky, Ohio State University, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, and a team of graduate researchers at Marshall University, who call themselves the “Creek Geeks.”
Research Team the “Creek Geeks”
Advised by Mindy Armstead, an associate professor of integrated science and technology at Marshall, the Creek Geeks conduct ongoing evaluations of the effects of watershed disturbance on aquatic ecosystems. Although one use of their research is to alert the energy industry to potentials for stream or watershed disruption, the Creek Geeks also indicate their research is useful for individual landowners or other industries such as construction.
To evaluate how changes may affect a stream's environment, for example, the Creek Geeks locate an undisturbed “creek” and evaluate its health. Then they create a small disturbance on this same creek, measure the changes, and evaluate those changes as positive, negative, neutral, etc.
Dr. Armstead notes, regarding the goals of her research team and locals more generally, “We all want similar things. The air conditioner to run in the summer, the heater to run in winter, and there still to be trout in the stream when we get there with our fly rods.”
At the upcoming ARIES Environmental Considerations in Energy Production Conference (ECEP) Sunday, September 20 - Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA, the Creek Geeks will present peer-reviewed research on watershed disturbance and also on the development of culturing methods for native Mayfly Taxa for use in laboratory toxicity testing.
Peer-Reviewed Research and Other Presentations
At the ECEP, energy and environmental researchers from ARIES’s supported universities and others will present peer-reviewed research on topics ranging from Carbon Management to Shale Gas and the Environment to the Health Impacts of Energy Development.
Additional presentations include Carl Carlson of Range Resources on technical challenges and shale gas regulation, Gary Slagel of Steptoe and Johnson on environmental challenges in oil and gas, Steve Winberg of Global Laboratory Operations Battelle on where coal goes from here, and many more.
The ECEP also features listening sessions for industry, public servants and citizens, and researchers to suggest research needs for energy and the environment.
Full ECEP conference agenda and registration details are available at ariesevevnts.org
Learn more about the Creek Geeks in this feature video: https://youtu.be/2yUlQPo7ASs
About ARIES
ARIES grew out of an urgent need for a holistic group to engage in transdisciplinary research on the environmental and community impacts of energy production in OH-PA-KY-VA-WV. More about ARIES at http://www.energy.vt.edu/aries/
Follow ARIES on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube
Contact ARIES at Dr. John Craynon, (540) 231 9462
Crystal Cook Marshall, Appalachian Research Intiative for Environmental Science, http://www.energy.vt.edu/aries/, +1 (704) 978 9404, [email protected]
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