News and Highlights

Look at what past iUTAH undergraduate researchers are doing now!

Timothy Beach, 2014 iFellow

Tim is currently studying Watershed Sciences at Utah State University with a minor in GIS. His project with Dr. Sarah Null as an iFellow last summer involved using GIS skills learned on campus to create and manipulate spatial information about Utah’s water situation. Thanks to this experience with iUTAH, Tim will have an internship, this upcoming summer with the Bear River Canal Company in Tremonton, Utah. He’ll be using GIS to help their coordination with the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. In addition to his summer internship he will also be working at the USU Water Quality Extension office, helping to create outreach materials for the iUTAH program. Tim is hoping to apply to graduate schools in the near future, most likely starting the fall of 2016.

iUTAH was able to lead three different breakout sessions about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education and careers during the 20th Annual Multicultural Youth Conference held January 8 at Weber State University. This conference offered a head start on higher education for hundreds of underrepresented students from grades nine to 12. The conference theme, “You Have a Dream,” asked students to think about their future dream careers and how they wanted to attain them. Throughout the day, volunteers led break-out sessions and performers lifted the energy level while raising cultural awareness.

Our first break-out session got 9th grade students thinking about the products they wash down the drain daily and how they impact the environment. Students brainstormed products they use and possible STEM careers they might want that help preserve our water system for the future. Another iUTAH session introduced STEM opportunities in Utah and invited past iFellow Alexis Holzwarth to share her experiences with the program. Crystal Tully-Cordova, a University of Utah graduate student, joined our third break-out session about higher education for diverse students. She shared her background growing up on the Navajo reservation and her desire to pursue a science-related education. Crystal shared tips for students for chasing their dream education with the support of family and caring mentors. Ellen Burns, Caitlyn Lewis, and Mark Brunson planned and led the iUTAH sessions.

Students went home from the conference equipped with vital skills needed for college success, including financial literacy and planning, writing for scholarships, student leadership in college, cultural diversity and community involvement, and STEM inspiration and empowerment. 

Utah State University has designated 2015 as “The Year of Water.” Acknowledged both nationally and internationally as leaders in water-related research and management, USU’s engineers, hydrologists, agronomists, sociologists, climate scientists and others will have their work spotlighted and lauded as part of the university’s year-long recognition.

To highlight Year of Water events and expertise, Utah Public Radio (UPR) recently announced its exciting year-long plans to present fascinating stories and in-depth information about water-related projects and USU faculty members and researchers whose work helps farmers, climatologists, economic development specialists and average citizens deal with water issues.

UPR’s coverage includes a new, hour-long program, The Source, as well as educational segments and news reports on water research and issues in the state. Programming will be hosted and spearheaded by UPR reporter Jennifer Pemberton. Pemberton reports on environmental and natural resource issues in the state and produced UPR’s award-winning 2013 series “Five Billion Gallons.”

“There is a wealth of stories related to water among the faculty and students at Utah State University,” said Pemberton. “And the ripple effect of the research here can be found throughout the state, the West and even in waterways on other continents. Chasing these stories is the most exciting part of my job for the next 12 months.”

UPR will air The Source from 9-10 a.m. the last Friday of every month throughout 2015. Shorter feature stories will air during the popular drive-time news programs Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

“Utah Public Radio serves an audience that is keenly interested in natural resources,” said Station Manager Peg Arnold. “We are excited with this opportunity to tell stories about USU’s research in engineering, irrigation, conservation, climate and art; all meaningful and engaging topics to our listeners.”

UPR also will be involved in community outreach programs related to the Year of Water such as the Science Unwrapped series at USU’s Logan campus and StoryCorps in Vernal. UPR supports a variety of community voices in addition to expert commentary.

Financial support for this year-long effort to tell Utah water stories comes from iUTAH’s Education, Outreach and Diversity Catalyst grant and Utah State University’s 2015 Year of Water campaign.

UPR broadcasts from the main campus of Utah State University in Logan and is part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, providing national news and public radio programming as well as local Utah news on a statewide network of translators. Tune in to 91.5 or 89.5 in Logan or listen anytime online.

Writer and Contact: Kerry Bringhurst, UPR news director, Kerry.bringhurst@usu.edu

Salt Lake City's professional outdoor photographer, Jason Christensen, donated his photo 'Desert Symphony' to iUTAH to showcase Utah's scenic beauty while also showing that we still live in the 2nd driest state in the nation. We are excited to use this photo in the new reprint of the iUTAH brochure.

Jason has been capturing award-winning photographs for nearly 20 years, specializing in nature and landscape photography. As demonstrated by the subject and quality of his work, Jason has profound admiration and respect for nature and our environment. At every photo location, he seeks to capture a unique image in time, wherein viewers can feel like they are experiencing the emotion of the moment.

Another year of Science Unwrapped has begun at Utah State University and iUTAH was there to help kick it off.  iUTAH had a booth at this month’s event, showcasing differences in properties of fresh water and salt water.  Two glasses were filled with water, one with fresh water and the other with salt water.  Food coloring was added to the fresh water.  After pouring the fresh water in with the salt water, the fresh water floated on top of the salt water with the food coloring contained only in the fresh water. EOD staffers Caitlyn Lewis and Mark Brunson were on hand to describe how the differences in water density affect Great Salt Lake ecosystems.

One of USU’s Watershed Science faculty members, Wayne Wurtsbaugh, spoke at the event.  Wurtsbaugh studies inland waters and has studied lakes and other bodies of water all across the globe.  During his talk, entitled “Great Salt Lake: Stranger in Your Backyard,” Wurtsbaugh spoke about the special qualities of the largest lake west of the Mississippi River.  Wurtsbaugh’s talk centered around how important the Great Salt Lake is to Utah’s ecology and economy.  

Wurtsbaugh stressed the point that the Great Salt Lake is drying up.  Rivers that usually flow into the lake are being used for other purposes or being diverted.  All of these things brought light to a distressing situation. The discussion highlighted a few of the many reasons why iUTAH’s mission of science for water sustainability is critical for the state.

Many booths at the event provided other hands-on activities and demonstrations to help strengthen the interest and involvement of the general public in science.  Science Unwrapped continues throughout the spring and fall semesters with another event being held each month. iUTAH plans to be present at each event as this year’s theme focuses on the “Year of Water.”

Timothy Beach, an undergraduate student mentored by Sarah Null in the Watershed Science Department at Utah State University, represented iUTAH at this year’s Maps on the Hill event at the State Capitol. Tim was an iUTAH iFellow last summer. During his research, he created a Utah water map with the assistance of Utah Valley University and iUTAH scientist Suzanne Walther and the sponsorship of iUTAH.

His water map describes statewide water resources, demands, and management to help visualize Utah's current and future water scarcity challenges. Tim presented his water map in English and Spanish to gain more access to a more diverse audience.

The 4^th annual Maps on the Hill event is supported by the Utah Geographic Information Council (UGIC) and AGRC (Automated Geographic Reference Center).

This event held on January 28, 2015 offered a good opportunity for students and professionals to share maps, mapping tools, and mapping projects with elected officials, fellow practitioners, and the public. Participants included both individual mapping projects and organizations.

The event included a map display event that was held the first Wednesday of the 2015 Legislative session. The focus of the event was presenting interesting maps or map technology projects that are applicable to a wide audience.

According to Tim, “The presentation on the Hill went well! The few hours I was there ended up being a pretty good experience for me. School groups, legislators, and the general public were all there. There were a good amount of 9th graders that were interested in the map; they asked lots of questions about dams, water usage throughout the state, and GIS/map making. I brought some extra copies of the poster to give out to people and ended up giving two maps away to legislators, which I felt was a success. A few of the people even asked if it was available online. I also had a lot of good conversations with professionals who work with GIS and I think overall, Maps on the Hill was a success.“

Source: http://gis.utah.gov/maps-on-the-hill-2015-signup-is-now-open/