Amanda L. Ratiff

"Do What? - How Safe is My Water?" is an exploration of the dissolved oxygen (DO) content of local streams and water sources. In Eastern KY, where sewage service is limited and poorly regulated, many families resort to "straight piping" or pumping all sewage and waste products into local creeks or streams. This practice directly affects the water quality in the area. Activities from Ratliff's "Do What?" program will empower eight and ninth grade students to explore the study of acids and bases, chemical reactions, concentrations, environmental science and local social issues. Students will visit local streams throughout the course of the year to calculate dissolved oxygen levels, track and monitor certain streams at different times of day/year to see how sunlight and temperature affect DO and study stream organisms (such as daphnia) that are indicators of pollution. The culmination of this project will be an educational campaign to stop "straight piping" and to create an educational video to air on the local news, Web sites and pamphlets to educate others. Ratliff is a resident of West Van Lear.