A Case Study: Geology, Remediation, Investigation at a RR Repair Shop Brownfield Site, St. Paul, Minnesota

Kate Kleiter
,
American Engineering Testing, Inc.
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A case-study approach can be used to introduce students to the work that geologists do as environmental consultants. Data used by environmental consultants for a Brownfield site that is currently undergoing redevelopment in St. Paul, MN has been adapted for in-class study, either as a series of short exercises, or as part of a larger project.
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Context

Audience:

Introductory environmental geology course for major or non-majors and and above or advanced High School class.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered:

Map reading, mathematics (geometry), basic understanding of organic chemistry, sedimentary geology.

How the activity is situated in the course:

It was designed for use in outreach work with college students.

National or State Education Standards addressed by this activity?:

Inquiry Standards

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity:

The student should understand the range of scientific disicplines that are involved in the cleanup of a polluted site (geology, chemistry, math, and physics).

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity:

Using data to evaluate 3 dimensional nature of pollution in soils and groundwater. This involves integrating data sets.

Other skills goals for this activity:

Analyzing data and using it in calculations, working as a team, formulating hypotheses.

Description of the activity/assignment

A case-study approach can be used to introduce students to the work that geologists do as environmental consultants. Data used by environmental consultants for a Brownfield site that is currently undergoing redevelopment in St. Paul, MN has been adapted for in-class study, either as a series of short exercises, or as part of a larger project.

Determining whether students have met the goals

Successful completion of exercises.

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Other Materials

Supporting references/URLs

Kate Kleiter
American Engineering Testing, Inc.
kkleiter@amengtest.com