TEsting the Waters

Testing the Waters is a curriculum, online publication, and public exhibit comprised of stories, images, maps, and video that share “stories of place” tied to water quality across the Colorado River Basin.  The project builds on a successful EPA funded STEM curriculum, called SCAPE (Sustainable Communities and Place-based Education), led by the project director, Dan Collins, that has introduced water quality testing protocols to regional students over the past year. We seek to reveal potential relationships between the physical, chemical, and biological evidence gathered by SCAPE students and the personal, community-based, and cultural perspectives of a diverse community of students from Arizona schools in Somerton (Yuma), Douglas, Flagstaff and Maryvale (Phoenix). Working with a combination of local teachers, researchers, artists, and writers, Testing the Waters students are challenged to find ways to bring the dry facts of the river system to life through words and images.

Outcomes & Deliverables
Partner Arizona Schools
Team Members
  • Dan Collins — Principal Investigator, Arizona State University, AZ / Telluride Institute, CO
  • Camilla Altree — Science Teacher, Douglas High School, Douglas, AZ
  • Kaard Bombe — Videographer, Phoenix, AZ
  • Jeff Chmielewski — English Teacher, Gifted & Talented Academy, Maryvale HS, Phx, AZ
  • Javier Fonseca-Garcia — Social Studies Teacher, PPEP Academy, Somerton, AZ
  • Paul Hirt — Professor, Arizona State University (AZ Humanities advisor)
  • David Krassner — Environmental Science Teacher, Coconino High School, Flagstaff, AZ
  • Laurie Lundquist — Artist, Tempe, AZ
  • Kimberly Lyle — Artist, Phoenix, AZ
  • Justin Rodier — Artist, Tempe, AZ
  • John Sabo — Professor, Arizona State University (GIOS Advisor)
  • Jenea Sanchez — Artist, Douglas, AZ
  • Anne Marie Shanahan — History Teacher, Gifted & Talented Academy, Maryvale HS, Phx, AZ
  • Renu Singh — Director, Gifted & Talented Academy, Maryvale High School, Phoenix, AZ
  • Shawn Skabelund — Artist, Flagstaff, AZ
  • ​Elizabeth Stuffings — San Miguel Watershed Coalition / Telluride Institute, Telluride, CO
  • Shaun Ylatupa-McWhorter — Networking & Database Specialist, Arizona State University

​Thanks to the following