The Wayne Community College Science Club is partnering with Sound Rivers to give students hands-on scientific learning experience.
Sound Rivers is an agency that is responsible for monitoring the water quality in North Carolina’s rivers and sounds. They have over 40 collection sites along the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse river basins.
WCC is the first community college to be involved with their work.
Science Club members will collect water samples monthly from different sections of the Neuse River in Wayne County. The samples will then be processed in the microbiology lab where students and WCC Science Department Chair Ralph Benedetto will test for E. coli. WCC Chemistry Instructor Brian Duffy will check the samples for dissolved oxygen and nitrogen content.
“We’re excited about the Sound Rivers partnership because it gives students the chance to engage in real science and benefits anyone in eastern NC who is looking for a safe place to swim,” said Benedetto.
Sound Rivers will receive the data from WCC, publishing it on their Swim Guide website and passing it on to news outlets.
“Sound Rivers didn’t have anyone collecting water samples in Wayne County, so the data that we obtain is particularly useful,” Benedetto explained. “Learning new techniques and getting useful real-world results makes the task even more fun for the students while teaching them about the various factors that go into any scientific process.”
About Sound Rivers
Sound Rivers is a nonprofit organization that guards the health of the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico river basins. They work with concerned citizens to monitor, protect, and preserve these watersheds that cover nearly one-quarter of North Carolina.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 11,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 240 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.