Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization

Julian Tyson; Ray Kronquist; Anowara Begum; Shahena Begum

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16

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Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization

Julian Tyson, Ray Kronquist, Anowara Begum, Shahena Begum

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 3, Issue 3-1)

Received: 16 April 2015 Accepted: 17 April 2015 Published: 28 April 2015

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Abstract

Several programs, organized by Chemists without Borders or the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in which secondary school or college students are introduced to the impact of arsenic contamination of the environment, and in particular of groundwater in Bangladesh, are described. A common feature is that students are recruited as members of a research group or investigative team and take ownership of the work by making relevant chemical measurements and participating in discussion of the implications of their findings. Leadership is provided in a hierarchical model in which, very often, more experienced students acting as near-peer mentors guide the activities of the newly recruited members of the groups. In some of the programs, the students work with teachers who have been trained by researchers on the university campus. Both in-school and out-of-school programs are described. A feature common to all is that chemical measurements are provided by low-cost field test kits based on the Gutzeit-Marsh reaction, the modification of which has provided a driving force for a considerable number of research projects for the college students. Many hundreds of students have been impacted and the programs, particularly that in Bangladesh, have considerable potential for empowering the students as agents of change in their communities as they not only take specific action as a result of their engagement but also educate other members of their families and communities about the potential hazards of consuming arsenic-contaminated water and rice and how these can be mitigated. Readers are invited to contribute to sustaining the program in Bangladesh and to initiate their own activities with students.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 3, Issue 3-1) This article belongs to the Special Issue Ground Water Arsenic Contamination and Action Plan for Mitigation
DOI	10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16
Page(s)	50-55
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Students, Education, Arsenic-Related Projects, Research Experiences, Community Engagement, Arsenic Mitigation

References

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[2]	R. Ravenscroft, H. Banner and K. Richards, Arsenic Pollution, A Global Synthesis, Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, 2009, pp. 588.
[3]	Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater: Mechanism, Analysis and Remediation, Ed. S. Ahuja, Wiley, Hoboken, 2008, pp. 387.
[4]	A. A. Meharg and F-J. Zhao, Arsenic & Rice, Springer, Dordrecht, 2012, pp.171.
[5]	A A. Meharg and A. Raab, “Getting to the bottom of arsenic standards and guidelines”, Environ. Sci. Technol., vol 44, pp 4395-4399, 2010.
[6]	C. W. Schmidt, “In search of ‘just right:’ the challenge of regulating arsenic in rice,” Env. Health Perspectives, vol 123, pp. A17-A19, January 2015.
[7]	Citizen Scientists, http://www.citizenscientists.com (accessed April 2015)
[8]	The Citizen Science Alliance, http://www.citizensciencealliance.org/index.html (accessed April 2015).
[9]	World Water Watch, http://www.worldwaterwatch.org/ (accessed April 2015).
[10]	Chemists without Borders, http://www.chemistswithoutborders.org/ (accessed April 2015).
[11]	Chemists without Borders Bangladesh Arsenic Education, https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/chemists-without-borders-bangladesh-arsenic-educ-n/ (accessed April 2015).
[12]	Bangladesh Department of Public Health Engineering, http://www.dphe.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96&Itemid=104 (accessed April 2015)
[13]	STEM Education Institute, University of Massachusetts, Amherst http://umassk12.net/stem/ (accessed April 2015).
[14]	National Science Foundation, http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf0540/nsf0540.jsp. (accessed April 2015).
[15]	North East Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, http://www.neagep.org/ (accessed April 2015).
[16]	Research Academies for Young Scientists, http://umassk12.net/rays/ (accessed April 2015).
[17]	A. Feldman and K. Pirog, “Authentic Science Research in Elementary School After-School Science Clubs,” J. Sci. Educ. Technol., vol 20, pp. 494-507, May 2011.
[18]	J. Kearns and J. Tyson, “Improving the accuracy and precision of an arsenic field test kit: increased reaction time and digital image analysis,” Anal. Methods, vol 4, pp 1693 – 1698, 2012.
[19]	A. Chatterjee, D. Das, B. K. Mandal, T. R. Chowdhury, G. Samanta, and D. Chakraborti, “Arsenic in ground-water in 6 districts of west-Bengal, India - the biggest arsenic calamity in the world: 1. arsenic species in drinking-water and urine of the affected people,” Analyst, vol 120, pp 643-650, March 1995.
[20]	R. B. Neumann, K. N. Ashfaque, A. B. M. Badruzzaman, M. Ashraf Ali, J. K. Shoemaker, and C. F. Harvey, “Anthropogenic influences on groundwater arsenic concentrations in Bangladesh,” Nature Geoscience, vol 3, pp 46–52, January 2010.
[21]	M. M. Rahman, G. Owens, and R. Naidu, “Arsenic levels in rice grain and assessment of daily dietary intake of arsenic from rice in arsenic contaminated regions of Bangladesh—implications to groundwater irrigation," Environmental Geochemistry and Health Vol. 31, pp. 179-187, 2009.
[22]	H. B. Davis, J. F. Tyson, and J. A. Pechenik, “A short guide to writing about chemistry,” Longman, New York, 2010.

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APA Style

Julian Tyson, Ray Kronquist, Anowara Begum, Shahena Begum. (2015). Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 3(3-1), 50-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16

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ACS Style

Julian Tyson; Ray Kronquist; Anowara Begum; Shahena Begum. Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3(3-1), 50-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16

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AMA Style

Julian Tyson, Ray Kronquist, Anowara Begum, Shahena Begum. Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2015;3(3-1):50-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16,
  author = {Julian Tyson and Ray Kronquist and Anowara Begum and Shahena Begum},
  title = {Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {3},
  number = {3-1},
  pages = {50-55},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.s.2015030301.16},
  abstract = {Several programs, organized by Chemists without Borders or the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in which secondary school or college students are introduced to the impact of arsenic contamination of the environment, and in particular of groundwater in Bangladesh, are described. A common feature is that students are recruited as members of a research group or investigative team and take ownership of the work by making relevant chemical measurements and participating in discussion of the implications of their findings. Leadership is provided in a hierarchical model in which, very often, more experienced students acting as near-peer mentors guide the activities of the newly recruited members of the groups. In some of the programs, the students work with teachers who have been trained by researchers on the university campus. Both in-school and out-of-school programs are described. A feature common to all is that chemical measurements are provided by low-cost field test kits based on the Gutzeit-Marsh reaction, the modification of which has provided a driving force for a considerable number of research projects for the college students. Many hundreds of students have been impacted and the programs, particularly that in Bangladesh, have considerable potential for empowering the students as agents of change in their communities as they not only take specific action as a result of their engagement but also educate other members of their families and communities about the potential hazards of consuming arsenic-contaminated water and rice and how these can be mitigated. Readers are invited to contribute to sustaining the program in Bangladesh and to initiate their own activities with students.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization
AU  - Julian Tyson
AU  - Ray Kronquist
AU  - Anowara Begum
AU  - Shahena Begum
Y1  - 2015/04/28
PY  - 2015
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DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 50
EP  - 55
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16
AB  - Several programs, organized by Chemists without Borders or the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in which secondary school or college students are introduced to the impact of arsenic contamination of the environment, and in particular of groundwater in Bangladesh, are described. A common feature is that students are recruited as members of a research group or investigative team and take ownership of the work by making relevant chemical measurements and participating in discussion of the implications of their findings. Leadership is provided in a hierarchical model in which, very often, more experienced students acting as near-peer mentors guide the activities of the newly recruited members of the groups. In some of the programs, the students work with teachers who have been trained by researchers on the university campus. Both in-school and out-of-school programs are described. A feature common to all is that chemical measurements are provided by low-cost field test kits based on the Gutzeit-Marsh reaction, the modification of which has provided a driving force for a considerable number of research projects for the college students. Many hundreds of students have been impacted and the programs, particularly that in Bangladesh, have considerable potential for empowering the students as agents of change in their communities as they not only take specific action as a result of their engagement but also educate other members of their families and communities about the potential hazards of consuming arsenic-contaminated water and rice and how these can be mitigated. Readers are invited to contribute to sustaining the program in Bangladesh and to initiate their own activities with students.
VL  - 3
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Author Information

Julian Tyson

Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA
Ray Kronquist

Chemists Without Borders, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Anowara Begum

Department of Public Health Studies, Asian University for Women, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Shahena Begum

Department of Asian Studies, Asian University for Women, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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APA Style

Julian Tyson, Ray Kronquist, Anowara Begum, Shahena Begum. (2015). Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 3(3-1), 50-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16

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ACS Style

Julian Tyson; Ray Kronquist; Anowara Begum; Shahena Begum. Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3(3-1), 50-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16

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AMA Style

Julian Tyson, Ray Kronquist, Anowara Begum, Shahena Begum. Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2015;3(3-1):50-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16,
  author = {Julian Tyson and Ray Kronquist and Anowara Begum and Shahena Begum},
  title = {Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {3},
  number = {3-1},
  pages = {50-55},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.s.2015030301.16},
  abstract = {Several programs, organized by Chemists without Borders or the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in which secondary school or college students are introduced to the impact of arsenic contamination of the environment, and in particular of groundwater in Bangladesh, are described. A common feature is that students are recruited as members of a research group or investigative team and take ownership of the work by making relevant chemical measurements and participating in discussion of the implications of their findings. Leadership is provided in a hierarchical model in which, very often, more experienced students acting as near-peer mentors guide the activities of the newly recruited members of the groups. In some of the programs, the students work with teachers who have been trained by researchers on the university campus. Both in-school and out-of-school programs are described. A feature common to all is that chemical measurements are provided by low-cost field test kits based on the Gutzeit-Marsh reaction, the modification of which has provided a driving force for a considerable number of research projects for the college students. Many hundreds of students have been impacted and the programs, particularly that in Bangladesh, have considerable potential for empowering the students as agents of change in their communities as they not only take specific action as a result of their engagement but also educate other members of their families and communities about the potential hazards of consuming arsenic-contaminated water and rice and how these can be mitigated. Readers are invited to contribute to sustaining the program in Bangladesh and to initiate their own activities with students.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Integrating Arsenic-Related Environmental Topics into the Education of the Next Generation of Citizens for Arsenic-Hit Communities: Awareness and Mobilization
AU  - Julian Tyson
AU  - Ray Kronquist
AU  - Anowara Begum
AU  - Shahena Begum
Y1  - 2015/04/28
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 50
EP  - 55
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.s.2015030301.16
AB  - Several programs, organized by Chemists without Borders or the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in which secondary school or college students are introduced to the impact of arsenic contamination of the environment, and in particular of groundwater in Bangladesh, are described. A common feature is that students are recruited as members of a research group or investigative team and take ownership of the work by making relevant chemical measurements and participating in discussion of the implications of their findings. Leadership is provided in a hierarchical model in which, very often, more experienced students acting as near-peer mentors guide the activities of the newly recruited members of the groups. In some of the programs, the students work with teachers who have been trained by researchers on the university campus. Both in-school and out-of-school programs are described. A feature common to all is that chemical measurements are provided by low-cost field test kits based on the Gutzeit-Marsh reaction, the modification of which has provided a driving force for a considerable number of research projects for the college students. Many hundreds of students have been impacted and the programs, particularly that in Bangladesh, have considerable potential for empowering the students as agents of change in their communities as they not only take specific action as a result of their engagement but also educate other members of their families and communities about the potential hazards of consuming arsenic-contaminated water and rice and how these can be mitigated. Readers are invited to contribute to sustaining the program in Bangladesh and to initiate their own activities with students.
VL  - 3
IS  - 3-1
ER  -

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