tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50945946863486687592024-03-13T12:02:02.288-05:00LAKES REUThe Good, the Bad, and the AlgaeMatt Kuchtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18168846490598155683noreply@blogger.comBlogger350125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-31606374298548789152022-07-31T08:51:00.003-05:002022-07-31T08:51:37.990-05:00Teamwork Makes the Dream Work<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Issues concerning the environment aren't as simple to solve as they seem. Scientists could come up with solutions to specific problems, like climate change, but there is more to it. Just coming up with solutions doesn't get the job done. Laws have to come into play as well as community involvement so that these laws are being enforced. This is where interdisciplinary research comes into play. There are so many ways that people could do their part to combat issues concerning climate change. Scientists can use technology to run tests and experiments to find the most effective way to solve these issues. Politicians could install laws into place that could protect vulnerable areas around the country, and journalists could ensure that the gravity of these issues is being made aware to the public. These types of concepts tie into the importance of interdisciplinary research because multiple points of view are needed to solve and analyze issues from different perspectives. During this program, I have had the opportunity to work with Erin and Laura. Erin is on the anthropology team, and Laura is on the biology one. Each of their projects is going to make important contributions toward analyzing issues concerning the local watershed. </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2a4f279c-7fff-6357-f605-5c63332e0e7b"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Erin has been a great help by providing me with some contacts that were used to spread more awareness about my survey. Being on the psychology team has made me realize that it comes with a lot of complications. Getting the attention of people has been difficult, so it's important to spread the word about my project to as many people as I can. Erin gave me the contact name of a reporter that was able to make a story article about my project and publish it in the Colfax Messenger and the Glenwood City Tribune. This publication would allow me to reach a different audience other than the Menomonie community. This publisher was also able to give me advice on who else to contact so that I could make even more connections with farmers. The reporter even sent the information about my survey to the people that control the Colfax Red Cedar Preserve and Recreation Area Facebook page, so that my survey could also be posted there. This just shows how communicating and working with others allows for the opportunity to meet other people and make connections. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura is using GIS (Geographical Information Systems) to determine the areas of cropland that have the greatest potential for nutrient runoff, and how this could be used to find the best areas for conversion of grassland. One aspect of my project has to do with specific management practices that farmers choose to implicate on their farms and the number of farmers that do these things around the area. Transect survey data can be used to get a sense of what percentage of farmers in the watershed are currently doing certain management practices. Laura and I were talking about these practices and how cool it would be if GIS created maps that showed the different management practices that are being used by different farmers. This work would certainly be complicated but it would help provide people with a visual of what farmers in their community are doing. All of our projects tie to issues concerning the watershed in different ways. Using our own experiences and things we have learned to help each other is what's going to allow us to have stronger projects. </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Nidiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07331160535955419124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-23058097032942813022022-07-28T15:05:00.001-05:002022-07-28T15:05:37.534-05:00Maps, GIS, and Beyond<p><span style="font-family: arial;">From the start, the LAKES REU has emphasized the need for
interdisciplinary research to address the water quality problems that the
community faces. As I progress through my project, I have learned more about
how important it is to incorporate fields of research other than your own. Each
discipline can inform the others and, in this case, limnological knowledge is
imperative to understand so that our projects can accurately reflect the problems
in the watershed. Also, interdisciplinary research allows us to determine what
problems are of the greatest importance and to solve problems more thoroughly.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">My project will present the areas of cropland that have the greatest
potential for nutrient runoff and are therefore the best areas for conversion
to grassland. This research topic is already interdisciplinary, as I put my
environmental science knowledge to work within a Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) framework. The background knowledge I have is integral for understanding
the variables that make an area more prone to nutrient runoff. Additionally, GIS
is an incredible tool that can be incorporated into interdisciplinary research
for analysis and visualization. With so much data available, there is great
potential for incorporating different topics to identify trends and answer
questions. And mapping can benefit almost any field, as maps can help
communicate difficult topics and display data in a way that the public can
appreciate. I have discussed making maps with several fellow students,
including the Colfax Red Cedar Preserve project, which could benefit from a map
of the general area or of current restoration projects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Furthermore, after finding the potential conversion area, I
am looking to include the amount of corn or beef that could be raised on the
land as well as the financial worth of those amounts. The work on grass fed
beef could come in handy, and will provide a unique perspective on the proposition,
different from my own. With the inclusion of the economics research, I will be
able to present a more persuasive project that people can more fully understand.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Moreover, discussing the community and phosphorus pollution
issue with the anthropology and psychology folks gives me a broader perspective
and allows me to understand the stances of the community on the issue, as well
as what they are willing to do to address it. There is no point in proposing
natural science-backed plans if there is no support or it does not benefit the
community. In the anthropology projects, they are seeking the balance between
the science and the people so that the land is managed in a way that can
support the ecosystem but also be backed by the community. Overall,
interdisciplinary research allows us to more fully comprehend the issues at
hand. And maps can help tell the story of almost any discipline’s research in a
way that grants more people access to important knowledge.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-86871373278060744702022-07-26T16:32:00.000-05:002022-07-26T16:32:09.680-05:00We're All in This Together<p style="text-align: justify;">For an issue as complicated as phosphorus pollution, interdisciplinary research is necessary to bring about applicable solutions. Interdisciplinary research uses the skills and knowledge of each person on the team to mutually strengthen each other's work. With this approach, everyone's work is more thoughtful and well-informed than if we all stuck to just one field. As phosphorus pollution is a biological problem, having a firm understanding of those elements has been key to me being able to talk to people in an informed way for my anthropology work. Likewise, understanding the realities of the political and social landscape in this area is critical to inform the STEM research so that we can understand what kind of solutions are likely to be adopted. This balance between the disciplines on the LAKES REU team has been critical for my work here.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For one, this past week I collaborated with Laura, one of the biology team students, to get started on a GIS project I might want to use for my final poster. My research centers around the Colfax Red Cedar Preserve and Recreation Area and how that space can be used to engage the community in discussions about phosphorus pollution. To get a sense of what other public lands there are around water in the Red Cedar watershed, I want to create a map that specifically highlights those areas. Since Laura has a lot of experience with GIS, I asked her where to get started. She pointed me to some DNR resources that show all their land and suggested some spots to look for maps that might have already been created. As I continue to work on this project, I’m sure I will be reaching out to her again for guidance and support.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDSHGpzOFj8x6zz1dH2Y2Cy2zZWOrhGyheYSwaA00tGxW84mpXodYmIkVp5LorVX8cV_KCrfNJOo31ldxgjah6f7EFdHMZcSTQ6bnbFSZARfKNkrWO4R659RWb595Ci7nsj1f6_duA79GvDpwjdjSdGCa-EM95sNeZhInJkCSoIgCV45pua9wQNEY/s4032/IMG_8896.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDSHGpzOFj8x6zz1dH2Y2Cy2zZWOrhGyheYSwaA00tGxW84mpXodYmIkVp5LorVX8cV_KCrfNJOo31ldxgjah6f7EFdHMZcSTQ6bnbFSZARfKNkrWO4R659RWb595Ci7nsj1f6_duA79GvDpwjdjSdGCa-EM95sNeZhInJkCSoIgCV45pua9wQNEY/s320/IMG_8896.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Photo: Ferry Pond as seen from the Colfax Red Cedar Preserve and Recreation Area</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: start;">As another example, I’ve also been working with both Nidia and Phoebe on the psychology team. With Phoebe, I worked with her so that I could get some questions put on her survey. I wanted to get a broad sense of how much people in the area know about the preserve and what kind of stuff they want to see there. Considering the limits of my ability to interview a broad spectrum of people in the community, conducting a survey seemed like the best way to find the answers I’m looking for. With the expertise of the people on the psychology team, I was able to refine my questions to make sure they were clear enough to get useful answers. Additionally, I used a connection I made with a local reporter during my research to help Nidia spread the word about her survey. With this mutually beneficial type of interaction and teamwork, I think all our projects will be more well-rounded.</span></div><br /><p></p>Erin McCotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590292687666850453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-4900865448215634862022-07-26T13:02:00.002-05:002022-07-26T13:03:19.521-05:00Farm Technology Days<p> </p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Anna Hansen and
Audrey Williams<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Farm
Technology Days<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black;">Farm Technology Days is a
3-day event that was hosted in Loyal Wisconsin this year. This is a place for
the community to go and see the newest farming equipment in the industry. For a
picture of how big this event is, last year they had over 52,000 visitors and
520 vendors. We decided to go to Farmtech Days to try and find out more
information about how kidney beans are harvested and how farmers decide when to
irrigate their land. There is a lot of generational knowledge when it comes to
farming, so everyone does things a little bit differently. Not every farm keeps
data on when they water and how many gallons they put on their fields. Each
farmer also starts their harvest at a different time, and the equipment that
they use varies. We decided to talk with a couple different groups of people on
these topics.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black;">Chippewa Valley Bean, our
corporate partner, was the first booth that we visited. At the CVB Booth they
had a Pickett Equipment Twin Master Bean Combine. This combine was designed
specifically to be gentler on kidney beans during the harvest because there is
a larger payout for farmers per acre if the skin of their kidney beans is
intact. Zach Bacon, from Bacon Farms in Hancock Wisconsin, explained to us that
when they first got into Kidney Bean farming that there was a learning curve
when it came to harvesting. After a few small hiccups, they found that
harvesting slow can help them get a higher quality bean, and a better yield.
Regular combines can work for harvesting kidney beans, but they sometimes get
smashed, causing a delay in operations. Bacon explained to us that using a
combine made specifically for kidney beans made the process go a lot smoother.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black;">The farmers know when the
best time to harvest is because their bean plants start to turn yellow as they
stop producing pods. How yellow and dry they let them get varies depending on
the experience of the specific farmer. They want to wait until the pods 'feel
like buckskin', explained CVB agronomist Joshua Johnson. This means that the
dried pods feel leathery. If farmers wait any longer, the pods will be too
brittle and could break at the wrong time during harvest. However, they can't
harvest too early because then the pods won't be mature enough. The process of
harvesting kidney beans starts first with a One-Step system, a piece of
machinery that uses old school technology to loosen up the roots of the kidney
bean plant. The one step system gets rid of the need to cut off the kidney bean
plants by hand. Next the Pickett Equipment Combine comes through and pulls the
entire plant up into an auger. This auger then helps separate the beans from the
pods and other organic material. The beans then fall onto a shaker table where
more dirt and rocks get separated from the crop, while also polishing the
beans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
problem that we were asked to solve is “How many gallons of water does it take
to grow a CWT of kidney beans”. Throughout the past couple weeks of research,
we have come to find that it isn’t about how much rainfall there is, or how
much water is given to the plants through irrigation, the problem that we need
to solve is what soil moisture will produce a CWT of kidney beans. This
information is very hard to find as not many people consistently measure the
soil moisture of their fields, many farmers just walk out into the field and
feel the dirt in their hands to see if it is moist enough. This has worked for
generations of farmers, and it all comes through experience, however this is
not collectable data that can be used for research. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With
that information, we went out and walked around and look at the rest of the
booths at Farm Tech Days. One booth that we wanted to look at was Precision
Planting. At the Precision Planting Tent, there was a planter that had a probe
connected to it that can measure soil moisture. The soil moisture is collected
while the seeds are being planted so this machine would be able to give us soil
moisture data on the planting date. Another booth that we visited was Valley
Irrigation. This vendor sold Aqua Tracs, which can measure soil moisture was
often as every 30 min. This piece of equipment can be very useful to see data
over a long period of time. Either of these pieces of equipment would be very
to help solve this problem so the next step will be to see if any farmers that
we are working with have this equipment or see if we are able to get our hands
on some of this equipment to find some date.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVQbdsNN0uzy_a6H3E2W1SJ_hKq6mbLnOuzhmTZXwMvzJcBR-38P145_3WzoS6C4PeDK4o0-7MomFk9U8TY31uEiRtvESR0TROH0NzQgrhODBPymsq8uoUOJoLlAErubb054z1nDqZmnFJ1_tTexqwnllcUwe6GS2tMe98kizQpqOQWALmHRM00rN4A/s1290/image000002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="971" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVQbdsNN0uzy_a6H3E2W1SJ_hKq6mbLnOuzhmTZXwMvzJcBR-38P145_3WzoS6C4PeDK4o0-7MomFk9U8TY31uEiRtvESR0TROH0NzQgrhODBPymsq8uoUOJoLlAErubb054z1nDqZmnFJ1_tTexqwnllcUwe6GS2tMe98kizQpqOQWALmHRM00rN4A/s320/image000002.JPG" width="241" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Anna Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11512140260387994442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-26354950915663357052022-07-26T12:59:00.004-05:002022-07-26T13:03:04.650-05:00Week 4<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blog
Post Week 4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Anna
Hansen and Audrey Williams<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As we
begin week 4, we are almost ½ way through our summer research program. The past
three weeks we have been doing lots of lit review, doing lots of calculus
review, working with some data, as well as having a little fun. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>During
our first week of the summer, we did lots of review of calculus concepts. It
was very nice to have a refresher of all these concepts as we hadn’t taken a
calculus class for over a year. We have realized how almost everything that we
learned in calculus one will come in handy this summer while trying to find how
much water a kidney bean needs to grow. Derivatives, antiderivatives, and
differential equations are something that will be useful in this project. We
can use differential equations to show rates such as transpiration,
assimilation, plant mass, and soil moisture. Derivatives can also tell us about
the rate of change especially when the rate of change is increasing or
decreasing. Overall, we have learned that calculus one is probably one of the most
important classes we have taken. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
very important part of what we have been doing is lots of lit review. When we
read articles, we are looking for information that looks like the problem that
we are trying to solve. We have found lots of articles about topics such as
corn and other legume yields, how much fertilizer to use, or how much sunlight
to use. We are hoping that these other articles will help us to find a similar
concept to what we are doing and will be useful to us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our
last task that we have been working on quite often is organizing data. We
received data from Chippewa Valley Bean that showed us the net bean weight in
pounds as well as how many acres they planted on that year. From there we found
the number of pounds that were grown on each acre. We also found data from the
National Weather Station that gave us rainfall in inches from May 1<sup>st</sup>
to September 1<sup>st</sup> which is the average growing season for a bean
plant. In the future we plan to graph a scatter plot with the pounds/acre and
inches of water data. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally,
you can’t just work all the time, you must have a little bit of fun! We ended
week three with a canoe trip down the Red Cedar River. All the Lakes Reu
students and mentors got into seven canoes, and we took about three hours till
we took out our canoes at the Downsville boat launch. We started with a little
tutorial on how to paddle, then we were off. We had only biked down the Red
Cedar trail, but it was much prettier to canoe right down the middle. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Anna Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11512140260387994442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-82834520408586501952022-07-25T09:23:00.000-05:002022-07-25T09:23:38.038-05:00Limnological Sampling is no Joke! <p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interdisciplinary studies have always called to me, so much so that when I first applied to colleges I only looked at schools that offered an interdisciplinary major in my preferred field. I ended up at Smith College, on their environmental science AND policy track, and I relished in taking just as many courses with the biology, geology, and data science departments as I did with the government, english, and sociology departments. My first two years of college were not the first time that I had experienced an emphasis on interdisciplinary work, however. Starting in middle school, my educational environment heavily centered the design thinking process as well as project-based learning. The ultimate goal behind these educational models is to encourage growth in educational settings. This growth can take many different shapes, but in myself I noticed a budding interest in grappling with complex problems through collaboration. The design thinking process encouraged me to deeply examine the needs of others and come up with solutions, while project-based learning helped me build those solutions into something concrete, usually alongside others. I have carried these skills with me throughout my college classes and internships, although my first look at truly self-guided research is occurring this summer. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5cdbdb77-7fff-b9ad-7ea1-ec82a806c06d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I joined the LAKES REU program, I only had a general idea of what my project might be. I knew that I would be studying phosphorus pollution, and that I would be performing a style of research I had no experience with—ethnographic research. I also knew that I would likely be working alongside other students. However, I didn’t know that my form of data collection would consist almost entirely of conducting, transcribing, and coding interviews. While this experience was new and exciting, I had hoped to, at some point, gain some experience with limnological sampling. I reached out to Dr. Nicole Hayes, a professor in Stout’s biology department who has a team of students sampling Lakes Tainter and Menomin this summer. I was able to set up a time to go out on Lake Tainter with her team, and ended up spending roughly 5 hours immersing myself in a sampling experience. After setting up the research vessel, a surprisingly sturdy inflatable boat, we took off with a portable motor, a bag full of rocks as an anchor, and two tubs full of sampling equipment. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-S92ywCsM4X4UhV_MhYY9UKZBdw90S1AVzjkjDLKTVb5ZsJDDBWkgzYX_CJv9fcpsEHBHOgxbaZF9N25NLVs2vkqmQb1idsfsP8ONhBQZitvs9w4E6QxXExWnmWckRvOtVtN5p24J3QpvbmU8Q-sWhMAPBId1N8H5x-mgyPfdMm8oj7y1pmXfD9Nx/s828/IMG_8124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="828" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-S92ywCsM4X4UhV_MhYY9UKZBdw90S1AVzjkjDLKTVb5ZsJDDBWkgzYX_CJv9fcpsEHBHOgxbaZF9N25NLVs2vkqmQb1idsfsP8ONhBQZitvs9w4E6QxXExWnmWckRvOtVtN5p24J3QpvbmU8Q-sWhMAPBId1N8H5x-mgyPfdMm8oj7y1pmXfD9Nx/w379-h279/IMG_8124.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>When we got to our sampling spot, I noticed what Dr. Hayes would describe as a “paint layer” of Microcystis cyanobacteria. Also visible were Aphanizomenon cyanobacteria, which resembled small green worms beneath the surface. It was striking how green the lake was on this particular day. I then assisted with testing and recording the dissolved oxygen levels and water temperature at different meter depths. Other tests measured light absorption, pH, and conductivity. I also got to perform a water transparency test using the Secchi Disc, a circular disc with alternating black and white quadrants. I lowered the disc into the water until I couldn’t see it anymore, and then recorded the depth. We then collected water samples and headed back to shore. After disassembling the boat, we returned to the lab on Stout’s campus. I assisted in the first few steps of a nutrient limitation experiment, which consisted of portioning out the lake water we had just collected, and pipetting either a nitrogen or phosphorus solution, or both, into the flasks. Those flasks, along with controls, were then placed in a special fridge with monitored light and temperature. Eventually, the lake water would be filtered to determine total chlorophyll concentrations, and which nutrient (phosphorus, nitrogen, or both) was in lowest availability relative to phytoplankton demand. Since there was only so much that I could help with at this stage, I watched another one of the students perform a filtration protocol and then wrapped up my day.</span><div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hYBHuF3HPhNUCft_rcqZ3BPkNtG4gPsKAEA9UXHq2VLOjFVDCr1Pq7sq43nCGglJLMXkxyul0Smv9Q88UrxEFrS_MwOc7tfakGrQ6f3n5Cv-V_WK35TQmLdcwrHDNnQtFMfDWeiIi-ENxDDP93fGDd3d3pIxcKfPyGXzyWmOIspDY7e1LlJg3Rbx/s4032/IMG_8121.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hYBHuF3HPhNUCft_rcqZ3BPkNtG4gPsKAEA9UXHq2VLOjFVDCr1Pq7sq43nCGglJLMXkxyul0Smv9Q88UrxEFrS_MwOc7tfakGrQ6f3n5Cv-V_WK35TQmLdcwrHDNnQtFMfDWeiIi-ENxDDP93fGDd3d3pIxcKfPyGXzyWmOIspDY7e1LlJg3Rbx/s320/IMG_8121.HEIC" width="240" /></a>O<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">verall, my time with Dr. Hayes’ team helped me understand that I am entirely capable of assisting with limnological sampling and experiment protocols. While this process was new to me, I was able to catch on quickly and immerse myself entirely in the experience. </span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I think about the value of interdisciplinary research, what sticks out to me the most is the ability to interface with many different stakeholders about the same issue. For the last month and half, I have been sitting in meetings and interviewing people with drastically different backgrounds. I have met with government officials, watershed managers, environmental health specialists, community organizers, scientists, and educators, all of whom are deeply invested in the issue of nutrient pollution in the Red Cedar Watershed. While I have learned how to “speak the language” of local government officials by citing different relevant codes and ordinances, my time sampling with Dr. Hayes’ team gave me the vocabulary I needed to interface with other professionals at the table. With the ability to understand both the science AND policy behind the issue of pollution in the watershed, I can more readily make connections with stakeholders and participate in the problem solving process. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div>Audrey Chohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15217671993240799116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-75022407278840306112022-07-15T16:07:00.006-05:002022-07-15T16:09:20.440-05:00Halfway There<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The value of interdisciplinary work is tremendous. As is especially the case for engineers such as myself, researchers have a tendency to tunnel in on their project or field. In this pursuit of higher knowledge, they forget the “daily applicability” and “immediate public impact” aspects of research, which cannot be underrated. Having tunneled my fair share already this summer, I am reminded of why I chose to spend my summer in Menomonie, not to create a new chemical filter(as was my original hope) but ultimately to make a proverbial dent in the efforts to clear Lake Menomin for safe use. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7d39fbc1-7fff-3a17-68b1-028684877a96"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve learned how to pursue this best as an engineer from two other disciplines, biology and psychology. My partner Cody and I started working with the biology team very early on in our research process. At first, they provided us with knowledge about the remediation abilities of ecosystems such as wetlands. But the most important information they provided us was that there was little to no hard data on Lake Menomin’s nutrient levels and health. Moreover, the data that <i>did </i>exist was not on a platform where it was easily readable and any researcher could obtain it. Learning this inspired our engineering team to change our focus from water purification to water monitoring.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hope that our data will help limnologists studying questions such as whether the reservoir has become anoxic or whether primary production is happening at a faster rate than secondary production can compete with. The repetition of measurements multiple times a day can help these scientists determine under what circumstances anomalies will occur.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This far into the program, it has become clear that solving a problem with an expensive and complex solution is not “solving” at all, it is only getting halfway there. It is essential to mobilize the people of Menomonie to be able to take care of their lake and carry the work of researchers after research programs reach their conclusion, so that technology produced does its due diligence. Using a LoRA network to generate data for lake health and publishing this data for free on the web will increase public visibility and bolsters citizen science, enabling more people to understand the nuances of the problem as well as the part that they can play in improving the situation. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to working with biology, we’ve learned from psychology. The psych team mentor, Sarah, suggested that we keep User Interface/User Design in mind when creating our website or app that we’re going to push data to. A good user interface and data that is expressed in an interactive or layman terms fashion increases the amount of individuals that are able to make use of the data and be part of the solution. There is a large barrier of understanding between much of the general public and technological solutions, but we want to bridge that divide in our project. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the next couple of days, the engineering team will be constructing the physical setup for our sensing units, which will utilize a LoRA(long-range) network to communicate and collect data. We are excited to see what this last portion of the project will yield for us and our colleagues.</span></p><br /><br /><br /></span>Sahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340770250669687484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-58167917530928501382022-07-05T12:30:00.000-05:002022-07-12T09:33:29.027-05:00From Mountains to Rolling Hills<p>Let me preface that I have never been to the Midwest, so my 6
a.m. departure into MSP could not come soon enough. When I did arrive, we had
to wait for another student, so in the meantime, Arthur Kneeland and I explored
MSP. We stopped at an Asian Noodle Market and scoured the area for a restaurant
that was open on a Sunday morning. You would be surprised at the lack of a
selection. We did end up at a great, authentic Mexican restaurant. Once
everyone was collected from the airport, we took a very scenic drive into the town
of Menomonie. The rolling hills remind me of home; however, there is a stark
difference between Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, there are no mountains, and
every inch of the hills is occupied by farmland.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURBpucK4xhfJFDfdbJajGd61dxyIgTUQxtDfhgUMqKHgiYYPy4YmfBwWNILnbk-XY1GNJj-RZXgAAMQL55pA3e8SpcvTRj-TDZ_iNA8suIV9d7-Rob-6C8G2ARVm2-d-IvF3yKAdSn6VxYWxy1efEtfQvS9t5yujt-EdHeRiU35So83uIqtcA2lyYqg/s720/Stout%20Tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURBpucK4xhfJFDfdbJajGd61dxyIgTUQxtDfhgUMqKHgiYYPy4YmfBwWNILnbk-XY1GNJj-RZXgAAMQL55pA3e8SpcvTRj-TDZ_iNA8suIV9d7-Rob-6C8G2ARVm2-d-IvF3yKAdSn6VxYWxy1efEtfQvS9t5yujt-EdHeRiU35So83uIqtcA2lyYqg/s320/Stout%20Tower.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>While exploring the town, I got to talk to some very invested
community members. I learned that the LAKES REU means quite a lot to them. Lake
Menomin (actually a reservoir) is an excellent area for recreation,
particularly in the winter, but in the summer, it goes untouched because it is
a significant health hazard. A few conversations later, I learned of the issues
associated with Lake Menomin and the massive amounts of phosphorous polluting
the waters. I listened to a lecture from Dr. Nicole Hayes on nutrient pollution
from runoff in the lake feeding cyanobacteria. The cyanobacteria form into Harmful
Algal Blooms (HABs) that release dangerous toxins into the water. The reservoir
turns green in the summer, and the exact timing is due to the water flow. The process
of cyanobacteria blooms takes four consecutive days of 90-degree weather after
a rainstorm to concoct the perfect lake brew. I have yet to see the reservoir
in the noxious; I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were multiple activities planned for our first week in
Menomonie. We visited Dan Prestebak’s sustainable farm and the Chippewa Valley
Bean farm. I learned about the farming practices that should be adopted in the
area to reduce nutrient pollution. There are significant barriers to
sustainability, most being behavioral and mental blocks; years of farming
tradition and habits are hard to break. It is mainly tricky because this is a
farmer’s entire livelihood; change is difficult, especially when there is
evidence of success with and without modification. One of the cohort’s jobs
this summer is to see if there are ways to break some barriers and help
struggling farmers make the transition easier by providing information and
forming a relationship with the local farmers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHjSe9d0mT88Sn9CVgAM96mRJ_wSpESeTBf3P3Ua_2dZWLRd4vy7qHSYw3xR89HGlhf5k0Iq4y7keDMUdHuPdo_dJnRvyI021IaghQWYbmB1fqrVsYpEHyh3asvcVQIEO1nIxPX7Gxd-yYcsIwampqh0XFB9t7vYp2_Me8-ZE4SBp3iDubNA9oIge4A/s720/Float.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHjSe9d0mT88Sn9CVgAM96mRJ_wSpESeTBf3P3Ua_2dZWLRd4vy7qHSYw3xR89HGlhf5k0Iq4y7keDMUdHuPdo_dJnRvyI021IaghQWYbmB1fqrVsYpEHyh3asvcVQIEO1nIxPX7Gxd-yYcsIwampqh0XFB9t7vYp2_Me8-ZE4SBp3iDubNA9oIge4A/w212-h282/Float.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>My project, although not focusing solely on the farmers, is
focused on trying to remediate the damage done to Lake Menomin. The lake has
extremely nutrient-rich soils entering the system that, if studied, could prove
to be the cause and solution to an issue. The lake has been dredged on
different occasions, and the soils go to landfills. This is a waste of
nutrients, so I will focus on whether harvestable crops can be grown in and
outside the lake. If the study works, it could remediate the lake into a
functional recreation <br />area, allowing nutrient-rich soil to be returned to the farmers’
lands.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKyzXqwPxrU4zR0IFXns64X8R9Ok14VH5wvDvzrBoM_p7qUHHIvWDlYUDFJ0JQfULhENfkdC3izfjMxV7C_0hbXA6VLo01PeepeaqkzN2cReVsoACeeKpVoevPwS1P0rhg6qEBYylkcRdURr6xFJbDUfN11NR4YvXFKIkFzDPU7DKkmC5BPPVT767uA/s720/Sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKyzXqwPxrU4zR0IFXns64X8R9Ok14VH5wvDvzrBoM_p7qUHHIvWDlYUDFJ0JQfULhENfkdC3izfjMxV7C_0hbXA6VLo01PeepeaqkzN2cReVsoACeeKpVoevPwS1P0rhg6qEBYylkcRdURr6xFJbDUfN11NR4YvXFKIkFzDPU7DKkmC5BPPVT767uA/s320/Sky.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">I am eager to be a part of such a strong cohort working
towards the same goal from different perspectives. The diverse backgrounds of
everyone create a fantastic dynamic based on educating each other. The
collaboration between the various disciplines will help us reach our goal to
better the environment and lives of those residing there.</p><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">I will miss the mountains, but I cannot wait to
see what experiences these hills will bring.</span></span><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></div>Evelyn Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12381063630257833279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-50987006749188038782022-07-05T11:28:00.005-05:002022-07-05T11:28:41.378-05:00Summers in Menomonie<span> <span> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1kWoxceIOMerZwwfBphgU7RGmtyBatfEvEHwkmzM8yyUHmJ06V6Yw0pWNA4pQvEraxnbYfeTPYuHsfBTYS7TLZBalY7he1TaDN6-OLvH38tyTeECMaT8ivXGq7eTiBbbDaDKy4O-B21VlTKp_ng96C1KMFzlUrJwTTVDn2X0lZD6niODKRHWucX3/s1136/bottoms.sunset.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="852" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1kWoxceIOMerZwwfBphgU7RGmtyBatfEvEHwkmzM8yyUHmJ06V6Yw0pWNA4pQvEraxnbYfeTPYuHsfBTYS7TLZBalY7he1TaDN6-OLvH38tyTeECMaT8ivXGq7eTiBbbDaDKy4O-B21VlTKp_ng96C1KMFzlUrJwTTVDn2X0lZD6niODKRHWucX3/s320/bottoms.sunset.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><span> </span>I grew up in Milwaukee, but when it was time to go to college,
I wanted something different. Naturally, I was drawn to the University of
Wisconsin Stout, and traded city living for a small town. It took some time to
get used to my new environment, but after some time, Menomonie became my new
home. I very quickly found my favorite places around town, from parks and
trails to local restaurants and breweries. One of my favorite summer activities
in Menomonie is going to the farmers market every Saturday followed by a picnic
in the park. Other hobbies of mine include gardening, embroidery, and spending
time outdoors.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As an environmental science student
at UW-Stout, I have a good understanding of The Red Cedar Watershed, and
eutrophication in Lake Menomin. Eutrophication is caused by excess nutrients,
specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, which leads to the growth and over
population of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). There are several factors that lead
to excess nitrogen and phosphorus entering surface water. This includes the
natural composition of the bed rock in western Wisconsin (high in phosphorus),
run off from forestry and agricultural land, and leakage from rural septic tanks.
The issue is complex, and there is no one solution, rather a combination of
solutions. The goal of The Lakes REU is to farther understand eutrophication in
Lake Menomin and investigate possible solutions to the problem. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Even though I am a community member, the
Lakes REU has already brought a new experience. In the first week, we visited Dan
Prestebak’s small cattle operation, which helped me farther develop my project.
His operation is a wonderful example of regenerative agriculture, a conservation
approach to farming, where uniform disturbances are avoided, and diversity is
maintained. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My project this summer will focus on no-till
and reduced-till practices along with cover cropping. These land management
techniques can drastically reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss, which is good
for the farmer and surface water. I a<br />m going to investigate why farmers do, and
do not, incorporate these land management practices in their operation. A thematic
analysis will follow these interviews, identifying patterns as to why farmers
do and don’t use different land management methods. At this point, majority of
my research has included literature reviews, but moving forward I will begin to
meet with farmers across The Red Cedar watershed. It will give context to the
land management practices incorporated on each farm, and how different practices
effect the land, which effects the watershed. I look forward to meeting with
different farmers and getting a better understanding of their perspective on the
issues within The Red Cedar Watershed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565216450265479395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-18704681623054758182022-07-05T08:00:00.001-05:002022-07-05T08:00:00.164-05:00Introduction to LAKES REU<p> <span style="font-family: inherit;">As a UW-Madison student, you would think I would be used to
the numerous lakes of Wisconsin, but my arrival to Menomonie reminded me that I
am still surprised by how many Wisconsin has. My home state of Kansas has
significantly less surface water, so lakes are a lot more exciting to me than
your typical Wisconsinite. As an environmental science and GIS major, I am
particularly interested in water quality, so I am excited about the opportunity
to study Lake Menomin and work on research that could improve its nutrient
pollution. The dynamics of nitrogen and phosphorus are complex, particularly
with excess anthropogenic inputs, so remediation of the lake is no easy task. The
frequent cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs), a result of excess
nutrients, disturb the ecosystem and recreation within and around the lake. As
part of the biology team, my project will focus on analyzing the areas of the watershed
with the greatest impact on nutrient pollution. I will use Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) tools to index land use by its contribution to
pollution and compare sub-watersheds within the whole watershed. By identifying
the areas that contribute the most to nutrient pollution, I hope to find the potential
areas conservation practices would be most effective. In addition, I may look
at how changing cropland to grassland across the watershed can impact pollution.
Moreover, I hope to further utilize my background in GIS and cartography as
well by creating maps relating to my project, such as the spatial distribution
of high impact areas or changes in land use.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My primary interest in environmental science stems from the way
it integrates so many sciences and other disciplines to create a fuller picture
of how we interact with the environment. Similarly, the LAKES REU aims to connect
social, economic, and environmental factors to study the overarching problem of
nutrient problem. During our introduction to the program, it was exciting to learn
how we will be working with various mentors and the rest of the students on
their different projects. Beyond expanding our perspectives on environmental
issues, the diverse backgrounds of the other students have already provided me
with the opportunity to learn about the environmental issues faced across the
country. And it has been incredibly enjoyable getting to know my fellow
researchers through dinners, trips, and movie nights. Outside of research, I am
looking forward to further adventures with the other students such as a trip to
Lake Superior, which most of us have never seen before. Overall, I am grateful
for this opportunity to explore scientific areas of interest and potentially
further efforts to restore Lake Menomin.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-39234038605003933722022-07-04T15:51:00.003-05:002022-07-04T15:51:22.703-05:00First Impressions<p> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW67914700 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;">My time here in the Midwest has been undoubtedly so great so far! As I arrived in the town of Menomonie, I could not help but think “Aww, I love this small-town USA vibe!” Before this summer, I never genuinely had the opportunity to live in a tight-knit small town that offered so many traditions through its events, activities, and festivities all within walking distance of the town’s neighborhoods. I absolutely loved the fact that I could bike or walk to most of the town’s offerings whenever I wanted to. In three to five minutes, I can be at any of the cute local coffee shops, bakeries, parks, downtown shops, or pubs from my room. This by far has been the greatest pleasure I have been enjoying. With this pleasure, I have been able to enjoy already a great number of things with many others from the program. Specifically, my favorite thing we have all done together so far of enjoying pizza and beer at </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW67914700 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lucette</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW67914700 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Brewing Company. It was the perfect place for all of us to meet each other and share our first meal together. That evening has </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW67914700 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2,url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;">definitely set</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW67914700 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the tone for my time here so far. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OOXk29Uih5ppJQxQN9SGtiRuBK8aD31ZsaNIWG9xISawsjIIJTGxjh8GHiwOZO3z56Sf_gENG5K6zseiknsDaPuDshKRtbAwRytD9_ZMcE1VVTe2VShlG2X5OFZJCOUo2Gj3eem7aruzKvYKmVzZcWD9-RQv_1I33VugW9ZBm0QJV5YNWpc_aoYjEw/s4032/IMG_5866.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OOXk29Uih5ppJQxQN9SGtiRuBK8aD31ZsaNIWG9xISawsjIIJTGxjh8GHiwOZO3z56Sf_gENG5K6zseiknsDaPuDshKRtbAwRytD9_ZMcE1VVTe2VShlG2X5OFZJCOUo2Gj3eem7aruzKvYKmVzZcWD9-RQv_1I33VugW9ZBm0QJV5YNWpc_aoYjEw/s320/IMG_5866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="TextRun SCXW67914700 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW67914700 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Furthermore, covering all the knowledge I have learned on watershed concepts is so much more than what I am about to summarize. The interconnected relationships, actions, and history that are all involved in this initiative have been the necessary foundation needed to comprehend the agricultural and scientific concepts being accounted for in our projects. To begin with, one of the most important things to understand about the severe eutrophication of Lake Menomin is that it is not witnessed until after at least four hot dry days have gone by. Without this condition, many people may unreasonably believe there are no severe issues to address in the watershed of Lake Menomin. This however is not the case. Cool breezy days with rainfall in between them, as we have been currently experiencing so far here in Menomonie, will not last for long. After understanding this key fact, then one is ready to understand and resonate with the rest of the environmental and agricultural processes involved. After a big pour, many of the nutrients, mainly phosphorus and nitrogen, from the watershed begin to seep into Lake Menomin as a result of various factors. These nutrients then being to pollute and toxify the surface waters through water runoff. Once these nutrients make it into the water, the cyanobacteria that are already present consume it eventually becoming too big to be eaten by the heterotrophic planktons that manage their population growth. This is when we start to see the cyanobacteria on the surface of Lake Menomin that makes it nasty and toxic, stopping everyone from being able to enjoy it. </span></span><p></p><p><span class="TextRun SCXW67914700 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW67914700 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCZsEQGPwsDJ1an9vk4IvQ6B7clb3eTGKqtPFw9MJAL0FN2osUXqJJd8d-uYe57hMwcD_7WbwkykXSSxk2xXiYI13FXm7wbO1uTbFuSj_ZzxgVOEhjnVIY98Ms7wOAivCjX39Mk16yFUrog5Ln-9KZh4fp_fnyGiDYHp7ei0tYohRgoC-w6ufrrytlg/s4032/IMG_5798.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCZsEQGPwsDJ1an9vk4IvQ6B7clb3eTGKqtPFw9MJAL0FN2osUXqJJd8d-uYe57hMwcD_7WbwkykXSSxk2xXiYI13FXm7wbO1uTbFuSj_ZzxgVOEhjnVIY98Ms7wOAivCjX39Mk16yFUrog5Ln-9KZh4fp_fnyGiDYHp7ei0tYohRgoC-w6ufrrytlg/s320/IMG_5798.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Nonetheless, given this unfortunate situation, I hope to do my best to help with my research project by working with farmers from an economic standpoint on how using and implementing best management practices will help with the eutrophication of the lake and also help them increase their profit and spend more time with their family and friends doing enjoyable activities instead of spending their entire week outside.<span class="EOP SCXW67914700 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Nallely Lepizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09965614918286751558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-19993089538401914982022-06-30T09:07:00.000-05:002022-06-30T09:07:37.129-05:00Introduction to the Bean Project <p>Hello, my name is Anna Hansen. I just finished my sophomore year at UW - Stout and I am very excited to be starting research this summer with the other Lakes Reu students and faculty. I am pursuing a degree in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science with a concentration in Business Management. I also have two minors, one in Spanish as well as one in Project Management. I am originally from Eau Claire, WI, and originally chose to go to Stout for Math Education and to play volleyball. In my free time, I like to be outside, play volleyball and spend time with friends and family. I was very interested in this opportunity as I will be using my math skills to find what amount of water is needed to grow the greatest yield of kidney beans as well as seeing how Chippewa Valley Bean operates from a business standpoint. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSfO-if6D8Pv-q5YRL4k4AOWgYPO-Qb4Ng_C6dG7_xE4u_tur2-TOPS1r93wFTXLodFdUVXDoKQZSw2WDT_JvNY09eiNq1gG1y2NScl3zybYQ-bpXuy5v7cbW7MuhfrGYIYf5lc-2Nt0-uoKU9gdt5IO83MouXuTmwnN-POHpb2oNUAtNCS37Pe45og/s4032/Head%20Shot1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSfO-if6D8Pv-q5YRL4k4AOWgYPO-Qb4Ng_C6dG7_xE4u_tur2-TOPS1r93wFTXLodFdUVXDoKQZSw2WDT_JvNY09eiNq1gG1y2NScl3zybYQ-bpXuy5v7cbW7MuhfrGYIYf5lc-2Nt0-uoKU9gdt5IO83MouXuTmwnN-POHpb2oNUAtNCS37Pe45og/s320/Head%20Shot1.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over the past two weeks, our team has been looking at articles to see what past researchers have done to solve similar problems. An article that we found very interesting is <i>Tragedy of the Commons in Plant Water Use </i>written by Zea-Cabrera et al. in 2006. In this article, they talk about the relationship between plant biomass and soil moisture. Soil Moisture and Plant Biomass are both modeled by these differential equations. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJtdPqypAfMiCebdC9H57JBHzZuCLml-O9I9y6HdmBgMNXpFngT2ybny8jRFi52ZFcKvxot0syl9_cufwgFPnpRjuWwpExLt9xCIPbCYepYMUPAf6VZ7jE9PHyEIOo8QCOSCl8WlbQkssJfG57_SDlp_RGNblOplIq9aisQLoaLf489p2-uUUtOIa9A/s490/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="490" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJtdPqypAfMiCebdC9H57JBHzZuCLml-O9I9y6HdmBgMNXpFngT2ybny8jRFi52ZFcKvxot0syl9_cufwgFPnpRjuWwpExLt9xCIPbCYepYMUPAf6VZ7jE9PHyEIOo8QCOSCl8WlbQkssJfG57_SDlp_RGNblOplIq9aisQLoaLf489p2-uUUtOIa9A/s320/Capture.PNG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">We want to begin by looking at the differential equation for soil moisture. It is important to look at this equation first because you need the soil moisture to create biomass. </span><span class="MathJax_Preview" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: unset; display: contents; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="MathJax" data-mathml="<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mfrac><mrow><mi>d</mi><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></mfrac></math>" id="MathJax-Element-532-Frame" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; direction: ltr; display: inline-table; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><nobr aria-hidden="true" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="math" id="MathJax-Span-8520" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 1.419em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 16.24px; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 1.235em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1.173em, 1001.24em, 2.897em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -2.275em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8521" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mfrac" id="MathJax-Span-8522" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0.126em; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.988em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.328em, 1000.87em, 4.19em, -999.997em); left: 8.02083px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.428em; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -4.43em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8523" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8524" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑑</span><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8525" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑆<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.003em;"></span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.328em, 1000.56em, 4.19em, -999.997em); left: 8.02083px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.305em; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.63em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8526" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8527" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑑</span><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8528" style="border: 0px; 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margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0em; width: 0.988em;"></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1.05em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 2.281em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1.646em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.568em; width: 0px;"></span></span></nobr></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"> signifies the change in soil moisture over the change in time, </span><span class="MathJax_Preview" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: unset; display: contents; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="MathJax" data-mathml="<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mi>S</mi></math>" id="MathJax-Element-533-Frame" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; direction: ltr; display: inline-table; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><nobr aria-hidden="true" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="math" id="MathJax-Span-8529" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.804em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 16.24px; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.68em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1.481em, 1000.68em, 2.528em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -2.337em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8530" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8531" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑆<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.003em;"></span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 2.343em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0.932em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.068em; width: 0px;"></span></span></nobr><span class="MJX_Assistive_MathML" role="presentation" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); display: inline; height: 1px !important; left: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; user-select: none; vertical-align: 0px; width: 1px !important;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">S</math></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">= Soil moisture, </span><span class="MathJax_Preview" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: unset; display: contents; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="MathJax" data-mathml="<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mi>t</mi></math>" id="MathJax-Element-534-Frame" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; direction: ltr; display: inline-table; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><nobr aria-hidden="true" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="math" id="MathJax-Span-8532" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.373em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 16.24px; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.311em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1.604em, 1000.31em, 2.528em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -2.337em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8533" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8534" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑡</span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 2.343em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0.789em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.068em; width: 0px;"></span></span></nobr><span class="MJX_Assistive_MathML" role="presentation" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); display: inline; height: 1px !important; left: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; user-select: none; vertical-align: 0px; width: 1px !important;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">t</math></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">= time. We then look into the equation and see </span><span class="MathJax_Preview" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: unset; display: contents; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="MathJax" data-mathml="<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mi>I</mi></math>" id="MathJax-Element-535-Frame" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; direction: ltr; display: inline-table; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><nobr aria-hidden="true" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="math" id="MathJax-Span-8535" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.68em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 16.24px; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.557em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1.481em, 1000.56em, 2.528em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -2.337em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8536" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8537" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝐼<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.065em;"></span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 2.343em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0.932em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.068em; width: 0px;"></span></span></nobr></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">= Rainfall </span><span class="MathJax_Preview" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: unset; display: contents; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="MathJax" data-mathml="<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><msub><mi>K</mi><mi>s</mi></msub><msup><mi>S</mi><mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"><mi>c</mi></mrow></msup></math>" id="MathJax-Element-536-Frame" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; direction: ltr; display: inline-table; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><nobr aria-hidden="true" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="math" id="MathJax-Span-8538" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 2.651em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 16.24px; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 2.281em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1.419em, 1002.28em, 2.651em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -2.275em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8539" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="msubsup" id="MathJax-Span-8540" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 1.173em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.143em, 1000.8em, 4.19em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.999em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8541" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝐾<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.065em;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; left: 0.742em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.876em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8542" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑠</span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="msubsup" id="MathJax-Span-8543" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 1.111em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.143em, 1000.68em, 4.19em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.999em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8544" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑆<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.003em;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; left: 0.742em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -4.369em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="texatom" id="MathJax-Span-8545" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8546" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8547" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑐</span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 2.281em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1.146em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.282em; width: 0px;"></span></span></nobr></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">= Soil drainage </span><span class="MathJax_Preview" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: unset; display: contents; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="MathJax" data-mathml="<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mi>B</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>&#x03B3;</mi><mo stretchy="false">[</mo><mi>s</mi><mo>&#x2212;</mo><msub><mi>s</mi><mi>w</mi></msub><mo stretchy="false">]</mo></mrow><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mo stretchy="false">[</mo><mi>s</mi><mo>&#x2212;</mo><msub><mi>s</mi><mi>w</mi></msub><mo stretchy="false">]</mo></mrow></mfrac><mo>)</mo></mrow></math>" id="MathJax-Element-537-Frame" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; direction: ltr; display: inline-table; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><nobr aria-hidden="true" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="math" id="MathJax-Span-8548" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 6.222em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 16.24px; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 5.36em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(2.774em, 1005.24em, 4.991em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -4.123em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8549" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8550" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝐵</span><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8551" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.188em; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8552" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.366em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: STIXMathJax_Size2; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">(</span></span><span class="mfrac" id="MathJax-Span-8553" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0.126em; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 3.02em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.328em, 1002.28em, 4.313em, -999.997em); left: 24.5208px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px -1.167em; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -4.554em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8554" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8555" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝛾<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.003em;"></span></span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8556" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">[</span><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8557" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑠</span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8558" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">−</span><span class="msubsup" id="MathJax-Span-8559" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.742em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.513em, 1000.25em, 4.19em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.999em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8560" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑠</span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; left: 0.311em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.876em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8561" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 8.12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑤</span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8562" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">]</span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.328em, 1002.84em, 4.313em, -999.997em); left: 24.5208px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px -1.413em; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.63em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8563" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8564" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑘</span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8565" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">+</span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8566" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">[</span><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8567" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑠</span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8568" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">−</span><span class="msubsup" id="MathJax-Span-8569" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.742em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.513em, 1000.25em, 4.19em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.999em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8570" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑠</span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; left: 0.311em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.876em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8571" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 8.12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑤</span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8572" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">]</span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(0.804em, 1003.02em, 1.235em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -1.29em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1.3px 0px 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0em; width: 3.02em;"></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1.05em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8573" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.366em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: STIXMathJax_Size2; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">)</span></span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.129em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 2.289em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.854em; width: 0px;"></span></span></nobr></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">= Root uptake. These three factors, factor into the change in soil moisture over time. By looking at this equation, we can see that the soil moisture will be what is left from the rain fall, after some has seeped through the soil and some water has been taken into the roots by the plant. This will leave us with a number that is the remaining soil moisture in the ground.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">The second differential equation talks about the change in biomass over the change in time </span><span class="MathJax_Preview" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: unset; display: contents; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="MathJax" data-mathml="<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mfrac><mrow><mi>d</mi><mi>B</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></mfrac></math>" id="MathJax-Element-538-Frame" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; direction: ltr; display: inline-table; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><nobr aria-hidden="true" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="math" id="MathJax-Span-8574" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 1.419em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 16.24px; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 1.235em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1.173em, 1001.24em, 2.897em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -2.275em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8575" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mfrac" id="MathJax-Span-8576" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0.126em; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.988em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.328em, 1000.87em, 4.19em, -999.997em); left: 8.02083px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.428em; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -4.43em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8577" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8578" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑑</span><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8579" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝐵</span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.328em, 1000.56em, 4.19em, -999.997em); left: 8.02083px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.305em; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.63em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8580" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8581" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑑</span><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8582" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑡</span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(0.804em, 1000.99em, 1.235em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -1.29em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1.3px 0px 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0em; width: 0.988em;"></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1.05em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 2.281em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1.646em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.568em; width: 0px;"></span></span></nobr></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"> where </span><span class="MathJax_Preview" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: unset; display: contents; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="MathJax" data-mathml="<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mi>B</mi></math>" id="MathJax-Element-539-Frame" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; direction: ltr; display: inline-table; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><nobr aria-hidden="true" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="math" id="MathJax-Span-8583" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.804em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 16.24px; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.68em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1.481em, 1000.68em, 2.528em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -2.337em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8584" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8585" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝐵</span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 2.343em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0.932em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.068em; width: 0px;"></span></span></nobr></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">= Biomass and </span><span class="MathJax_Preview" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: unset; display: contents; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="MathJax" data-mathml="<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mi>t</mi></math>" id="MathJax-Element-540-Frame" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; direction: ltr; display: inline-table; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><nobr aria-hidden="true" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="math" id="MathJax-Span-8586" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.373em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 16.24px; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.311em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1.604em, 1000.31em, 2.528em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -2.337em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8587" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8588" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑡</span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 2.343em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0.789em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.068em; width: 0px;"></span></span></nobr><span class="MJX_Assistive_MathML" role="presentation" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); display: inline; height: 1px !important; left: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; user-select: none; vertical-align: 0px; width: 1px !important;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">t</math></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">= time. In this equation we see that there are two terms inside of the whole biomass term, these two terms are </span><span class="MathJax_Preview" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: unset; display: contents; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="MathJax" data-mathml="<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mrow><mo>(</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>&#x03B1;</mi><mo stretchy="false">[</mo><mi>s</mi><mo>&#x2212;</mo><msub><mi>s</mi><mi>w</mi></msub><mo stretchy="false">]</mo></mrow><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mo stretchy="false">[</mo><mi>s</mi><mo>&#x2212;</mo><msub><mi>s</mi><mi>w</mi></msub><mo stretchy="false">]</mo></mrow></mfrac><mo>)</mo></mrow></math>" id="MathJax-Element-541-Frame" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; direction: ltr; display: inline-table; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><nobr aria-hidden="true" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="math" id="MathJax-Span-8589" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 5.237em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 16.24px; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 4.498em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(2.774em, 1004.38em, 4.991em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -4.123em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8590" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8591" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8592" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.366em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: STIXMathJax_Size2; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">(</span></span><span class="mfrac" id="MathJax-Span-8593" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0.126em; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 3.02em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.328em, 1002.34em, 4.313em, -999.997em); left: 24.5208px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px -1.167em; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -4.554em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8594" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8595" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝛼<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.003em;"></span></span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8596" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">[</span><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8597" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑠</span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8598" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">−</span><span class="msubsup" id="MathJax-Span-8599" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.742em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.513em, 1000.25em, 4.19em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.999em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8600" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑠</span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; left: 0.311em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.876em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8601" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 8.12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑤</span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8602" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">]</span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.328em, 1002.84em, 4.313em, -999.997em); left: 24.5208px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px -1.413em; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.63em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8603" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8604" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑘</span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8605" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">+</span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8606" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">[</span><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8607" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑠</span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8608" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">−</span><span class="msubsup" id="MathJax-Span-8609" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.742em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(3.513em, 1000.25em, 4.19em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.999em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8610" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑠</span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; left: 0.311em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3.876em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8611" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; font-size: 8.12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝑤</span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8612" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Main; font-size: 11.4817px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">]</span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.006em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(0.804em, 1003.02em, 1.235em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -1.29em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1.3px 0px 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0em; width: 3.02em;"></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1.05em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="mo" id="MathJax-Span-8613" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.366em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: STIXMathJax_Size2; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">)</span></span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 4.129em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 2.289em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.854em; width: 0px;"></span></span></nobr></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">= Energy Production, and </span><span class="MathJax_Preview" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: unset; display: contents; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="MathJax" data-mathml="<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mi>&#x03B2;</mi></math>" id="MathJax-Element-542-Frame" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; direction: ltr; display: inline-table; float: none; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><nobr aria-hidden="true" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: unset; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="math" id="MathJax-Span-8614" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.619em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 16.24px; height: 0px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.496em;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(1.481em, 1000.5em, 2.712em, -999.997em); left: 0em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -2.337em; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mrow" id="MathJax-Span-8615" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;"><span class="mi" id="MathJax-Span-8616" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline; font-family: STIXMathJax_Normal-italic; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px;">𝛽<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0.003em;"></span></span></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 2.343em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: 0px; width: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; height: 1.146em; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: -0.282em; width: 0px;"></span></span></nobr></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"> = Energy for Maintenance. By looking at this equation you can see how the plant is either growing or dying. If energy production is greater than the energy for maintenance, then the plant is growing. If the energy for maintenance is greater than the energy production, then the plant is dying because it is not able to maintain itself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">To analyze these equations, we looked at equilibrium solutions and well as graphed these two differential equations using python. In python we coded the two differential equations so we could visually see what they looked like. By using python, we can manipulate the variables to see what changes can be made to affect the graph.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIORoEemXKTy-G8jO3w9J1S8TUxjKN53_zkttfe5dKMpJqMheWAd_RFY7aQRB-UW-yeb15qRc5wNNDR-Trg86-O6mTg_919FbjIaOhd1Y7H8ZJjLcBBGoYQjdfu0PQ8D648IMHfVLOab_bbEJg80cmSMydW7cuI7cD7zqecEN23LnyyBSJPVYr-2TwwA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="653" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIORoEemXKTy-G8jO3w9J1S8TUxjKN53_zkttfe5dKMpJqMheWAd_RFY7aQRB-UW-yeb15qRc5wNNDR-Trg86-O6mTg_919FbjIaOhd1Y7H8ZJjLcBBGoYQjdfu0PQ8D648IMHfVLOab_bbEJg80cmSMydW7cuI7cD7zqecEN23LnyyBSJPVYr-2TwwA" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDOppxtjfWGSiduG9cBNjIE-l4RLau7DkA2aJ9bPvfrXC2YgnzrENvKmrZremJf4YsQ3zg6BH48G4z07i9S5rPAET_b9Fu1JHev8WFIkoN4dHmg6VJ_CJ0tmKUI9PAYn_4EAG1G9L00E4g9MZ1UZO1KKouhgOnVwmftOaM6b1vfj3cm58xk0m4vxMc-w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="653" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDOppxtjfWGSiduG9cBNjIE-l4RLau7DkA2aJ9bPvfrXC2YgnzrENvKmrZremJf4YsQ3zg6BH48G4z07i9S5rPAET_b9Fu1JHev8WFIkoN4dHmg6VJ_CJ0tmKUI9PAYn_4EAG1G9L00E4g9MZ1UZO1KKouhgOnVwmftOaM6b1vfj3cm58xk0m4vxMc-w" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">In the upcoming weeks, we hope to find more equations from articles that are similar to these. We are also going to be trying to build new equations from these equations to help create an equation that will model how much water is needed to get the maximum kidney bean yield. We believe that the soil </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">moisture</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> and biomass equations will be helpful in the future as we are studying how water affects the total yield of kidney beans.</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><br /><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Anna Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11512140260387994442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-18656426663698460602022-06-29T23:43:00.001-05:002022-06-29T23:43:39.673-05:00My first sources: Three nice deer <span> </span>When I was first applying to LAKES, one of things that stuck out to me most was how it takes an interdisciplinary approach to a problem that could easily be reduced to a biological process, phosphorus pollution. As someone studying Biology and Global Health, I have grown to appreciate the interlocking nature of biology, psychology, engineering, anthropology, and math. From these two weeks, it is already clear that to provide valuable solutions to these problems, there needs to be communication between all invested parties including farmers, conservationists, engineers, policy makers, and more. Learning about how best management practices can improve water quality is one thing but hearing from local farmers about what this means in practice added some much-needed context to understand the difficulties of implementation and why it’s not always an easy choice to make. It has been great to be working so closely with people from many different disciplines and learn about phosphorus pollution from several different dimensions. <br /><br /> <span> </span>This summer, I will be on the anthropology team lead by Dr. Tina Lee. My focus will be researching the Colfax Red Cedar Preserve and Recreation Area, which is about a 25-minute drive from Menomonie. My aims are to figure out the history of this land, how people are engaging with this land now, and what visions people have for future land use. As a preserve along the Red Cedar River, upstream of Lakes Menomin and Tainter, this preserve is one of many conservation sites that could help reduce nutrient pollution at the watershed scale. By taking an anthropological approach to this issue, I am hopeful that the recommendations for land management and recreation that arise will balance the ecological and social needs of this area well. <br /><br /><span> </span>Of course, in order to do this research, I wanted to see the preserve. On Friday on week 1, I drove to the preserve with my two other anthropology team members to check it out. It was a very quiet and peaceful place with a lot of obvious signs of care. On the welcome board, there was a list of all the wildlife that had been spotted on the preserve recently. While I haven’t started interviewing for my project yet, we had the pleasure of encountering a group of three deer walking along the Red Cedar River and I chatted with them for a bit.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="#" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4NyZo1p3tthLFItEAU-0P27siOFpEnYLHRqnQgorTLOM0Vs-DEsCjohjJRClfDDaE-oLxsAU9LEhcvBymPeEC_2ocAADUjr9m-rZGtYtizQAJlk7T_VrojvcWgDbd5pIKlDVQieCGQaJZPbdUaAUdDEOCjuWu9TkXWoOmdgD8Nd0OpeqAgN9tPBg/s320/Preserve%20Deer.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i>Deer mom with her two kiddos taking a walk along the Red Cedar River</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <span> </span>While this is an intensive program, there have still been plenty of opportunities to get out and explore the area. On the first night I arrived, the LAKES folks went out to dinner at Lucette, where we had amazing pizza. Then, on Tuesday, I went to my first pie and ice cream night at Wilson Park. It was lovely to sit on the grass and listen to some tunes while eating pecan pie. Best of all, when it was over the pie sellers had a lot of treats left over so they were giving them away for free! Me and some of the other REU students were happy to take back a few boxes of pie, cookies, and muffins to share with the rest of the dorm. Over the weekend, there was also time to take a trip to The Bottoms, a nearby beach. It was so nice to spend time outside with folks and see another spot that’s a local favorite. I look forward to attending many more community events and learning about all the hidden gems that this area has to offer. <br /><br /><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15222425 BCX9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p style="font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></p></div>Erin McCotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590292687666850453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-54787560116405506052022-06-29T16:10:00.001-05:002022-06-29T16:10:22.600-05:00A Summer of Pie, Live Music, and Intensive Research <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgynNOAMLgi2uEkiTgRXqTGr-VjIKsyNrI7o_I3HtscBl2iaqFgiQCc339ifnSMd-7qklsgV23UbeaBdjdNFRK2j7Lmburmtx0NS9dX2Q3Ewu8rXXfK5CzSOIQd5Ilg0ldRBYBkx1p6GQR2CwblY0teZx25ForFqJJUceazPuOWEhM_UPIcYrAiFxCD" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgynNOAMLgi2uEkiTgRXqTGr-VjIKsyNrI7o_I3HtscBl2iaqFgiQCc339ifnSMd-7qklsgV23UbeaBdjdNFRK2j7Lmburmtx0NS9dX2Q3Ewu8rXXfK5CzSOIQd5Ilg0ldRBYBkx1p6GQR2CwblY0teZx25ForFqJJUceazPuOWEhM_UPIcYrAiFxCD=w395-h296" width="395" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p><span class="TextRun SCXW202369766 BCX9" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW202369766 BCX9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>A view of Lake Menomin at sunset </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW202369766 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":2,"335551620":2,"335559731":720,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span> <span class="TextRun SCXW181501186 BCX9" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW181501186 BCX9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Arriving at the airport on June 13</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW181501186 BCX9" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-size: 8.5pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW181501186 BCX9" data-fontsize="11" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW181501186 BCX9" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW181501186 BCX9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into. Spending two months doing intensive research with other students and living 2,000 miles from my home was daunting to say the least. However, I arrived with an open mind, and ready to learn from my mentor and peers in a new location. I was also excited to see whether the rumors about Midwestern hospitality and friendliness were true (they are). On my first day in Menomonie, I was introduced to the other students in the LAKES program, the mentors, and our program coordinator over a pizza dinner. While exhausted from my flight, I appreciated how genuinely interested everyone was in my background and interests. When exploring Menomonie over the next few days, I was surprised by how empty the town felt without the presence of UW-Stout students, but happy to notice how engaged the townspeople were in community events. From pie and live music at the park to brewery events and a vibrant farmers market, I have yet to feel bored of activities happening in town. I have also been pleasantly surprised by how interested townspeople are in the work that I am doing this summer with LAKES. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW181501186 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><p></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW140655358 BCX9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW140655358 BCX9" paraeid="{cbb9f42f-ca4b-48e4-a89b-e16b16292cbf}{192}" paraid="323685" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW140655358 BCX9" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">For the next 8 weeks, I will be working on Dr. Tina Lee’s anthropology team with 3 other students. There are also teams of students working on biology, engineering, and psychology projects. While we are all working on different projects, we are united in studying Lakes Tainter and Menomin in the Red Cedar Watershed. These lakes are eutrophic, have cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs), and have been designated “impaired waters” by the EPA. These CHABs create an anoxic lake environment, alter food webs, and produce toxins that can be harmful to humans and pets. Runoff from agricultural sources which are high in soluble phosphorus feed these algal blooms. </span><span class="EOP SCXW140655358 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW140655358 BCX9" paraeid="{cbb9f42f-ca4b-48e4-a89b-e16b16292cbf}{192}" paraid="323685" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="EOP SCXW140655358 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW140655358 BCX9" paraeid="{cbb9f42f-ca4b-48e4-a89b-e16b16292cbf}{192}" paraid="323685" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW140655358 BCX9" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW140655358 BCX9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The goal of my project is to understand the policies, rules, and regulations around nutrient pollution in the Red Cedar Watershed. Because my project is policy-focused, my first task was to write up a policy landscape detailing federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding nutrient pollution. This activity will help me during the interview stage so that information doesn’t go over my head when talking to policy professionals in the area. I am also hoping to identify a “need” within the community regarding these policies. For example, past projects have cited </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW140655358 BCX9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">that many community members </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW140655358 BCX9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">aren’t aware of the different county or state initiatives addressing the pollution in the watershed. Community members may also not be aware of how effective these policies have been at reducing phosphorus levels. How might I identify this need, quantify the effectiveness of these policies, and present this information in a way that is accessible to townspeople? I am currently in the data collection stage, and recently started interviewing members of local government, NGOs, and community advocacy groups. So far, I have conducted two interviews and attended a meeting of community advocacy groups and a meeting of an environmental committee. I also worked with the psychology team to include questions in a survey for local farmers about their satisfaction with local government and their understanding of policies and permits related to cleaning up the watershed. As I continue to conduct interviews, I expect my research focus to narrow further. I’m excited for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW140655358 BCX9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">the next</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW140655358 BCX9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> 8 weeks! </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW140655358 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div>Audrey Chohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15217671993240799116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-10857524700384221702022-06-29T15:53:00.000-05:002022-06-29T15:53:07.406-05:00Introduction to the Bean Project (Audrey)<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><span style="font-family: times;"> Hi, my name is Audrey Williams. I grew up in Necedah Wisconsin and I am a junior in Applied Math and Computer Science here at UW-Stout. My hobbies include gardening, being outside, and hanging out with my friends. I am currently working with UW Stout Faculty, Keith Wojciechowski and Tyler Skorczewski, and fellow AMCS Student Anna Hansen to do research for Chippewa Valley Bean. The problem we need to solve for CVB is how much water does it take to grow a hundred weight of dark red kidney beans. They are expanding their farmland into parts of Wisconsin where the soil is sandier, making it harder to manage their water resources. We will be using math and computer science to help CVB solve their problem for the next 9 weeks.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; text-align: left;"><span> </span><span> </span>The first step to solving our problem was to go talk with the experts of Kidney Beans, CVB. We went and toured their bean processing plant with the rest of the Lakes REU group and saw the whole process of cleaning the beans and preparing them to be sent out to be used by different companies. We learned that CVB is responsible for providing 40% of the worlds kidney beans and they are the largest kidney bean processor in the world. One way that CVB processes their beans is by giving them a grade and putting them into categories. Beans that didn't have any cosmetic defects were considered full beans. For those that had some small defects, like missing skin or a partially intact bean, CVB chose to branch out into other international markets to find a way to still make sure all of their beans get used. Because these beans are still nutritious and viable, one option for these beans is to be made into bean paste to be used in Asian confectionary cooking.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"> </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Chippewa Valley Bean striving to become more sustainable is also a reason that we are working with them. The bulk of their farms that are in close range of the processing plant in Elk Mound Wisconsin are in Minnesota. The Vice President of CVB, Charles Wachsmuth, explained to us that they track their trucks in diesel fuel miles. This means that if they wanted to expand more into Western Minnesota and the Dakotas, that they would be paying more for fuel and polluting the environment more by doing so. Mr.Wachsmuth also explained that with the supply chain issues going on, it is hard to find truck drivers and train routes to get the product where it needs to go efficiently and in a timely manner. The sandier soils of Wisconsin make growing kidney beans efficiently a challenge, but the added benefit of being closer to the processing facility makes for a large incentive.</span></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7ogmYckCo-msOoU6avbvX7a0o0Rja2X36ODEa3Cp36MNHaSQyVqDbYO8f8nCc4WljI2ziYi_NM307ily4LGYPAC1Iz1UUsv6EYjToy0nAAol6RUSl-mWyl5fjN7UsjbDJT2izfCRmelsP7jLW6tDbskHuUTahd1TevFbU9ub7dP4b-w4X1Qhdl1F/s4032/IMG_1801.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7ogmYckCo-msOoU6avbvX7a0o0Rja2X36ODEa3Cp36MNHaSQyVqDbYO8f8nCc4WljI2ziYi_NM307ily4LGYPAC1Iz1UUsv6EYjToy0nAAol6RUSl-mWyl5fjN7UsjbDJT2izfCRmelsP7jLW6tDbskHuUTahd1TevFbU9ub7dP4b-w4X1Qhdl1F/w295-h221/IMG_1801.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storage building at <br />Chippewa Valley Bean</td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqBYJeOeP3uGrPhETUKA794nDJaQoX7LXm6xpXEMqj_GX8Xxqv1yqld8pnZVeZewmKqaK26H2qMh3-BWLDp1AyjVOJV-J8F-vVjAbncOUpHdBa5IDYipN-4Pame0GTxAQH4pbnQOuBx3Ch6it8kjBg6zHLebpd2qWgL9CcbgpbeIM5dKthrcHnAYX/s828/AudreyblogHeadshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="828" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqBYJeOeP3uGrPhETUKA794nDJaQoX7LXm6xpXEMqj_GX8Xxqv1yqld8pnZVeZewmKqaK26H2qMh3-BWLDp1AyjVOJV-J8F-vVjAbncOUpHdBa5IDYipN-4Pame0GTxAQH4pbnQOuBx3Ch6it8kjBg6zHLebpd2qWgL9CcbgpbeIM5dKthrcHnAYX/w293-h247/AudreyblogHeadshot.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audrey Williams </td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></span></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"></span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></div></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p>AudreyWilliamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05488814123356140401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-81405025381533531642022-06-29T11:41:00.000-05:002022-06-29T11:41:04.154-05:00A Midwestern Summer, and other thoughts<p> <span> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">In Menomonie, the balance of rural
life and proximity to urban centers combine perfectly into what I wanted in a
summer experience. I am from the Twin Cities, so the heat of the past few weeks
(as miserable as it has been) feels comfortable in its predictability. The
fresh produce from the bi-weekly farmers market, the community events, the
familiar faces that pop up even after only being here for less than two weeks –
these things are entirely foreign to me, yet I already feel used to them.</span></p><p><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span> </span>This familiarity extends to the
water. Visible almost anywhere in town, large, glittering: lake Menomin. Even
green and smelly, lakes have their own vast organic beauty about them that I
admire. The lake next to my house, Lake Como, has a similar algae problem so
growing up I assumed that was the fate of any lake with enough human activity
around it, but it’s still surprising to see at such a culturally impactful
scale. The town is small enough, and the lake is big enough, that everyone is
somehow connected. The watershed is the veins and the lake the beating heart of
the community. It feels strangely intimate to attempt to come in as a heart
surgeon.</span></p><p><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span> </span>That metaphor makes it sound more
impressive than it is though. I wanted my summer experience to be related to
agricultural conservation. Coming from school in Rhode Island (maybe the only
state small enough where 100% of the land is considered urban), I had little
opportunity to work with large-scale agricultural activities and actually speak
to farmers. Coming from home in Minnesota, I knew I needed to have those
conversations to get a truly comprehensive picture of environmental issues in
the United States. The work I am doing this summer perfectly encapsulates that.
So far, I have been researching and speaking with farmers and agricultural
services workers more than ever before in my life and I already feel like I’ve
learned so much. Farmers care about the environment more than they are given
credit for, know much more than I know. I can learn about nutrient management
policies and eutrophication as much as I want but at the end of the day, education
in isolation isn’t a panacea.</span></p><p><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span> </span>I feel like what we are doing in
the LAKES REU program – spanning across biology, economics, political science,
psychology, anthropology, engineering – is contributing to a greater picture of
what solving environmental problems really needs to look like in the future in
order to not collapse as a society. We need to be flexible, multifaceted,
nuanced, and always ready to learn something new.</span></p><p><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span> </span>In the future, I want to work for
the federal government. Our country can feel so broken and divided and stuck in
this moment, but I just see that as a challenge. Lake Menomin also seems doomed
to forever be green, but that simply isn’t true. We can come together and
support each other and imagine a better future on any scale we are willing to
take on.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>Aiyanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513765127061010474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-32717034479199017922022-06-29T09:08:00.000-05:002022-06-29T09:08:14.914-05:00First Impressions of the LAKES REU<p><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I was interested in joining the
LAKES Program because I would have the opportunity to apply my learning in
different ways. This program entails understanding the root causes and factors
that are contributing to the pollution in surrounding waters. We get to
confront this problem from different angles, from biology to anthropology, and
even psychology. This program is really interesting because people from
different backgrounds are coming together to analyze and solve the different
problems surrounding the pollution of the local watershed.</span></p><p><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I am on the psychology team which
means that I am looking at this issue from a social perspective. In my project,
I am going to examine how certain management practices are perceived among
farmers and how different social norms tie into them. Once I collect data
through a variety of surveys, I’ll be able to analyze how these perceptions
influence how common or uncommon farmers think certain practices are,
specifically practices that are not visible. Their perceptions of the different
management practices are going to be compared to reality, how many farmers are
actually participating in these different practices. Something that I have
learned through the first couple of weeks here has been how to apply the
different norms that I’m going to be looking at, specifically descriptive and
injunctive norms. A descriptive norm is what most people in a group think or do
whereas an injunctive norm reflects people’s perceptions of what behaviors are
approved or disapproved by others. One barrier we have had to overcome is
finding a way to create questions for the survey that are easy to comprehend
and worded correctly. Some questions could cause confusion among participants,
which could make the analyzing process difficult. My mentor Sarah Wood has been
great in helping me through this whole process.</span></p><p><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Before coming to Menomonie, I was
nervous because I would be far from my family in a state that I have never
visited. Everyone in the program has been very welcoming and I have had a lot
of fun getting to know this charming town. When we arrived, we went to a cute
place that made pizza from scratch and it was delicious. That was a great place
to meet everyone and get to know all the mentors. The campus is also very
beautiful, and it has been a great experience getting to walk around and see
everything it has to offer. We also went to a farm and talked about different
types of management practices and soil. It was a beautiful farm and I enjoyed
seeing the farmer’s cows and eating the delicious food they had prepared for
us. One of my favorite things I have done this summer was that I visited a cute
thrift shop. Everything was a dollar or less, which was crazy to me. I was able
to find some cute clothes and I even got some stuff for my siblings back home.
All of us also got bikes that we could use to ride around town, and last week
was the first time in years since I’ve ridden a bike. I definitely had to
adjust to the bike because I was very rusty. I have had a great experience so
far in the LAKES Program and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer
has to offer.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAvpt7hwwxbbZSfuvPR_az82v7TNG9-KJQwmIqrAa10jVv31riJscFMGeG7qo3RjkRlh-Cqgj35rnCxDDTHZaF9-Bcog6D6PYdxbbqeYt44CmkHTR4ijxSfzPxqZPrSBLe9TUzQU_56pevxjgYKHXG5TzE2xf-m-n5Up6ewEyLmaWr_FrJ1D4kJ_6/s3300/IMG_7256.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="3300" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAvpt7hwwxbbZSfuvPR_az82v7TNG9-KJQwmIqrAa10jVv31riJscFMGeG7qo3RjkRlh-Cqgj35rnCxDDTHZaF9-Bcog6D6PYdxbbqeYt44CmkHTR4ijxSfzPxqZPrSBLe9TUzQU_56pevxjgYKHXG5TzE2xf-m-n5Up6ewEyLmaWr_FrJ1D4kJ_6/s320/IMG_7256.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><o:p></o:p></p>Nidiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07331160535955419124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-15016834905262722362022-06-28T14:38:00.003-05:002022-06-28T14:40:04.556-05:00Testing the Waters: Initial Impressions of the LAKES REU<p> <img height="468" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fuNBQdE11rMnVDltxxY7QuBVLscJ9SrjeKBGDLNujdz7R4upA4-J_wOEZzsJg481b6FEqjPU89ZnqkqmgnFVPx4Ei7OjgTJ0DI2cVymRuF-zRFJBZlNRjehWDT5H1vICQlkb2Q09iArNJQoo7Q" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="624" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coming from the West to the Midwest, it quickly became clear to me that the Midwest is a haven of environmentalism, and Menomonie was right where I needed to be as an eager applied engineer. Everywhere I went, be it the shops on Main Street or community fairs and concerts, I was able to have a conversation with someone about Lake Menomin, which has been experiencing harmful cyanobacteria blooms for over 10 years now. The summer heat provides the perfect conditions for these organisms to take over. Cyanobacteria initiate the breakdown of the aquatic ecosystem by increasing the concentration of phosphorus and reducing the amount of oxygen in the lake.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Combatting cyanobacteria buildup is a challenge for many reasons, one of which is that high-frequency remote monitoring systems for lake health do not yet exist. Current sampling is done only every once in a while, and while data is collected at the state level through the DNR, that data is not easily accessible to citizens of the City of Menomonie. The engineering team at the LAKES summer research program aims to address these issues. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 468px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="468" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/y7uz9xRq9ZCZzLIduyc2Qj6GHSz5T0uvEqYkq-hBU0sM7BvOSBzgv9EjUQJrDqTLpQKDTVRCjgs4dlIVOu5mcL4Ar7G5iNVcuwak0YIFx95NkgGijgoFmEn1pA-x-pZ4CW95DyHqWjjYg8EW_Q" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our goal in the LAKES program is to set precedent for future lake research, as well as explore various treatment and mitigation efforts for nutrient excess in Menomin. While nutrient excess is not an overnight problem with an overnight solution, it is possible for more people to be involved in the problem-solving process after this summer. This is the vision of the LAKES engineering team. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What we have in mind is an inexpensive electronic monitoring system, outfitted with deep-range lake health metrics including but not limited to temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and more, all monitored by a LoRA microcomputer module network. Each node in the overall network would have its respective sensors ping data to the rest of the network, and the data would travel along the chain until it gets to home base, an Excel spreadsheet with each metric and the location it was collected in. By the end of the program, we hope to transfer the Excel data to a more readable format, such as a website or mobile app. This format will allow the people of Menomonie, eager to help in any way they can, to easily keep tabs on lake health. We hope our progress can be continued and exceeded after this summer by Stout’s bright fall semester students.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE GOAL</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Halting the decades-long deterioration of a lake is an ambitious goal. But with the REU program’s tag-team efforts, combining engineering, economics, biology, sociology, and psychology, we hope to increase the collective consciousness of all stakeholders and approach the goal from an optimization perspective. Using our combined knowledge, we can deploy the first prototype monitors, filters, and remediators to the places in the watershed where they are most needed, in order to achieve the greatest positive effect overall.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two weeks in, my LAKES teammates and mentors have helped me ascertain direction as a scientist, researcher, and rising professional. But I also cherish the fun times they’ve shared with me, with strolls through the farmer’s market and trips to beautiful swimming holes. When the go-getter in me stresses about what I will be able to accomplish this summer, I remember to do my best, knowing that my colleagues and friends have got my back if I need it, and vice versa. My goal for this summer is to do the most that I can with engineering, and get more people interested in working on this problem during our community forum in August. Maybe the way I approach the goal changes; maybe the circuit fails the first few times. But we have weeks to get it right, and I know we will get it right in some way, shape, or form. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer brings.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 468px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="468" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IvOrupZDioYYED-YkPE6HXN3aMx47SLbz7Ap00iwnBKlNAYWRoC8QqfgPnCux6aURwXbZFjWcwKv1SDVogwnRRXJ0gY5K8rG6Tbuu6rvMkVSI_0QqFnAW9sIkrX7V02VR5AaplsNpVHjlrRSJg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p><br />Sahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340770250669687484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-68000349581644060672019-08-20T13:49:00.001-05:002019-08-20T13:49:13.266-05:00A Farewell to Summer<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> This summer, my research team explored the potential
for biochar to combat nutrient pollution in aquatic environments. Arthur,
Madeline and I went through the process of biochar creation in a laboratory,
and employed various chemical treatments in order to study which method most
effectively extracted phosphorus from lake water samples. Biochar is a stable
solid that is formed through pyrolysis, the burning of organic matter in the
absence of oxygen. This results in a charcoal compound that can be treated with
metallic compounds in order to extract aquatic pollutants such as nitrogen (N)
and phosphorus (P). The extraction process occurs through chemical binding, in
which positively charged metals used to treat the biochar attract the
negatively charged phosphorus and nitrogen ions suspended in the lake water.
Biochar has additional uses besides nutrient extraction. It can function as a
carbon sink, plays a role in pollution remediation, and can be used a soil amendment
to facilitate the growth of terrestrial plants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Through
the following chemical treatments, my research team and I were able to
determine which methods showed the most potential for nutrient pollution
reduction. Method 1 consisted of magnetite (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>),
Method 2 consisted of iron (II) sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO<sub>4</sub></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math";">⋅</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">7H<sub>2</sub>O), Method
3 consisted of commercial biochar (treated with magnesium and aluminum), and
then we had a series of untreated biochar, and untreated biochar with a water
rinse. We pyrolyzed two types of organic matter—buckthorn and reed canary
grass. Both of these species are invasive in the Wisconsin area, indicating
that biochar can be used to combat invasive species and prevent further
ecosystem disruption. Our results showed that Method 2 for buckthorn was the
most effective at removing phosphorus. We found that buckthorn Method 1 also
showed a decrease in phosphorus, thought it was only a slight reduction and was
not as consistently effective as buckthorn Method 2. Finally, we found that in
the case of reed canary grass, all of the chemical treatment methods ended up
adding phosphorus to the system. Though these findings were relatively
unfortunate in terms of reed canary grass’s potential to be used in biochar,
they did suggest that this species could be used for soil amendment, as
terrestrial plants could rely heavily on the high amounts of phosphorus for
growth. My team and I also performed calculations to determine the sheer amount
of biochar that would be needed to fully combat the daily inflow of phosphorus.
We calculated that approximately 40,000 pounds, or about 20 tons, of biochar
would be needed to reduce the phosphorus pollution that is deposited on a daily
basis. Overall, our experimental results indicate that the phosphorus extraction
ability of biochar largely depends on the source material used and the chemical
treatment method employed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Reflecting
back on this summer, I have come to truly appreciate how much I have learned
and the different ways in which I have grown. Primarily, I was able to develop
the scope of my scientific knowledge. I have familiarized myself with a variety
of new laboratory techniques, such as SRP and TP analysis, centrifuge and UV
spectrometer operation, chemical agent preparation, and biochar treatment with
metallic compounds. I was also able to hone skills found outside a laboratory
environment, including interviewing and public speaking, connecting with
members of the Menomonie community, and branching outside of my comfort zone
with activities such as tractor driving, canoeing, and some intense biking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have also noticed the
ways in which I have changed as a person. First, I have become more confident
in myself, both as a student and as a friend. I fostered good connections with
my fellow researchers and mentors, and was able to better understand the
qualities that I look for in others. Additionally, I was able to dive into
things that make me content, such as spending time in nature, biking, and being
with people who share similar passions to me. Finally, I am grateful that I was
lucky enough to befriend nine incredibly smart, fun, and thoughtful women. I
made some excellent friendships and experienced different schools of thought
from students that were from all over the United States. I was glad to be the
only one from my state that participated in this program, because I feel like
this position helped me to focus on environmental issues that are not exclusive
to my hometown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This program has also
enabled me to further myself career-wise. I have experienced two months of
focused research, and produced a graduate-school level scientific poster.
Researching critical environmental problems that have a significant effect on
the Menomonie community has made me more aware of the scale of anthropogenic
climate issues. I have also refined my scientific interests in terms of wanting
to go into a research field, and have become more confident about going to
graduate school. I would still like to learn more about the various fields I
could go into, but I have heard positive things about obtaining a master’s
degree. Overall, I had a fantastic summer and I am thrilled that I was chosen
for this experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Marcella Domkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690539357090799909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-58109555995794791592019-08-07T18:29:00.000-05:002019-08-07T18:35:28.673-05:00Stewards of the Land<div>
There’s a recurring misconception that Lake Menomin has always been green, yet this is not the case. In fact the lake hasn’t always been a lake! The Red Cedar Watershed has a long history tied to various communities with different values. Dissecting the past offers us invaluable insight into the different ways that we have shaped the land and in turn, how the land has shaped us. By cultivating a general understanding of the implications of our past relationships to the Red Cedar Watershed, we become more informed and engaged with our current social and ecological communities that make our home, home. </div>
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This summer my partner Esther and I dedicated our summer to understanding these changes by asking: (1) <i>How have interactions with the land evolved over time and what can we infer about our current and future land use patterns?</i> And (2) <i>How have our relationships to water changed and what forces acted to maintain or impede these changes?</i></div>
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Esther and I spent weeks digging through archival materials that included everything from travel brochures and postcards, to maps and oral histories. We analyzed all of this and took note of recurring themes. Each of these shed a unique light on the changing public and personal perceptions of the Red Cedar Watershed over the last several centuries. We were then able to condense these interactions into four primary epochs describing the driving forces behind interactions. These four consisted of: viewing the watershed as a source of livelihood; as an economic resource; as having recreational value; and most recently, as having an aesthetic/symbolic value to the community. </div>
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As early as 8000 BC the Ojibwe called much of northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan home. Our research on pre-settlement land relationships focused on primarily the Ojibwe and their traditional relationships to the land as they depended upon it for sustenance. Wild rice was not only a staple part of their diet but also their culture. Wild rice fields once lined the shores of upper Midwest wetlands and were regularly managed by the native families who would return each year to harvest and to reseed. Controlled burning, hunting, and foraging were also commonly practiced. </div>
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Even today, the Ojibwe understand the land through Gakina-awiiya which means “We Are All Related”. This concept acknowledges that the environment should be treated with the same respect as a person, and therefore fosters more sustainable management practices and relationships to the land. </div>
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The next era was marked by an abrupt change in land use patterns and is a defining part of modern relationships to land. This era was defined by treating the land solely as an economic resource. With the influx of white settlement, the fur trade exploded while beaver populations plummeted. By the 1800s the fur trade had collapsed but the prospects of the timber industry encouraged settlement and extractive economies at a rate even greater than before. Yet again, destructive actions upon the land such as wetland removal, damming, and logging all had permanent effects on the environment despite the timber industry’s short-lived prosperity.</div>
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Moving into the 1900’s, we see that the environment maintains its economic significance through agricultural means but has developed recreational, symbolic, and aesthetic value. The town of Menomonie viewed the Red Cedar River and Lake Menomin as being deeply tied to its sense of community and sought to drive in tourism by promoting things like swimming, canoeing, and fishing. At the same time, the introduction of synthetic fertilizers, lawn mowing, and recreational parks become extremely popular and also have had long term effects on the land. </div>
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There’s no doubt that we’re at a turning point. As early as the 1970’s newspapers began mentioning green algae blooms affecting Lake Menomin. Relationships to the land are changing and our research shows that striving towards a reconciliatory landscape that acknowledges human’s role in the complex network of actors is vital as we move into the future.</div>
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It is important to acknowledge that there is no achievable “novel” landscape. However the more exploitative, extractive, and uneven our relationship to the watershed is, the more vulnerable it is to unsustainable interactions. Connection to the watershed is strongly associated with better land management practices, and should be cultivated through engaging with the community, participatory-based research, and integrative land management practices. As voters, community members, and stewards of the land we owe it to the watershed to acknowledge its inherent value, to stay informed and educated, and to acknowledge that we are not separate from, but part of the “natural” world. </div>
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Although the landscape has been physically and culturally altered by active and passive colonial, economic, and natural processes, it is necessary that we learn about and care for the land. Traditional and Local Ecological Knowledge of the environmental history of this place can inform current restoration practices. By working with the local community, which knows and values this place, scientists can make better conservation and restoration decisions.</div>
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This summer has instilled a new sense of passion and curiosity in me. Water quality, management, and access are without a doubt universal issues; the solutions certainly won’t be quick or easy, but they must strive to address social, environmental, and long term problems. Approaching the issues holistically and collaboratively, we can be sure that we’re taking regular vital steps to cultivating a more sustainable network of humans and the earth. </div>
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IvyHuwaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032680340783023848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-74055017836617667542019-07-17T09:40:00.002-05:002019-07-17T22:00:39.447-05:00Clare Salerno<br />
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I'm currently living in Washington DC and working as a
research assistant at a think tank/research organization called the Urban
Institute in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities policy center. It's
pretty cool that I get to work on a lot of research similar to the LAKES
project--mixed methods and community-based--but with more of a housing focus.
About half of my projects are evaluations of federal housing programs, and my
office is right next to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which
is pretty neat (and provides ample opportunities for becoming acquainted with
government bureaucracy at its finest). I'm definitely grateful for my
experience in Menomonie for preparing me to do this kind of research.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other than that, I still run a lot (and still miss running
in Menomonie), bike everywhere, sometimes hang with Erin who also lives in the
city, and would still lose to Alexis in an arm wrestling match.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LAKESREU/videos/1685758634856389/" target="_blank">Throwback Arm-Wrestling video</a></div>
<br />Arthurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037444889082147173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-37476510625424901952019-07-17T09:38:00.002-05:002019-07-17T09:38:48.971-05:00Nicki Loeven<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KuvDMST0OtY/XS8yhXrjt0I/AAAAAAAAKn8/auIBY4V2vD4638g-HzUzSq-xEcB-_NCagCLcBGAs/s1600/NSP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KuvDMST0OtY/XS8yhXrjt0I/AAAAAAAAKn8/auIBY4V2vD4638g-HzUzSq-xEcB-_NCagCLcBGAs/s640/NSP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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A picture of the Northern Presidential Mountains and the Cog
Railway from the summit of Mt. Washington.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GjPAa4rjzI/XS8xgQAT8UI/AAAAAAAAKn0/Bx6aQcPgGykieU-QYEYNLN40cQ8bCYQOQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Nicole%2BLoeven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="916" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GjPAa4rjzI/XS8xgQAT8UI/AAAAAAAAKn0/Bx6aQcPgGykieU-QYEYNLN40cQ8bCYQOQCEwYBhgL/s320/Nicole%2BLoeven.jpg" width="239" /></a>Hi LAKES crew! I hope everyone is
enjoying summer <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Menomonie</span>. Since my summer doing LAKES in 2015, I
graduated from Wells College with my B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
and started graduate school. I am starting the 4<sup>th</sup> year of my Ph.D.
at Dartmouth in their Molecular and Cellular Biology Program in the Department
of Microbiology and Immunology. My thesis project in Jim Bliska’s laboratory is
studying <i>Burkholderia cenocepacia</i> lung infections in Cystic Fibrosis.
This may seem very distant from the environmental biology work I did during my
summer at UW-Stout, but my LAKES project piqued my interest in microbes and I’m
always grateful I took this opportunity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Life in New Hampshire is great. In
the last year I’ve done a ton of hiking and this winter I learned to ski!<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span>To the LAKES students this year, I wish you all the luck in your
projects. You truly make a difference with the work you are doing. Work hard have
and have a blast!<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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This is my PI, Jim Bliska, and I on the summit of Mt.
Washington. How’s that for lab bonding?!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /><br />Arthurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037444889082147173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-90727482313456824432019-07-17T09:29:00.000-05:002019-07-17T09:29:08.417-05:00Lucia Possehl<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6Lh9sTd35o/XS8v_umfr6I/AAAAAAAAKnk/72zhK05R4QoWmGGqak30vy-mY0dXGda6QCLcBGAs/s1600/Lucia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6Lh9sTd35o/XS8v_umfr6I/AAAAAAAAKnk/72zhK05R4QoWmGGqak30vy-mY0dXGda6QCLcBGAs/s320/Lucia.jpg" width="240" /></a>Greetings from Burlington, Vermont! Since
participating in the LAKES REU program last summer, I have explored new parts
of the country and am heading into my senior year of college at the University
of Vermont where I study geography and minor in history and environmental
studies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I spent the spring 2019 semester backpacking through the
Colorado Plateau (the Four Corners region) with the <a href="https://www.wrfi.net/course/colorado-plateau-desert-canyons-and-cultures/">Wild
Rockies Field Institute</a> learning about land use practices, water rights,
ecology, and culture of the American Southwest. The course consisted of two
months backpacking through desert canyons, canoeing down winding rivers, and
several homestays in the Navajo and Hopi Nations. The alternative semester
course considered many themes that we researched during my summer in Menomonie including
rural culture, conservation perceptions, Indigenous land rights, and place-based
identity.</div>
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This summer I am living in Burlington, Vermont where I am
working as an intern helping to plan the Rural Quadrennial Conference which
brings together scholars from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States,
and Canada to share work regarding rural geography, studies and development. I
have also received a grant from the University of Vermont to begin my senior
thesis research on mapping the activist and health geographies of opioid harm
reduction networks in rural Vermont. <span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">My goal with
this project is to lift individual voices and stigmatized experiences through a
public project that utilizes an accessible, open platform format that works to
inform the public, empower individuals, while also sharing the local history of
harm reduction in Vermont.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I am extremely grateful to
the LAKES REU experience, faculty, and students. I feel that the program has
helped me to develop my research skills and has informed how I address complex
social and environmental issues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Arthurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037444889082147173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-46731249049356957692019-07-17T09:24:00.002-05:002019-07-17T22:02:36.832-05:00Austin Gentel <br />
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<span class="gmail-normaltextrun"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">This past
year has been a very eventful one that just keeps on giving. Last Spring, I had
a couple major life changing events. The first one was completing my Master of
Arts Degree in Public Policy. The second and more impactful one is that I
joined the US Army to become a CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological,
Nuclear) Specialist. It was a long summer of intense training both physically
and mentally but it paid off in the end. </span></span></div>
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<span class="gmail-normaltextrun"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">I lucked out with my first duty
station being in Germany!! It has been a blast out here, especially being able
to take part in the German Christmas Markets and the craziness of New Years in
Germany (which is where I’m at in the picture). I've also been taking full
advantage of my time out here and making the most of my travels. If anyone
wants to make their way out here and enjoy Europe, I would love to have a
travel buddy!! I know some great places and have big plans ahead!! Although, it
will all have to wait until my current deployment in Turkey is over.</span></span><span class="gmail-eop"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="gmail-normaltextrun"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">It also
may be awhile until I make it back to the United States, but until then I hope
everyone is doing well and enjoying life to the fullest!! I do miss everyone
that I worked with and had the privilege to meet during my brief stay in
Menomonie. Oh, and I definitely miss the local beer and cheese curds!! Glad to
hear the program is going strong and I can't wait for the time when I can
return to Menomonie to catch up and make new memories!!</span></span><span class="gmail-eop"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="gmail-normaltextrun"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">I wish you
all the best from this part of the World!!</span></span><span class="gmail-eop"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="gmail-normaltextrun"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Your Friend,</span></span><span class="gmail-eop"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="gmail-normaltextrun"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Austin </span></span><span class="gmail-spellingerror"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Gentel</span></span><span class="gmail-eop"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Arthurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037444889082147173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094594686348668759.post-58599047068965513032019-07-17T09:20:00.002-05:002019-07-17T09:21:13.677-05:00Eniola Afolayan<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68vhO0cgLrw/XS8ukvcxH_I/AAAAAAAAKnQ/WPgZjqDPsCY1YChA5w-X7ao-2VnqPZv-wCLcBGAs/s1600/20190619_100159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68vhO0cgLrw/XS8ukvcxH_I/AAAAAAAAKnQ/WPgZjqDPsCY1YChA5w-X7ao-2VnqPZv-wCLcBGAs/s320/20190619_100159.jpg" width="320" /></a>Hello Lakes REU friends,<o:p></o:p></div>
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It's been a while! Last time I wrote for the alumni posts, I
was getting ready to start my first year of grad school at UVA and now I'm
getting ready for my second year. It's been a wonderful and challenging first
year and there's nothing else I would rather being doing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am currently writing to you from Nigeria as I am here for
my first summer of preliminary field work at the Osun-Osogbo Grove (which is in
th background of the picture I attached). My research, believe it or not, is
still highly influenced by the summer project I did with LAKES: I am interested
in the relationship between African indigenous religions and the environment
with specific interests in African Sacred groves and landscapes. I'm also
working on a short film project about religious collaboration here in Nigeria.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In other news I cut my hair a few weeks ago and I'm debuting
it on the lakes blog:) I'm getting used to it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I'm so happy to see LAKES is growing and has expanded beyond
the original three years that was planned. This was/is such a great program to
be a part of and I'm so very happy I got the opportunity to participate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Till next summer! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Eniola<o:p></o:p></div>
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Eniola Afolayan<br />
PhD Student<br />
University of Virginia<br />
Department of Anthropology<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Arthurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037444889082147173noreply@blogger.com0