Story provided by Stillwater Public Library
Kids are invited to learn about water science at Stillwater Public Library (SPL) with local science professors and students. The activities will be held in the Library’s courtyard on Saturday, August 21, 2021, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. This is a come-and-go event that is best suited for elementary-aged children, but all are welcome.
Lauren Haygood, a Ph.D. student in the Boone Pickens School of Geology at Oklahoma State University, is excited to share her knowledge of water science with the Stillwater community. Haygood is collecting water samples from around Stillwater, and kids will be able to test the water quality using a probe, titrations, absorbance and more!
Families are encouraged to bring their own water samples to be tested at the event. There will also be a limited supply of take-home test kits for participants.
Haygood said she was inspired by communities in Northeastern and Southeastern Oklahoma to start a community science project last year. She’s excited about bringing this program to Stillwater.
“Water science is very interdisciplinary and a fascinating field, as it covers both marine and freshwater environments,” Haygood said. “My goal has been to bring awareness of the importance of our water systems, empower communities to get involved in water science and hopefully, inspire future scientists!”
Nicole Colston, from the Oklahoma Water Resources Center, will also be at the event with an interactive groundwater display she’s looking forward to sharing with the community. The demonstration will include injecting colored water into the display to see how water and contaminants move through the environment.
“The model is very cool,” Colston said. “The model simulates underground storage tanks, injection wells, lakes and wetlands.”
This event will be held outside in the SPL courtyard. There will not be a rain date if there is inclement weather nor will it be moved indoors.
Learn more about what is going on at the Stillwater Public Library by visiting library.stillwater.org or by following @StillwaterOKLib on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. Library hours are Monday- Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
