Understand appropriate sampling strategies and how they lead to consistent research results

Understand how research contributes to new scientific knowledge

Develop the ability to clean, mount, and count diatoms, as well as be able to use the taxonomic key to ID to the species level using microscopy techniques, including the recognition of various diatom ecological significance.

Compare how a lab at a research university is run in comparison to research at a primarily undergraduate institution.

Develop skills to understand what various water chemistry parameters, algal biomass, and microbial communities within aquatic ecosystems means and how these factors contribute to ecosystem health and dynamics.

Learn and apply various laboratory techniques for water chemistry analysis, chlorophyll quantification, ash-free dry mass determination, and epifluorescence microscopy to gain proficiency in the practical aspects of environmental monitoring and analysis.