Collaborative Research for Water Quality
FUNDING AWARD
Defiance College, in partnership with the City of Defiance, received $500,000 from the federal Department of Education due to Senator Sherrod Brown’s Congressionally Directed Spending request. These funds, awarded through the Department of Education, will support a collaborative research program focused on water quality issues in Northwest Ohio. The Defiance Research Alliance (DRA) will address systemic problems attributable to the Upper Maumee River Watershed through education, research, and training.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND GOALS
This partnership will focus on achieving the overarching goals of examining excess nutrients in the Upper Maumee Watershed, enhancing education for secondary and college students, and conducting research focused on real-world solutions. This research will occur at Defiance College’s newly-established Maumee River Watershed Research Center. DRA will pursue research and outreach objectives focused on developing solutions to benefit the Defiance County community to reach the common goal to learn more about one of the many natural resources we use everyday: water.
Dr. Sabrina Brown, left, (Defiance College) is the Project Director. She coordinates research efforts at the newly established Maumee River Watershed Data Research Center and manages student opportunities in water quality education.
Katelyn Smith, center, (Defiance College) is the Freshwater Research Technician. She is responsible for developing research protocols and conducting research in the field laboratory.
Jennifer English, right, (City of Defiance) is the Project Coordinator. She is developing the Maumee River Watershed Council, a working group that will communicate project information to the general public.