Lake Ontario

The Lake Ontario Cluster (Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Brockport, and Monroe Community College) has approached the curriculum goal of infusing Great Lakes water quality issues and service learning into courses from a variety of angles. At SUNY Brockport and MCC, the focus has been to introduce Great Lakes modules into introductory course and to expand those over time. SUNY Brockport has also involved the work of a USL in lab exercises involving benthic macroinvertebrates. At RIT, the focus has been on mid-level and capstone courses (by catherine). USLs and community partners have worked with Environmental Science Field Skills, Great Lakes I and II, and the Environmental Science Capstone Seminar to expand the scope of group projects and enhance the outreach component. For the past few years, these projects have been presented at Imagine RIT, a public festival that showcases RIT research and innovation. Over 40,000 people attended the 2011 festival, and our exhibit was “liked” by the RIT Alumni Association (we got a sticker!). This year’s RIT capstone projects are working with community partners on river otter monitoring, water quality education and outreach, and a series of fracking articles for community newspapers (pros and cons of fracking and a resource library).

Faculty

Monroe Community College

Ernie Mellas

emellas@monroecc.edu

Department of Biology

(585) 292-2428

The New York State College of Brockport

Dr. James Haynesjhaynes@brockport.edu

Environmental Science and Biology

(585) 395-5783

Rochester Institute of Technology

Dr. Elizabeth Dicesare