2025 Program Highlights
Geology and Water | Water sampling outcomes and regional geology, with a deal with potable water challenges.
After an in-class presentation about water rights and the historical past of water within the area, cohort individuals joined Quinn Montgomery of Loma Linda College and Dr. Ryan Sinclair of Loma Linda College and Alianza Coachella Valley on the Salton Sea, the place they performed hands-on water testing evaluating water high quality alongside the shoreline and within the wetlands. Every participant used native water samples to check for nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, sulfate, and E. Coli. After processing, outcomes confirmed excessive ranges of fertilizer run-off and nutrient concentrations alongside the shoreline.
Air High quality | Novel Air High quality Analysis
Dr. Will Porter of UCR’s Heart for Environmental Analysis and Know-how introduced novel air high quality analysis, and led the cohort by means of a DIY Air Filter workshop.
Local weather Advocacy and Psychological Well being | Advocacy, artwork, storytelling, and instruments for navigating local weather anxiousness:
Cohort individuals spent a morning with Tammah Watts grounding themselves in nature, and studying the bodily and psychological well being advantages of birding.
Capstone Spotlights
Vanessa — Agriculture within the Valley (Zine)
Impressed by water-testing outcomes displaying polluted flows into the Sea, Vanessa created an academic zine to boost consciousness and share actions to cut back air pollution. Neighborhood members reported studying rather a lot, and lots of despatched advocacy emails in response.
“That’s once I realized that the little water flowing into the Sea is extremely polluted… Seeing the check outcomes myself, I knew I wished to do one thing about it.”
Em — Planting Desert Natives (Workshop + Planting Demo)
Em hosted a workshop on Coachella Valley native vegetation, together with unique Cahuilla names, and taught learn how to begin a local backyard. The session closed with a hands-on planting demo the place individuals sowed an assortment of seeds.
Joseph — Neighborhood Well being Survey
Rising up close to the Salton Sea, Joseph surveyed residents about air-quality considerations and well being. The venture elevated group voices and underscored shared considerations about environmental well being.
