Everyone knows that water is essential for life. Water covers most of the earth’s surface. More than half of the human body is made up of water. It has been estimated that a person without water would only live for 3 days. Despite these well-known facts, much of what humans do has a direct and negative impact on water. Lawsuits have been filed about water rights, water use, and water quality. Common practices in Iowa have been linked to the death of organisms 1000 miles away in the Gulf of Mexico. The water problem is one that can’t be ignored.
This course will explore the interactions between water, humans, and natural systems. A significant focus will be the ways humans are impacting water quality in Iowa and beyond. Finally, we will explore ways in which we can change our practices to protect and conserve water. This course will have a significant interdisciplinary collaboration with “In Deep Water” taught by Clint Meyer. At the beginning of the semester, both classes will work together to focus on how implementing buffer strips, restored prairies and wetlands, and bioreactors into agricultural systems can help decrease runoff into streams. Course activities will include readings, discussions, travel to local sites for water testing and biological sampling, and guest lectures from water stakeholders. For the second part of the semester, our class will use these ideas to develop mathematical models to implement improvement strategies for improving our relationship with water as it pertains to water quality, water use, health concerns, and environmental impacts. In this way, we will be taking an interdisciplinary approach to studying this vital resource.
Meet Your Professor
Associate Professor of Mathematics
I completed my B.A. at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA with majors in mathematics and physics and a minor in English. I have also been fascinated by the interface between mathematics and science. In high school and college, I worked in my father’s lab analyzing the structure of glass. I love seeing how mathematics can be used to describe the patterns found in nature.
My curiosity in mathematics and its applications led me to complete a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I started at Simpson College in 2008 and I maintain my interests in mathematics as applied to science. In the past nine years, I have worked with Dr. Meyer on several undergraduate research projects dealing with insect population models and prairie restoration. Our most recent project has involved optimization strategies to improve water quality in Iowa. I think this is a gorgeous field and I’m very excited to introduce you to it this fall in our SC 101 course.
When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband Howard and sons Max and Isaac. We especially like cooking, watching movies, reading books, playing with Lego sets, working on puzzles, and folding Star Wars origami figures.
Meet Your SC Leader
Hello everyone! My name is Levi Lefebure and I will be a junior for the 2018-2019 school year. I am from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and attended Cedar Rapids Prairie. I am majoring in Mathematics, History and Political Science.
Here on campus I am involved in Cross-Country, Track and Field, Student Government, the Culver Public Policy Center, Vote Everywhere, the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society. I have also taken advantage of a study abroad opportunity to London, Paris and Belgium here in my time at Simpson. Therefore, I am involved in a lot and am always happy to help you find a group that fits your interests!
Some of my interests include cheering on the best professional football and baseball teams in America (Jacksonville Jaguars and St. Louis Cardinals), playing video games such as NBA 2K and NCAA 14, and playing strategic board games. I also enjoy watching Friends, Seinfeld and The Office in my free time. I am very excited to be your SC Leader this year and am always happy to assist you in any way possible. College is the most exciting time of your life and Simpson is the perfect place to experience it at!
Meet Your Writing Fellow
Soon!