The issue that I’m going to explore this semester is the acidification of freshwater. I chose this issue because it is something I can reasonably make a difference for in a short period of time. I also chose this issue because I am an Earth Science major and this relates directly to my field of study. Most of the acidification is based around the tailings of mines and the introduction of certain minerals to the water. Other issues I have explored were fracking, which really interests me, but I can’t really do anything as of now to help fix the issues, and climate change, which also interests me, but I also can’t really help the issues. My final decision was based around what I can actually do to help the issue I’m interested in. Some things I might have trouble with would be to do actual experiments or samples.

My plan for the project is to find a way to increase awareness and possibly find root problems for the acidification of the water in my local area and the world as a whole. I plan to take samples of the water and soil in the surrounding areas around the creeks in my hometown and compare them to data collected around the world to find the severity of acidification in my local area. I have previously done small experiments with this issue with my high school in my AP environmental science class and my earth science class. I hope I can make an actual impact on my hometown.

References:

https://www.clean-flo.com/maintenance/neutralization-of-acid-lakes/

https://webcam.srs.fs.fed.us/pollutants/acidification/

http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-254/420-254.html