If you're a member of a watershed group or similar environmental nonprofit in West Virginia or southwestern Pennsylvania, we want to work with you! We are always accepting watershed group needs and project ideas to compile for students with the goal of pairing students with you to complete the project. We will reach out to you to discuss potential partnerships before moving forward with a student on your project. Due to students' limited availability, projects that can be completed a majority/entirely remotely are encouraged. Potential student projects include:
- Creative ventures (e.g., video production, photography, art displays)
- Collecting/analyzing water quality data
- Evaluating erosion and sedimentation
- GIS assistance
- Researching topics in the literature, performing interviews, etc.
- Preparing newsletters, infographics, or social media posts
- Assisting with restoration planning
We are currently seeking interested watershed groups to participate in Common Waters for the Fall 2025 Semester!
These projects may be delineated to one student or a class. Watershed groups will be matched to the student(s), and the student(s) will work on the project during the semester, creating a deliverable that can be utilized by the watershed group by the end of the semester. During the semester, it is the watershed groups' responsibility to:
- Meet with student(s) three times over the semester.
- Provide the students with background information, files, etc. needed to complete their project.
- Providing feedback/grading the students' work with you at the end of the semester.
- Optional - attend the end of semester symposium.
Meanwhile, it is Common Waters' responsibility to:
-
Serve as the liaison between watershed group and students/professors.
-
Provide students with a list of project ideas, compiled from identified group
needs.
-
Provide funding towards supplies and travel for the student projects.
-
Assist students in utilizing our water quality database and mapping tool (if
applicable).
-
Share student products (reports, infographics, etc.) on our website.
- Organize an event to bring students from various disciplines as well as the watershed groups together to share their projects.
At the conclusion of the semester, students will be invited to present their Common Waters project at the Common Waters Symposium held at the NRCCE building. Watershed groups are invited to attend to see all the Common Waters students' presentations. To see past projects, click on the Project Highlights tab.
If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to amaya.hamilton@mail.wvu.edu.