Scientific Partnerships in Urban Field Research Lara Treemore-Spears, Program Coordinator Wayne State University Healthy Urban Waters Program treemorespears@wayne.edu Presentation at Rise Up & Drawdown Michigan 2019
● Technology and ● Aquatic Sustainability of Water Molecular Huron-to- Infrastructure Science Erie Alliance Belle Isle Aquarium Laboratory for Research ● Habitat Restoration & Training & Fisheries (HEART) GLWA Water Works Park Drinking Water Pilot Plant Wastewater Treatment Plant Field Stations ● Hydraulic & Hydrologic Processes Lake St. Clair Metropark DWSD Wastewater Treatment Plant Green Infrastructure (photo by The Greening of Detroit)
Research “Seed” Funding Dr. Tracie Baker HEART WSU – IEHS At GLWA Water • Investigating Occurrence and Effects of Field Works Park Endocrine Disruption Due to Environmental Station Contaminants in Detroit Waterbodies Dr. Donna Kashian Research WSU – Biology with Friends of the Rouge with • Improving Urban Water Monitoring Through At Belle Isle Aquarium Citizen Science Community Partners Dr. Jeffrey Ram • Microbial Contamination of Beaches in Huron WSU – Physiology with University of Windsor to Erie Corridor: Investigating Dynamics and Potential Sources At Belle Isle Aquarium Dr. Judy Westrick • A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Viability of Real- WSU – Chemistry with time Source Water Early Warning System for City of Marysville & St. Clair County Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) GLWA Water Works Park & Marysville WTP
Example Partnerships • Flint Area Community Health & Environment Partnership Community • Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Based • Macomb County Departments of Health, Planning & Economic Urban Research Development & St. Clair County Health Department • Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority • Kettering University, Oakland University & Macomb Community College US Army Corps of Engineers Public Engagement MDEQ qPCR Rapid Beach Researchers at HCMA facility sampling assistance Health Monitoring
Huron-to- Erie Drinking Water Monitoring Network Water quality monitoring at drinking water plants from Lake Huron to Lake Erie 14 Water Treatment Plants have participated at some point http://hetestweb.azurewebsites.net/
Factors in Healthy Urban Waters Partnership Success • Support for partnerships at the top level of leadership • Core leadership group actively maintains relationships • Multiple pathways for engaging partners • Resources successfully leveraged through the partnership • An expanded knowledge base and sense of community
Partnership Challenges • Changes in leadership • Shifting priorities • Different organizational purposes • Maintaining energy and commitment “Setting up an external partnership as if it were a PO, at best, leaves value on the table. At worst, it leads to conflict and value destruction” - Ben Gomes Casseres, Harvard Business Review 5/16/11
Thank you! Discussion? Lara Treemore-Spears treemorespears@ wayne.edu
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