Scientific Partnerships in Urban Field Research Lara - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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

Huron-to- Erie Alliance for Research & Training (HEART) Field Stations

Wastewater Treatment Plant

GLWA Water Works Park Drinking Water Pilot Plant

• Technology and

Sustainability of Water Infrastructure

DWSD Wastewater Treatment Plant

Green Infrastructure (photo by The Greening of Detroit)

• Aquatic

Molecular Science

• Hydraulic &

Hydrologic Processes

• Habitat

Restoration & Fisheries

Belle Isle Aquarium Laboratory Lake St. Clair Metropark

Research “Seed” Funding

• Investigating Occurrence and Effects of

Endocrine Disruption Due to Environmental Contaminants in Detroit Waterbodies

• Improving Urban Water Monitoring Through

Citizen Science

• Microbial Contamination of Beaches in Huron

to Erie Corridor: Investigating Dynamics and Potential Sources

• A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Viability of Real-

time Source Water Early Warning System for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

HEART Field Station Research with Community Partners

• Dr. Tracie Baker

WSU – IEHS At GLWA Water Works Park

• Dr. Donna Kashian

WSU – Biology with Friends of the Rouge At Belle Isle Aquarium

• Dr. Jeffrey Ram

WSU – Physiology with University of Windsor At Belle Isle Aquarium

• Dr. Judy Westrick

WSU – Chemistry with City of Marysville & St. Clair County GLWA Water Works Park & Marysville WTP

Community Based Urban Research

Example Partnerships

• Flint Area Community Health & Environment Partnership
• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
• Macomb County Departments of Health, Planning & Economic

Development & St. Clair County Health Department

• Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority
• Kettering University, Oakland University & Macomb Community College

US Army Corps of Engineers sampling assistance MDEQ qPCR Rapid Beach Health Monitoring Researchers at HCMA facility Public Engagement

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/

Huron-to- Erie Drinking Water Monitoring Network

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