TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Every week, students in The University of Alabama Graduate School’s Research Experience for Undergraduates, or REU, program participate in Water Wednesdays, a field learning opportunity designed to offer them the chance to physically experience the realities of water research and operations.
The Artificial Intelligence for Operational Hydrology REU is a 10-week summer bridge program hosted by Alabama Water Institute’s Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology, or CIROH, and UA Graduate School. Its core objective is to prepare students to apply AI and computational methods to improve water resource management.
Water Wednesdays are a part of that design, exposing the students to a comprehensive view of how hydrologic research translates to action in real-world contexts.
“The goal of the Water Wednesdays is to get the students away from the computer and out into the field, exploring all the different ways that hydrology affects real life on the ground,” said Marie Wilson, education and outreach coordinator at AWI.
Connecting with Alabama’s Natural Landscapes
Throughout the summer, each Water Wednesday excursion highlighted a different aspect of the research to operations pipeline, giving students a broader understanding of the field. Some of those trips showcased Alabama’s natural resources, demonstrating how water science intersects with recreation, conservation and ecosystem management.
As a kickoff to the summer, the students took a recreational trip to Lake Nicol, a scenic lakeside park in Tuscaloosa and one of the city’s three drinking-water reservoirs. Beyond offering a chance to unwind in a water-based location, the visit also provided the students with an opportunity to connect with one another outside the structure of lectures and laboratory work.
The Cahaba River Society also hosted the students to a guided discovery of the Cahaba River, inviting them to explore one of Alabama’s most ecologically significant waterways. Moving through the free-flowing river was an opportunity for them to gain firsthand appreciation of the importance of conserving and restoring freshwater ecosystems. This trip ranked high as a Water Wednesday favorite in the cohort.
“As for my favorite Water Wednesday so far, I would say it was definitely our trip to the Cahaba River,” said Christian Lee, a recent graduate of Fort Valley State University. “This is because some of the work I’m doing and the data I’m using comes from that area, so I felt a little extra connection to it. It was also really nice to get out, walk along the river and experience nature in real time. It gave me the chance to see what we’re working on in a more direct setting. I really enjoyed that.”
Then, they explored the UA Arboretum, another important natural resource in Tuscaloosa. Guided by Dr. Katie Horton, postdoctoral fellow at AWI’s Community-Oriented Nature-based Science for Ecosystem Restoration and Versatile Engineering, or CONSERVE, Research Group, the students were introduced to native trees and plants that affect the hydrology of the area. Attractions included walking trails through a native woodland section, collections of ornamental plants, public gardens and other facilities that helped them understand some of CONSERVE’s research projects.
Still in the spirit of familiarizing with Alabama’s waterways, the REU students visited Marr’s Spring for an educational tour led by the UA Museums. Representatives from the museum gave a presentation tracing the evolution of the spring over time and its historical connection to Tuscaloosa and UA.
Exploring Exciting Frontiers in Hydrology
Just as selected Water Wednesday excursions highlighted Alabama’s natural resources and biodiversity, some others showcased the technology and data-driven strategies shaping the ways scientists track, protect and manage water resources.
One of those visits was to WVUA, a commercial television station owned and operated by UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences. Through a presentation by chief meteorologist Richard Scott, as well as a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility, REU students were introduced to the field of broadcast meteorology.
From being introduced to a possible career as communicators of water science, the cohort moved to exploring a lesser-known aspect of water research: paleohydrology. This field of water research focuses on studying the earth’s historic water systems before modern recording began, through tools like tree ring data. Dr. Glenn Tootle, who has been awarded two Fulbright Scholar awards for his work in paleohydrology, led the group in a tree coring exercise to demonstrate how tree ring data could be instrumental to reconstructing hydrologic variables and predicting how future water supply might be affected by shifting hydrologic conditions.
According to Walt Wilber, computer science graduate from UA, these field trips were “opportunities to more practically apply what they were working on in the lab to real-world scenarios.”
The students also got to experience how robotics can be used in hydrological work by deploying autonomous underwater vehicles in the Black Warrior River under the guidance of Dr. Aijun Song, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. These low-cost, micro-sized vehicles called JaiaBots are designed to enable wide-area data collection in water environments, and learning how to use them provided the kind of experiential learning that Water Wednesdays were designed for.
“It was great watching them connect with hydrology in such a visceral way,” Wilson said.
Building Professional Networks
With the University being at the center of a unique water research ecosystem featuring resources like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Water Center and the United States Geological Survey, or USGS, Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility, the REU students had a rare opportunity to network with the scientists and business leaders advancing critical water research and operations in the country.
For instance, in addition to working alongside mentors and faculty, the students visited several USGS research sites. During the field trip, they gained firsthand insight into the work of federal hydrologists and learned how water resources are monitored nationwide. These site visits highlighted the critical role federal agencies play in managing natural resources, giving them a real-world look into what could become a potential career in water science in the public sector.
Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice
“One thing I’ll say about Water Wednesdays is that they are very enjoyable,” said Christian Radman, UA computer engineering graduate. “It is nice to have a break in the middle of the week to get outside, experience nature and see how water science and operational hydrology affect the real world.”
Across the board, REU students praise Water Wednesdays for the opportunities they present to connect with their classmates in an informal way, get outside of the lab and become immersed in real-world hydrology. These immersive visits are excellent at bridging the gap between what they learn in their labs and how it is applied to drive real change.
More than just a midweek excursion, Water Wednesdays have become a defining part of the REU experience. As these students move forward with their different professional and academic interests after the REU program this summer, they leave equipped with a broader perspective on how their work can directly shape the future of water science and sustainability.
The Alabama Water Institute is one of The University of Alabama’s research institutes. AWI acts as a forum for interdisciplinary research and education by bringing together University researchers, students and staff to foster collaboration and a broad interdisciplinary focus on water issues that face our world today. AWI-affiliated researchers specialize in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, water security and quality, remote sensing, biodiversity and watershed management and human health through synergies with AWI research programs, including the NOAA Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology, the Global Water Security Center and the CONSERVE Research Group.