9424249 Ongley A group of four faculty from Bates College, Dartmouth College, Castleton State (Vermont) in the U.S., and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico propose a series of research projects involving 12 students. All projects focus on water contamination associated with mining activity near Hidalgo, Mexico. With a primary emphasis on arsenic contamination, students will track sources and possible flow paths in order to predict the most probable location of unpolluted groundwater in a populated valley southeast of the mines. The students will receive preliminary training at Bates, travel to Mexico for a month of field work, then return to Bates for analytical work and data interpretation. The all-female group of site leaders have introduced flexibility to accommodate non- traditional students, and will encourage participation by Hispanic/Latino students. Immersion in the Mexican culture is an additional benefit of this scientifically valuable project.
