STEM Research Program

 Explore the Environmental Problem 

• Students begin by learning why road salt is used and what happens to it after snow and ice melt. 
• They explore how salt can move from roads into nearby soil and water and consider questions about its potential effects on plants and ecosystems.

  Develop a Research Question

•  Students learn how to transform a broad environmental issue into a specific, measurable scientific question.
• A research question may explore: How do different concentrations of road salt affect plant germination and growth?
• Students will learn why a strong research question needs to be focused, measurable, testable, and supported by scientific investigation.

  Conduct Background Research

• Before beginning the experiment, students investigate topics such as:

1. How plants absorb water and nutrients.
2. Why salt concentration can influence plant health.
3. How road salt enters soil and waterways.
4. Environmental impacts associated with road-salt runoff.
5. Current strategies communities use to manage winter roads while reducing environmental impact.

• Students will also learn how to identify credible sources and properly document their research.

 Develop a Hypothesis

•   Using their background research, students develop a testable hypothesis predicting how increasing salt concentrations may affect plant growth.
• They will learn that a hypothesis is not simply a guess—it is a scientifically informed prediction that can be tested through experimentation.

 Design the Experiment

• Students design a controlled experiment comparing plants exposed to different salt concentrations with plants receiving no added salt.
• They determine:

1. Independent Variable: Road-salt concentration
2. Dependent Variables: Germination rate, plant height, leaf development, plant appearance, and other measurable growth indicators
3. Controlled Variables: Plant type, soil quantity, container size, water quantity, light exposure, temperature, growing period, and measurement schedule

• This stage introduces students to the importance of fair testing, consistency, repeatability, and accurate scientific measurement.

  Conduct the Experiment

• Students plant, water, observe, and measure their samples over a defined research period.
• Throughout the experiment, students maintain a research journal or data log documenting measurements, observations, photographs, unexpected changes, and experimental conditions.
• Hands-on experimentation helps students experience an important part of science: results do not always happen exactly as expected.

  Analyze the Data

• Students organize their collected data into tables, graphs, and visual comparisons.
• They compare results across experimental groups and look for patterns such as changes in:

1. Germination rates
2. Plant height
3. Growth rate
4. Number and condition of leaves
5. Overall plant health

• Students learn how evidence—not assumptions—should guide scientific conclusions.

 Draw Conclusions

• Students evaluate their results and determine whether the evidence supports their hypothesis.
• They discuss:

1. What did we discover?
2. What patterns did the data reveal?
3. What might explain the results?
4. Were there limitations in the experiment?
5. What could we change or investigate next?

• This process helps students understand that scientific research often creates new questions for future investigation.

 Explore Sustainable Solutions

•  Research does not stop with identifying a problem.
• Students will investigate approaches that may help communities maintain winter safety while reducing environmental impact. Depending on the direction of their research, students may explore application strategies, alternative deicing approaches, brines, or other environmentally conscious solutions.
• Students are encouraged to think like researchers and innovators by asking:
• How can science help us develop a more sustainable solution?

  Present the Research

•      At the conclusion of the program, students transform their work into a structured research presentation.
• Students may prepare:

1. Research abstracts
2. Scientific posters or display boards
3. Data tables and graphs
4. Experiment photographs
5. Research reports
6. Presentations and demonstrations

• Participants will have opportunities to share their research journey and findings with the community, strengthening their scientific communication and public-speaking skills.