Making Waves will help sponsor virtual event about Grand River conservation, resiliency

Making Waves is one of the sponsors of the 17th annual Grand River Spring Forum, presented virtually Friday, May 8, and featuring area water and conservation experts discussing the health and resiliency of the waterway.

The forum will feature "Shed" talks by speakers about the Lower Grand River Watershed, which covers portions of the river from Ionia County until it reaches Lake Michigan. 

Peter Wampler, professor of geology and co-leader of the Making Waves Initiative, said the Spring Forum was scheduled to be held on the Allendale Campus, and he appreciates the partnership with LGROW and the opportunity to present the event online.

The Spring Forum will be hosted on YouTube, beginning at 8 a.m. All panelists will be available for a live Q&A session at 1 p.m. via Zoom. Details can be found online. Provost Maria Cimitile will provide a welcome; Wampler and student Jillian Ashton will also give a presentation about water quality sampling.

In the fall semester, the Making Waves initiative will begin its second year. Reflecting on the first year, Wampler said he was pleased with the number of people who participated in events and the number of students and faculty members who interacted with water topics within classes.

Nearly 80 classes, from dance to environmental science incorporated the theme of water last year. Faculty members are encouraged to add their water-related classes to the online list here. 

A week's worth of water events last September, the "Big Splash," saw nearly 1,100 participants. 

Wampler said events will be scaled back in the fall but will likely include kayaking. He said the website, gvsu.edu/makingwaves, will become more comprehensive, listing area resources and more student creations, like this set of videos created from the Dam to Dam ice fishing tournament, student artwork, creative writing and research.