by Kate MacLeod

Science Fridays at Oyster River Middle School (ORMS) is a lecture series in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire (UNH) that brings real-world science directly to students. On select Fridays during advisory, interested students gather in the concert hall to hear UNH researchers discuss their work in the community and beyond. ORMS science teacher and Science Fridays coordinator Sue Bissell explains the purpose of the lecture series: “It is so important for our students to be scientifically literate — for the health of our community, country, and the whole planet.”

On Friday, November 21, ORMS welcomed Dr. Matt Davis, who spoke about where our drinking water comes from and how it is kept safe. He began with an overview of the water cycle and explained how much water Durham and UNH use each day. Dr. Davis explained Durham’s jointly operated water system, including the Lamprey River, Lee Well, and Spruce Hole Aquifer, and described the challenges of managing these shared resources, especially during droughts. When he opened the floor to questions, students asked about water testing, environmental impacts, and what happens to water after it flows down the drain.

Earlier this fall, students also heard from Dr. Matthew Argall of the UNH Space Science Center. Dr. Argall discussed space weather and shared insights from his team’s development of a magnetometer for NOAA’s SOL-1 satellite, which launched on September 23.

Science Fridays will continue in December, when Dr. Russell Congalton visits ORMS to speak about loons in New Hampshire. Through this series, students have a unique opportunity to connect with working scientists and see firsthand how scientific research unfolds right here in Durham.