> Dear colleagues,
>
>
> Applications are now open for the 2025 River Field Scholar Professional
> Development Program
> Applications due *February 5th, 2025*:
> https://qualtrics.nau.edu/jfe/form/SV_e9yaa88qej7jCom
> <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fqualtrics.nau.edu%2Fjfe%2Fform%2FSV_e9yaa88qej7jCom&h=AT0HJgWoT0-qj5Bh4NU-KEhPvI3HUKQH68GTrBxaQ3XrO1O3Ohh-Ks9KMROlR7z7UpRYyolHW6bYfKVved4Pqgulq4i56UzRWUeWW9_OfqWXMK0hOm6zlsgSzo1FefMkhRz6gik&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0Jo-7K4O-XnvwyZ3FEHV9KcMM6UtkF85i_CxzayYxcGQvnYUQ1DuYxrWzGcC5r3Wh8TXOFdof5pmUSPRxu550yu7GaNvF7v_0mmExsA1AfL6ATcNLHhX4lTm-D8JHezlKySMhmLC0gHkifhmDCAbbhxA86L7-pg9o72gKlx4nhwFR26aCMWDi4krG1ixWF>
>
> The RIVER Field Studies Network (RIVER) is an NSF Research Coordination
> Network in Undergraduate Biology Education framed around connecting rivers,
> people, and science through immersive field-based education. Two central
> objectives of the network are to build instructor capacity and create
> interdisciplinary open-source lesson content to be shared across the
> network.
>
> You can learn more about our network here:
> OVERVIEW - https://youtu.be/ewmtbeqoxrQ?si=LTlqoMINuoE6sty2
> <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FewmtbeqoxrQ%3Fsi%3DLTlqoMINuoE6sty2%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0rkcokvq1vAYa5lf5RLfEfZTN3ZXLaj7bVgnOd8pEaigVwLS5cQSSmyVo_aem_MhHscmF2KE4YGAMCnCrbdw&h=AT0XfQ5sGsgVgAxhkgW5VzpmBVgJRFI_ReR6PC1eRZiqycJZOS4HFReh3ULEkQO_wdO0joQwRRnYmw1JxQmiSKtVpX2qUcBZBrmnba1RSv-x3DtPwyaGeWXiqR8tZt1WxrfR0AI&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0Jo-7K4O-XnvwyZ3FEHV9KcMM6UtkF85i_CxzayYxcGQvnYUQ1DuYxrWzGcC5r3Wh8TXOFdof5pmUSPRxu550yu7GaNvF7v_0mmExsA1AfL6ATcNLHhX4lTm-D8JHezlKySMhmLC0gHkifhmDCAbbhxA86L7-pg9o72gKlx4nhwFR26aCMWDi4krG1ixWF>
> *2024 RFSN YEAR IN REVIEW Presentation* <https://youtu.be/evVAg0Kt8L0> -
> https://youtu.be/evVAg0Kt8L0
>
> RIVER is excited to begin recruiting the next cohort for the RIVER
> Instructor & Curriculum Professional Development (aka “RIVER Scholars”)
> Program. This program integrates expert instruction and peer mentoring in
> virtual and field settings to build instructor capacity to develop and lead
> safe and effective river-based field lessons and courses. Participants will
> “learn by doing” as they work together to create, practice, and disseminate
> new open-source content as well as gain knowledge and proficiency in:
> >Field-specific pedagogy concepts and practices
> >Interdisciplinary approaches to river studies
> >Strategies for increasing DEI in field settings
> >River-specific safety & risk management concepts and practices
> >Leading day and overnight river field trips
> >Publishing lesson content to online open-source dissemination outlets
> In addition, we anticipate participants will develop a greater:
> >Sense of support and belonging to the River STEM community
> >Connection to rivers as a place for learning and discovery
> >Commitment to fostering stewardship of riverine ecosystems
>
> Other Benefits
> All participant costs will be covered - including travel to the in-person
> River Rendezvous and training. In addition, each participant will receive a
> $1,000 stipend upon completing the program and publishing a new QUBES river
> field lesson. The expectation is that the creation of the lesson involves
> approximately 40 hours of effort spread over the Spring, Summer, and Fall.
> The estimated total value of the program is $3,000 per participant.
> Program Outline
> Outcomes will be achieved through a 10-month training and mentoring cycle
> (March 2025 - January 2026). The training cycle is framed around a series
> of virtual webinars & activities about river field studies and lesson
> development in the spring, an in-person field “River Rendezvous” to gain
> firsthand instruction on place-based lesson development and gain in field
> expertise in the summer, virtual webinars & activities framed around lesson
> development, publication, dissemination, and scaling from lessons to
> courses in the fall, and culminates with a virtual winter symposium to
> showcase new materials to the network and new cohort.
> Participants will work over the program to produce one interdisciplinary
> field lab that will be published to the RFSN QUBES hub and other online
> repositories as appropriate. Each participant is expected to create 1 new
> lesson and support other members in their cohort by providing feedback and
> peer review to each other.
>
> See examples of past lessons at our QUBES resource library
> <https://qubeshub.org/community/groups/riverfieldstudiesnetwork/freshwater_resources_on_qubes>
> -
> https://qubeshub.org/community/groups/riverfieldstudiesnetwork/freshwater_resources_on_qubes
> The successful applicant must be able to commit to the following program:
> Spring 2025. Participate in ~6 hours of professional development in the
> Spring term (~ 1 60 min ZOOM activity per month in March, April, and May
> plus readings, meeting prep time). Spring will focus on preparing for the
> in-person River Rendezvous and starting to develop ideas for your own new
> river field lesson. You’ll bring these ideas to the River Rendezvous where
> you can share them and “workshop” them with mentors and other participants
> into fully envisioned lesson plans.
> Summer 2025. Attend the River Rendezvous to be held on the Cheat River, WV
> May 28-June 3, our flagship “in person and on the river” community building
> and training event. The event will be supported by the professional team at
> West Virginia University Outdoor Recreation Program, Adventure WV. The
> Cheat River is a powerful example of environmental restoration. Once
> severely polluted by acid mine drainage, particularly after the devastating
> 1994 Muddy Creek blowout, the river has made a remarkable recovery thanks
> to extensive remediation efforts. These efforts have not only improved
> water quality and restored vital habitat for fish and other aquatic
> species, but also revived the river's recreational value, boosting local
> economies through tourism. The Cheat's story serves as a model for
> restoring waterways impacted by resource extraction, highlighting the
> effectiveness of various treatment methods and the resilience of natural
> systems. While challenges remain, the Cheat River offers hope and valuable
> lessons for achieving lasting environmental recovery through community
> involvement, scientific research, and persistent effort.
> This rendezvous will consist of a base camp and day trips to different
> sections of river explored by raft, stand-up paddle board, kayak, and
> canoe. No prior rafting or camping experience or gear is required to
> participate. In addition to developing community with your cohort and
> mentors, learning practical field skills, and workshopping your lesson
> ideas, you will learn from local experts and diverse stakeholders about
> this historically significant event. July - August following the Rendezvous
> we do not meet but participants are encouraged to continue their work to
> develop lesson plans. To get a sense of the feel of a River Rendezvous see
> this slideshow from 2023 Rendezvous on the San Juan River.
> Fall 2025. Participate in ~10 hours of professional development in the
> fall term (~ 1 60 min ZOOM activity per month September, October, November,
> plus meeting preparation). In addition, participants will continue to
> write, test out, revise, and publish lessons to the QUBES hub. The
> expectation is that each participant would develop a lesson idea that will
> get workshopped at the River Rendezvous, then they will return to their
> home watershed and test it out with local students (this could be as part
> of a class they are teaching, or ad hoc with a handful of “student”
> volunteers, etc.), then write up and share their draft lessons for feedback
> from other river scholar peers, incorporate any feedback, publish their
> lessons to our QUBES lesson library, and present their lesson to the
> network at the Winter Gathering.
> Winter 2025-26. Present new lessons to the network community at the winter
> virtual workshop. Completion of the program and disbursement of the stipend
> occurs when lessons have been published and presented. Lessons from the
> 2023 cohort featured in this NotebookLM “Deep Dive” Conservation outreach
> podcast <https://youtu.be/NolQ46BSiNg>.
>
> Eligibility
> This program is open to instructors who already teach or aspire to teach
> interdisciplinary, immersive field lessons and/or courses focused on
> riverine ecosystems. Our focal audience is instructors who teach
> college/university-level STEM content. Still, those serving non-traditional
> students or teaching in other fields (e.g., Indigenous Knowledge,
> Experiential Education, etc.) are also encouraged to apply. Participants
> must be willing to participate in the program activities outlined above to
> develop a new open-source curriculum module. We are particularly interested
> in supporting instructors from underrepresented backgrounds or who serve
> underrepresented populations.
> To Apply
> Please complete this application by Monday, February 4th, 2025 to receive
> full consideration. Please share this opportunity with anyone you think
> would be interested. Note that selection is likely to be highly
> competitive. Last year we had > 60 applications and we only have 10 - 12
> spaces available. We anticipate < 15% selection rate. Competitive
> applicants will need to provide well-developed and thought-out responses to
> application prompts. Given so many great applications - Why should we
> select you?
> Questions can be directed to RFSN membership and DEI committee chair,
> Denielle Perry (denielle.pe...@nau.edu) or James Vonesh (jrvon...@vcu.edu)
>
>
> *ALSO! Register now for our virtual Winter Gathering!*
>
> Please consider joining us for our virtual *Winter Gathering, on 27
> January 2025 **1-3 pm Pacific/4 - 6 pm Eastern* at the 2025 River Field
> Studies Network virtual Winter Gathering.
>
> The winter gathering will feature:
>
>
> - New open-source QUBES lessons created by the 2024 River field
> scholar cohort
> - A keynote presentation by Dr. Ryan Emmanuel (Duke University)
> <https://nicholas.duke.edu/people/faculty/emanuel>. "Whose watershed?
> Reimagining Indigenous Land Acknowledgements for Engaged River Science"
> - A look ahead at plans for 2025
>
> Register here to receive the ZOOM link -
> https://forms.gle/F8vCMwvG1G63grUQ8
> <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle%2FF8vCMwvG1G63grUQ8%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR08pp2fhowu3L_LPCuzOQTiYQmBMHyG6ah4YsTB_IgBHeMOCA_O9FFsIpM_aem_rtG6OyNuidgonDEy4TJdZw&h=AT3aJhC_QT2Fn0q5PTQNgYYCwKYxVM4yMcYXs3YiItVZfjB1PagTJZrzJM378HxsN189h4s6dDZRb1BzL7x2esWe1bb6VlTCHjVMEUjT81cYXGtnhTgQPuXu8xwT0XRfFG24O2Y&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0Jo-7K4O-XnvwyZ3FEHV9KcMM6UtkF85i_CxzayYxcGQvnYUQ1DuYxrWzGcC5r3Wh8TXOFdof5pmUSPRxu550yu7GaNvF7v_0mmExsA1AfL6ATcNLHhX4lTm-D8JHezlKySMhmLC0gHkifhmDCAbbhxA86L7-pg9o72gKlx4nhwFR26aCMWDi4krG1ixWF>
>
> Thanks again for your interest!
>
> Best - the RFSN leadership team
>
> --
> Dr. James R. Vonesh
> Pronouns: He|Him|His
> Assistant Director & Director of Undergraduate Studies
> Center for Environmental Studies <https://ces.vcu.edu/>
> Life Sciences Program
> Virginia Commonwealth University
> PI: River Field Studies Network <https://riverfieldstudies.com/>
> 1000 West Cary Street, Suite 105
> Richmond, Virginia 23284
> Cell: 804-426-8553
> Web: http://wp.vcu.edu/voneshlab/
>
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