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Title: Freshwater resources: The challenges of quantity and quality
Freshwater resources are limited due to issues related to water quality and/or quantity. This article introduces a build-a-MEL that challenges students to address this socioscientific issue by considering the plausibility of three models: A) Earth has a shortage of freshwater, which will worsen as our world’s population increases; B) Earth has a shortage of freshwater that can be met by engineering solutions; and C) Earth’s freshwater is abundant and will remain so even in the face of global climate change. The eight lines of evidence in this build-a-MEL are data-rich and challenge students to think critically as they connect the evidence to the models. As a result of this activity, students develop an understanding of the spatial complexity of access to freshwater resources.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2027376
PAR ID:
10282183
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Earth scientist
Volume:
36
Issue:
3
ISSN:
1045-4772
Page Range / eLocation ID:
18-21
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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