VCU news

By Anne Buckley

About 25 middle school students will collect and test water samples from the James River at the Virginia Commonwealth University Rice Center as part of World Water Monitoring Day.

The students, sixth graders from Charles City Middle School, will be at the Rice Center from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 18. The Rice Center is located on Route 5 in Charles City County.

World Water Monitoring Day is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. Last year, more than 73,000 people worldwide visited their local streams, rivers, lakes and other water bodies in celebration of the event, according to the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association, coordinators of the event.

The VCU Rice Center was created from an ecology-rich parcel of land that Inger Rice donated to VCU in 2000. It is located on the north bank of the historic James River, southeast of Richmond in Charles City County. VCU Life Sciences uses the property for research, education and outreach activities, many of which focus on large rivers and their riparian landscapes.

Smithfield Foods, Inc., which is based in Smithfield, Va., is a sponsor of the event and is providing the sample kits the students will use.