Gentry Students, Teachers Benefit From Drone Partnership

Isabella Earley, a student at Gentry Primary, watches a drone during a presentation from Rich Ham, associate director of the Operations Management graduate program. A partnership between the MSOM program and Gentry Public Schools is giving students a chance to learn about drones.
Photo Submitted

Isabella Earley, a student at Gentry Primary, watches a drone during a presentation from Rich Ham, associate director of the Operations Management graduate program. A partnership between the MSOM program and Gentry Public Schools is giving students a chance to learn about drones.

Elementary students and teachers from Gentry Public Schools are getting a fresh look at water quality thanks to a partnership with the University of Arkansas that provides access to drone training for studying hard-to-reach areas.

The partnership brings together Richard Ham, associate director of the Operations Management graduate programm and Dorothy Ivey, who facilitates the EAST program for Gentry Primary School. EAST stands for the Education Accelerated by Service and Technology program.

Through the collaboration, students in grades 2-5 monitor stream health at Sager Springs in Siloam Springs, which feeds into the Illinois Watershed. Students encountered difficulty accessing some areas of the stream because of deep water and overgrowth, so drone training provided by the University of Arkansas is helping navigate streams to take pictures to monitor conditions.

The project is called "Stream Team," and is a collaboration with the Illinois River Watershed Partnership and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. A grant to the EAST program from the CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation will allow the team to conduct a multi-year study.

With help from the drones, second through fifth grade students learn about erosion, water quality, biology and watershed management using real examples from their local area.

"This project is an incredible opportunity for these students," Ivey said. "The students love working with Dr. Ham."

Ham provides training through the school year for fifteen EAST students and five instructors and parents. The instructors also receive material that helps them prepare for the Federal Aviation Administration's Commercial Drone Pilot certification.

Contacts

Blake Chapman, marketing and recruitment coordinator
Operations Management - Industrial Engineering
479-575-5192, pchapman@uark.edu

Nick DeMoss, director of communications
College of Engineering
479-575-5697, ndemoss@uark.edu

Headlines

The World as a Classroom: The Executive M.B.A. Program at U of A

The program, offered through the Sam M. Walton College of Business, blends online learning with face-to-face interaction and applied studies in a real-time international immersion trip.

Keri Blakinger, Author of 'Corrections in Ink,' to Speak at Fayetteville Public Library April 22

Blakinger, an award-winning journalist now at the Los Angeles Times, will talk about her memoir and her work as a reporter at 6 p.m. April 22 at the Fayetteville Public Library's Walker Community Room.

Visit With University Libraries and Pat Walker Health Center's Medical Services at Carnival Today

Employees are invited to meet fellow workers from units across campus including the University Libraries and the Pat Walker Health Center at today's Making Your Day Work Carnival at the Arkansas Union.

Farewell Reception April 3 for Fulbright College's Lisa Summerford

The campus community is invited to celebrate Summerford's achievements and to wish her well during a drop-in retirement reception from 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, in the Fulbright College Dean's Office in Old Main 523.

Rachel McGathy Retiring After 25 Years

There will be a reception to celebrate McGathy's retirement from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, March 29, in the downstairs breakroom at Uptown East.

News Daily