GRANT RECEIVED — Steubenville High School science students will utilize a $3,400 Environmental Research Grant from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio to determine whether microplastics are found in fish residing Jefferson County’s waterways to the Ohio River. Students studying water include Holden Mason, Gabe Martin and Kylee Moffat. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville High School science students will utilize a $3,400 grant to review water quality and the presence of microplastics in fish found in local tributaries.

Teacher Jessie Clark received the Environmental Stewardship Research Grant from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and will begin the project with her class in January. Clark said the purpose is to determine whether microplastics are found in fish residing in Jefferson County’s waterways to the Ohio River, and the grant will help acquire equipment for the research.

“This money will be used to purchase the necessary lab equipment to enable the students to run a parallel study analyzing both the water quality as well as catching fish to analyze and establish the presence of microplastics in the fish of our local waterways,” Clark explained. “We have been analyzing water quality in our area for the last three years. I have a deep love and commitment to our local waterways and have always loved our river. A student at WVU recently did a similar study in West Virginia that inspired my interest in studying this on the Ohio side of the river. The study will help us better understand the health of the fish that many in our area are catching and consuming.”

Fourteen seniors will be involved in the project, which will occur on Jan. 26-27, and she hopes to continue and expand the study in the future.

“I genuinely feel beyond thankful to be able to offer this opportunity to my students. It is very unusual for a high school-level student to have the chance to do an original scientific field work project, and I am so excited to see the impact this is going to have on them. It also will allow them an opportunity to participate in a study that impacts our knowledge of their hometown. This will help students see concrete evidence of the impact of human choices, such as the reliance on single-use plastics,” Clark commented.

In all, five research grants were awarded through the foundation, and Clark previously obtained a Best Practice Grant through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center for a different project which expanded lab experiences for her College Credit Plus chemistry students. She also gained a grant three years ago to attend a professional development opportunity through the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association, American Medical Society and the Navy that spurred the development of H2O Pros, the name of the senior group involved in the current study.

Clark has been an educator for the past 14 years, spending the past eight at Steubenville City Schools, where she is also an alumna. She was grateful to school leaders and other supporters for the opportunity.

“I have to thank three key people because without their help and support, this never could have happened. (Superintendent Melinda) Young, who made me aware of this opportunity and has supported this project; (Principal Aaron) Newman, who was the initial support in starting the H2O Pros; and finally, Frank Borsuk, who is an aquatic fisheries biologist for the EPA based out of Wheeling and has served as a constant mentor for me and the students.”