R.B. Annis Water Resources Institute

Allison Kneisel, a junior in the Natural Resources Management major, received an opportunity to complete an internship at the R.B. Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI), a multidisciplinary research organization within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences committed to the study of freshwater resources. The Scientech Internship program is made possible by a private gift from the D.J. Angus-Scientech Education Foundation. The internship program impacts students and contributes to research about freshwater resources in the Great Lakes region.

“As an intern, I spent weeks preparing for a study that will take five years to complete. We eventually completed preparations and traveled to Lake Erie to take our first samples,” said Kneisel. The funding this internship program receives allows students like Kneisel to participate in research that is not normally available to undergraduate students.

Gifts to programs such as the AWRI give Kneisel and other Grand Valley students the chance to explore careers in the sciences, including engineering, computer, health, natural resource management, biological, chemical, and physical sciences. Private giving also allows the AWRI to provide outreach and educational programs to the community, and maintain science equipment and research vessels such as the D.J. Angus and W.G. Jackson.

Ecological research is essential to preserving freshwater resources. Private gifts from the D.J. Angus— Scientech Educational Foundation allows students to get real world experience and contribute to the region’s collective knowledge on environmental and water resource-related issues. Kneisel said, “This type of experience can’t be replicated in the classroom. Getting the chance to work at the AWRI is invaluable for me and I cannot express my gratitude enough for this opportunity.”