Since 2014 Freshman Research Initiative students have been regularly sampling Waller Creek. This effort expanded into the High School Research Academy (HSRA) in the summer of 2015. Advanced FRI students along with the high school students they trained identified a pipe leaking into the creek. Notification of the proper authorities quickly fixed the pipe and kicked off a deeper collaboration between FRI, HSRA, UT Environmental Health and Safety, and the Waller Creek Conservancy, which led to Inventors Program students' involvement.
The UT Department of Sustainability and UT EHS have jointly sponsored a Microbial Source Tracking study on the Creek, while the Winkler Foundation and the Waller Creek Conservancy have sponsored the necessary internships to ensure this study will be a success.
Read about our Sprint involving this partnership in The Daily Texan.