Hi! I'm looking for any labs for a 100 level envi sci lab class involving limnology, diatoms, or climatology... if anyone has any suggestions or lab materials - I would be grateful for the assistance!
You probably would want a local lab as some tests require quick response and travel. A local fishery biologist or hydrologist may know, but most state water agencies have a listing of certified water labs, and most of these would be able to handle the standard water or lake sampling or tests you are probably considering. For learning tools, some tests might be accomplished with a field test kit such as those made by Hach Chemical company or others and equipment in Fisher Scientific Catalogue. Some of these test kits are not necessarily research grade analytical testing accuracy, but good enough for classroom and sometimes field testing (some things best done in on site, like pH). Most Universities have various labs that may do a certain degree of water sampling and testing, and while I was at University of Missouri in Columbia, I started a water lab in the Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife School (this was many years ago) to sample and test the water samples we collected for various hydrologic studies. I learned much of my analytical chemistry an use of equipment from Dr. Pickett, Analytical Chemist in Agriculture Department at University of Missouri. You may have a lab or a professor at your campus that you may not know about that is probably not advertised, you would have to search out. But Kansas City probably has a number of commercial water testing facilities, and most of them would give you a sample of the costs of various tests, or may give you a special bid for a specific project or classroom study with more of a discount. If there are fishery or water quality agencies interested in these samples you are collecting, they may even help with sampling, lab analysis or paying some of the costs if they can use the information, but this level of collaboration may take more effort than it is worth. Same with grants, they may be available, but can be time consuming. But hey, this is a learning process, there are alternatives, choices, and sometimes you have to work within the funds given or allowed.