Join the Common Waters program for Fall 2026!

Interested in working with a local environmental nonprofit organization on a meaningful project? Join Common Waters for the Fall 2026 semester!

Common Waters, a program launched in 2024, is an initiative from the 3RQ program at the West Virginia Water Research Institute. This program aims to connect West Virginia University students with local environmental nonprofit organization to complete a variety of STEAM projects.

Common Waters bridges the gap between classroom research and real-world needs by pairing students in STEAM fields with environmental organizations that need research and technical assistance. Students gain hands-on experience and career exposure, while the environmental organizations benefit from meaningful research and solutions to propel their work forward. For students looking to fulfill a course/honors/program requirement or who are interested in broadening their research experiences, Common Waters offers a unique opportunity to apply WVU students’ skills to environmental efforts across West Virginia.

Project opportunities include:

• GIS maps
• StoryMaps
• Water quality monitoring
• Data collection & analysis
• Website development
• Educational material development
• Creative ventures (videos, photography, art displays)

Interested students will be paired with an environmental organization and a project plan will be created. The student and organization will meet several times over the semester to assess progress, and at the conclusion of the semester, the student will have created a deliverable for the environmental organization to utilize. In the spring semester, Common Waters holds a symposium for students involved in the program to present their projects.

If you are interested in potentially working with Common Waters for the Fall 2026 semester, fill out the following interest form here.

Want more information? Visit our website or email amaya.hamilton@mail.wvu.edu.