Head e-proctor senior Keara Jenkins recently conducted an experimental survey, with the help of some statistics students and the Mathematics Department, to see if the Loomis Chaffee community would consider changing its water-drinking habits by switching from bottled to tap.

Keara advocates the change for several reasons. “Drinking tap water is not only beneficial to the environment as it doesn’t produce plastic waste, but it also isn’t in violation of human rights,” she explained. “Most companies that bottle their products take water from sources in developing countries, leaving less of a water supply for those in that specific area, which in turn leaves less of a food supply as well. This is something most people don’t realize when they purchase and drink bottled products.”

Through her survey, Keara wanted to draw attention to the amount of bottled water consumed on campus and use the data as a catalyst for change. Students were given a pitcher of either tap water or bottled water during Family-Style dinner and were asked to guess what type of water they had been drinking. Of those surveyed who either drank tap or bottled water, 83 percent guessed correctly that they were drinking tap water; and of that 83 percent, 78 percent stated they would drink tap water at every Family-Style dinner.

Keara’s survey is one example of ways that the Math Department has taken an active role in exploring this year’s school theme of climate change. “Across disciplines, we are trying to incorporate the school theme as much as possible,” said Joe Cleary, head of the Mathematics Department. “It’s something that’s relevant to all of us and an issue that needs to be addressed even if it means we just consume less bottled water.”

The statistics courses in the Mathematics Department are designed this year to focus on climate change issues. “We hope that students will leave the course and know more about the world, the environment, and technology,” said math teacher Stu Remensnyder, who teaches statistics. “The application of statistics to real issues gives students the ability to go beyond the classroom and not only pursue something they are passionate about, but … hopefully cause action.”

 Read Keara's blog.