The Water Sciences Laboratory’s mission is to provide technology, expertise, services, and training in advanced analytical science supporting today’s water and natural resources students, researchers, and stakeholders. The Lab is part of the Nebraska Water Center.
Water Sciences Laboratory
WSL News
Around the world and across Nebraska, nitrogen fertilizer is regularly used to grow crops.
Some of this nitrogen is converted to nitrate that can be easily lost from the root zone, eventually contaminating ground and surface water. In addition to being harmful to human health, excess...
Learn firsthand about water science and analytical chemistry!
Come join our team at the Water Sciences Lab as a student intern.
Description
The laboratory intern will assist staff in
Sample preparation methods
Routine analytical procedures
General laboratory housekeeping
Students are...
The Water Sciences Lab (WSL) had a landmark year in 2020.
The lab celebrated its 30th anniversary in style with new equipment, a renovated interior and commemorative publications. Then the global pandemic forced it to reconfigure operations. With numerous samples on deadline to be analyzed, WSL...
Client Portal
The Nebraska Water Sciences Laboratory Client Services portal is for current and potential clients of the lab, a current user of the laboratory facilities or those seeking information about lab training. If you are not a current user of the lab, and would like to learn more, please contact us.
Our Laboratory
The lab is located on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus. The facility opened in the summer of 1990 to provide a convenient working environment for collaborative research on water-related projects. The lab is run by a technically skilled staff who together perform 140 analytical methods on $3 million worth of equipment for a spectrum of clients.
Training New Scientists
The lab has become an incubator for young water scientists, training 25 students in 2018 alone. Learn more
Developing Methods
The lab staff are able to perform 140 analytical methods on $3 million worth of equipment for a spectrum of clients.
Supporting Water Research
WSL analytical services support university research projects with funding from various agencies.
Our Work
Nebraska Vadose Zone program
In 2017 and 2018, Chris Olson, the program’s manager, drove 17,000 miles to meet with students and teachers in 10 Nebraska towns to help them understand and participate in the science of groundwater and drinking water. Follow the know your well project on Facebook and Twitter.
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Know Your Well program
In 2017 and 2018, Chris Olson, the program’s manager, drove 17,000 miles to meet with students and teachers in 10 Nebraska towns to help them understand and participate in the science of groundwater and drinking water. Follow the know your well project on Facebook and Twitter.
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WSL Enhances Pesticide Research
Evapotranspiration, or ET, is loss of water through evaporation from the earth's surface, including open water and plant surfaces, and plant transpiration, or how a plant grows by passing water from its roots up through its stem and leaves to the atmosphere (Source: Derrel Martin, UNL Biological Systems Engineering. Watershed Water Balance: The Role of ET and Consumptive Use.)
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