The AHS Flagstaff Chapter has awarded its 2025 Charles Avery Intern Scholarship to Taite Stotts. Taite graduated from NAU this spring with a double major in geology and chemistry and plans to pursue grad school in the fall. All 5 of the Charles Avery Intern Scholarship applications were consistently excellent. But Taite Stott’s application stood above the rest in both his academic and work history.
Through his academic and work history Taite has developed an interest in hydrology, specifically water quality and contamination (fate and transport). These subcategories of hydrology particularly interest him due to their close relationship with chemistry, which is what he considers the most fascinating of all the natural sciences. Additionally, with the decommissioning of old mines, increasing industrial processes, and growing populations, water quality seems to be a major, and growing, topic of concern. Natural contaminants also interest Taite, as he finds the idea of both geology and biology influencing chemical constituents within natural waterways a very compelling concept. Taite is on track to receive his River Studies and Leadership Certificate, awarded by the River Management Society, after he graduates this May in support of his summer work as a river guide. In addition to his overall appreciation for the outdoors and paired with his passion for science, has led Taite to a career in hydrology.
Aside from Taites academic experiences in hydrology, he have also worked as a hydrology technician within the School of Forestry since May 2023 under Dr. Salli Dymond. completing fieldwork in the states of California, Colorado, and Arizona. This has consisted of vegetation surveying, instrument installation (soil moisture sensors, pressure transducers, etc.), and sampling of water and soils. In terms of lab work, I have conducted particle size analysis, pH analysis of soils, and data entry and processing.
As part of his internship Taite is hoping to learn more about natural and human caused water contamination. Mining has been a significant part of the history of Arizona and the west. While mining practices have improved significantly, both active and decommissioned mines continue to threaten many natural and human environments across the state. I would hope that this internship would shed light on what a career in hydrology could entail, as it seems to be a very diverse field with several relevant, impactful career paths. I plan to start applying for graduate school later this year, in which this first-hand experience would, ideally, help me to decide what specific branch of hydrology I would like to concentrate on. This intern scholarship would benefit both my future career and education and would hopefully be the start of a long career grounded within the world of hydrology.