The Navajo Nation Water Purification Project (N4WPP) Water Symposium was held on November 15 at Diné College’s Shiprock campus, a growing academic center located in northwestern New Mexico. The event represents a collaboration between Navajo Technical University (NTU) and New Mexico Tech (NMT), designed to foster educational pathways in water science and engineering for high school students across the Navajo Nation. The N4WPP addresses a critical challenge in the region: ensuring long-term access to clean drinking water. Through community-based research, the project emphasizes local engagement, leadership development, and hands-on training for careers in hydrology, environmental science, and civil engineering.
As part of the N4WPP initiative, students engage in designing water filtration units using common household items. These projects provided practical insights into developing sustainable water systems for residential, agricultural, and livestock use across the Navajo Nation. By connecting scientific principles to real-world challenges, the program strengthens students’ capacity to contribute to water resilience within their communities.
The symposium also aligns with the educational mission of the Four Corners Science and Computing Club (4CSCC)—a program launched in 2021 and based at Northern Arizona University. 4CSCC is dedicated to increasing awareness and participation in scientific computing among Native American students in the Four Corners region, particularly through hands-on STEM education. The club delivers workshops and curriculum that introduce youth to data science, coding, physical computing, and environmental monitoring technologies.
At the N4WPP Water Symposium, 4CSCC showcased projects using the BBC Micro:Bit and Raspberry Pi 400, which are small, affordable computing tools ideal for introducing students to data collection, programming, and digital problem-solving. Students previously trained by 4CSCC in basic programming and database management were well-prepared to integrate these tools into their water filtration projects. This interdisciplinary approach underscored how computing can be applied to address environmental challenges and enhanced student learning in both scientific and technical domains.
Diné College’s New Buildings – Shiprock Campus Expansion
Hosting the symposium at Diné College was particularly meaningful as the institution continues to expand its infrastructure in Shiprock. Diné College, the first tribally controlled and accredited collegiate institution in the United States, has recently added new buildings to its Shiprock campus to support STEM education and workforce development. These include updated science labs, classrooms, and multi-use learning spaces equipped for research and community-based programming. The upgraded facilities are designed to serve students across the Navajo Nation and provide a foundation for future partnerships, such as the one demonstrated by the N4WPP symposium.
Together, the efforts of N4WPP, 4CSCC, and Diné College represent a holistic approach to Native student empowerment—blending environmental stewardship, community collaboration, and cutting-edge STEM learning.
Click HERE more information about the Four Corners Science and Computing club.
View more 4CSCC collaborative efforts HERE.