TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Years after many classes stopped being held at was once called “the lagoon,” a new group of students is using the newly-renovated lake to learn.

Biological and Environmental Sciences students in Dr. Brian Helms’ class has been study limnology, the study of inland freshwaters like lakes, rivers and wetlands. That is why students in his class recently traded their desks for kayaks.

Out on the lake, students conducted an underwater survey. During which they mapped depth, structure and conditions below the water’s surface. According to Helms, understanding freshwater systems means understanding ecosystems, climate, and the resources communities depend on.

“This class is part of the environmental science program, and it’s a required course,” Helms explained. “It’s required for a couple reasons.

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“One because it covers lots of ground in biology. It covers everything from the physics of light through water, it covers chemistry, it covers biology. It’s a really good experience in learning how science is done. That’s really what we’re trying to do in the biological sciences is teach students how to do science.”

Inland waters may seem calm from the shore but beneath the surface, Helms says they are dynamic, complex, and constantly changing. Science, it turns out, doesn’t only happen in labs as is now back to taking place at Troy’s new lake.