All News Releases By Date

 

EPA supports environmental education projects in UT

Release Date: 6/25/2002
Contact Information:
800 227-8917 x6605,

Release Date: 6/25/2002
Contact Information:
800 227-8917 x6613,

Release Date: 6/25/2002
Contact Information:
800 227-8917 x7814

Denver -- Continuing its commitment to increase understanding of the importance of protecting the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded three environmental education (EE) projects in Utah this year.

"These grants help students and teachers develop their capacity to make informed decisions that affect environmental quality," Regional Administrator Robbie Roberts said, "These kinds of hands-on projects involve students of all ages and promote the understanding that we are inextricably connected to and dependent on the environment."

Since 1992, EPA has awarded 2,500 EE grants totalling $30 million. For more information on the EPA Region 8 grant program, visit https://www.epa.gov/region8/env_ed/.

The recipients for 2002 are:

Glendale Middle School - $5,000
David Roberts, 1430 West Andrew Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84104

Real World Environmental Science: Sea Monkeys & Other Mysteries of the Great Salt Lake

This project will use the Great Salt Lake as a demonstration site for under-represented seventh grade students to gain hands-on EE experience. Minority and low-income students will investigate brine shrimp -- also known as sea monkeys -- which are a key food source for over four million migratory birds. Brine shrimp are vulnerable due to salinity in the lake. Great Salt Lake is the fourth largest hypersaline lake in the world, a closed basin with no surface water outlet. The entire Wasatch mountain front, one of North America's fastest growing urban regions, drains into the lake. The project will meet the State of Utah's core curriculum requirements while engaging students' curiousity and excitement about environmental science.

University of Utah - $5,000
Bill Ernest, 1471 Federal Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84102-1870

Field Biology Ecological Research

The Ecological Research Methods course is designed in part to be a survey of research methods, so each project is completed in one day. While the design is appropriate for exploring many types of research design, students don't have time to gather enough data to answer all their questions about the natural world. By completing independent research projects, students will be able to do more in-depth research along the Wasatch Front on a topic of their choice. Reports from the projects will be posted on the Red Butte Garden website to make the findings available to students, teachers and the community.

Utah Society for Environmental Education - $25,000
Eric Chandler, 350 South 400 East, Suite G-4, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Develop Programs and Materials in Utah’s Environmental Education Community

The project seeks to establish a process for reviewing Utah EE programs and materials in accordance with the National American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). Also, the project seeks to establish a core team of Utah environmental educators and leaders, and increase the legitimacy of Utah EE programs and materials. A core team of 15-20 people will become experts in NAAEE guidelines for excellence and initiate a pilot project that reviews 8-10 EE programs.