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EPA Provides Interamerican University of Puerto Rico with Funding to Encourage Students to Pursue Environmental Careers

Release Date: 02/23/2004
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(#04013) New York, New York -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today gave the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico an environmental education grant of $15,000 to fund a project that will encourage young people to pursue environmental careers. EPA gives Environmental Education (EE) grants to increase public awareness of environmental issues and enhance the ability to make informed decisions on how to protect the environment. "The future of the environment depends on the ability of our society to make educated, responsible decisions on how to clean up our environment," said Jane M. Kenny, EPA Regional Administrator. "This environmental education project encourages young people to pursue environmental studies and careers, translating into a better protected environment in Puerto Rico." Interamerican University's project, called Promoting Environmental Careers Through an Integrated Approach, was developed in response to the need for more students to pursue careers as environmental educators, scientists and researchers in Puerto Rico. The university is conducting seminars on environmental areas of study for the academic community and participating students. The course of study includes field trips to develop students' knowledge about the environment and assignments to hone their problem-solving and research skills. Students are focusing their studies on the Laguna Tortuguero ecosystem through the Ecotourism Office of the Municipality of Vega Baja. Students will hold workshops to share their acquired knowledge of the environment with the Vega Baja community and present their work to the university community at the annual Congress of the Center for Environmental Education and Interpretation. These students will complete both bachelor's and master's degrees in a total of five years.