PWS Science Center awarded $15,000 for education project

THE TIMES STAFF

July 03, 2008 at 1:06PM AKST

As part of its ongoing effort to enhance environmental education in the Pacific Northwest, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $188,969 for education programs in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

At the Prince William Sound Science Center, education specialist Lindsay Butters will head up a Cordova Clean Oceans Project using the $15,000 EPA grant.

Clean Ocean Robotics teaches sixth-grade students how to become skilled in the use of robotic technology and its potential application in oil spill response.

Students learn about ocean health and robotics via classroom presentations, workshops and field trips to local sites. Also, five groups of 110 students from grades four to 12 will participate in marine debris removal during the 2009 National Environmental Education Week.

According to Sally Hanft, environmental education grants coordinator in the EPA’s Seattle office, the funding will promote and advance environmental literacy and sustainable practices.

“These grants support projects that allow students, teachers and citizens to learn more about ecosystems, climate change, health and food, ocean health and fisheries management,” said EPA’s Hanft. “We are impressed year after year with how much the recipients are able to accomplish with these grants. With environmental education grants, we get a great bang for our buck.”

These grants are awarded to local organizations, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, schools and universities whose projects strive to increase people’s knowledge and awareness about the environment and its associated challenges.