Youth Learning As Citizen Environmental Scientists

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION PROVIDES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000.00 TO YOUTH LEARNING AS ENVIRONMENTAL CITIZEN SCIENTISTS FOR IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT, TO DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND AWARENESS TO FOSTER INFORMED DECISIONS REGARDING ARISING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN MOBILE ALABAMA.ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN MOBILE AND PROVIDE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT, HOST KICKOFF MEETING WITH EDUCATORS, EQUIPMENT PURCHASING, EDUCATOR TRAINING, NASA GLOBE CERTIFICATION, STUDENT LED RESEARCH, STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM AND EVALUATE STUDENT STORIES AND NETWORK CREATION.SUBRECIPIENT:THE PROJECT WILL ISSUE FIVE SUBAWARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000 EACH TO 5 MIDDLE/ HIGH SCHOOLS IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN MOBILE (TOTAL $25,000) .THE FUNDS WILL SUPPORT TRAINING, STUDENT RESEARCH OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND BOTH TEACHER AND STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN THE STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM. PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO SCHOOLS WITH TEACHERS/ ADMINISTRATORS WITH STRONG COMMITMENTS TO AIR QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES: 5 SCHOOLS RECRUITED AND TWO TEACHERS PER SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE STEM CURRICULUM ON AIR QUALITY (TOTAL 10 TEACHERS), AND MONTHLY SUPPORT SESSIONS CONDUCTED BY STC AND KIDS MAKING SENSEREG; FOR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT.1 CONSOLIDATED EDUCATOR TRAINING SESSION CONDUCTED ON AIR QUALITY GLOBE AND RELATED CURRICULUM TOPICS WITH 10 TEACHER AMBASSADORS AND GLOBE TRAINING TO ENGAGE STUDENTS ON AIR POLLUTION AND RELATED ISSUES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE RESOURCES: EQUIPPING SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON MONITORING TOOLS AND HIGH-QUALITY STEM CURRICULUM ON AIR QUALITY AND RELATED ISSUES. TRAINING: DEVELOPING A WORKFORCE OF TEACHERS WITH THE TOOLS AND TRAINING TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ON THESE TOPICS LONG INTO THE FUTURE, ENGAGEMENT: OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ON AIR POLLUTION ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR COMMUNITIES, EMPOWERMENT: EQUIPPING WITH EARLY FOUNDATION ON AIR POLLUTION ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR COMMUNITIES, TO UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE AIR QUALITY THROUGH HANDS-ON RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, AND COMMUNICATIONS.