Environment Project initiatives involve schools and community

As enrollment in CCBC’s Environmental Science classes continues to rise, the Environment Project continues to expand with the support of additional grant funding.

The Environment Project recently received a $20,027 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The College and University Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Training Program (CUEPP) will work to increase knowledge of environmentally preferable procurement mechanisms, practices and procedures throughout public and private higher educational institutions in Maryland. The project began Dec. 1, 2003 and will run through Nov. 30, 2004.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also awarded $89,379 to the Environment Project for a project titled “Community Education and Technology Initiative” (CETI). CETI is a two-year project to enhance dialogue, understanding, and knowledge about climate change among students, teachers, and community members throughout Maryland.

CETI consists of two major activities. The first is a statewide “Beat the Heat!” competition involving high schools and communities working in partnership to develop emissions reduction or emissions sequestering strategies. The second activity, the “Nine Lives Community Forums,” consists of community-focused climate change education workshops to be held at community colleges across the state. The forums will provide a mechanism for community college students, educators and members of local communities to learn about different perspectives related to climate change.