Madden awarded half million to expand environmental education for K - 8 students

Nov 4, 2024| Education and Human Sciences, Faculty/Staff, Research

Diane Madden, Louisiana Tech University's associate director of the Science and Technology Education Center (SciTEC), was awarded more than a half million dollars by the Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to fund place-based education projects for students in grades K - 8. Madden is among 12 projects awarded $5.1 million across all projects.

The project, Understanding Place: Students and Teachers Researching and Engaging in Authentic Meaning (UP:STREAM), is an initiative designed to provide educators and students with the tools to develop environmental skills and address pressing issues in their communities.

"As a teacher with a background in earth and environmental science, I've always emphasized importance of caring for our environment and recognizing our interconnectedness," Madden said. "My work with GEAR UP students during summer camps at Louisiana Tech reinforced this focus, as we explored local environments through hands-on scientific investigations."

UP:STREAM aims to foster environmental awareness by training educators in place-based education, citizen science, and hands-on instructional methods. These educators will guide students in assessing their communities' environmental issues and developing a master plan to address those challenges.

"Educators will learn water quality sampling techniques, explore the role of macroinvertebrates, and assess local ponds, lakes, and streams," Madden added. "The project will conclude in an engineering design challenge where students will create solutions to protect bodies of water downstream."

The project hopes to have a lasting impact not only on students and teachers but also on the broader community.

"We aim to inspire schools and communities to become more environmentally friendly and aware of how their actions affect their surroundings," Madden said. "Ideally, this will create a ripple effect, encouraging neighboring communities to adopt similar practices."

UP:STREAM is a collaborative effort, with key team members including Louisiana Tech's Missy Wooly, STEM outreach coordinator, and Chris Campbell, UTeachTech master teacher, who are set to lead science education initiatives.

"I am excited to be a part of the UP:STREAM project, particularly helping with the place-based activities for the students and teachers," Chris Campbell, UTeachTech master teacher, said. "This project will allow our UTeachTech students to work with 5th graders as part of their field experiences, while also helping design and deliver lessons."

Dr. Terri Hebert from Indiana University South Bend will provide Place-Based Education training, while Dr. George Noflin from Grambling State University will involve participants in environmental camps for local fifth-grade students.

"Partnering with other universities promises to make a significant difference in the lives of students, teachers, and communities," Madden added.

For more information about UP:STREAM and its initiatives, contact Diane Madden at [email protected].