UP:STREAM continues training educators on environmental awareness
Educators in North Louisiana are participating in the UP:STREAM program, an initiative by Louisiana Tech's SciTEC, to enhance environmental awareness and skills among students. The program involves hands-on learning and is aimed at addressing local environmental issues, with one project specifically focusing on the new Meta data center development in Richland Parish.
Educators across North Louisiana are advancing their environmental studies through the UP:STREAM initiative, developed by Diane Madden, associate director of SciTEC at Louisiana Tech's College of Education and Human Sciences. This program, funded by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Gulf Research Program, provides hands-on, place-based education to equip teachers and students with the skills to address local environmental concerns.
During the initial year, educators tested water samples and developed lesson plans on local watersheds. Anna King, assistant principal for Start Elementary, highlighted her school's project designed to educate students on community developments, specifically mentioning the new Meta data center in Richland Parish, and its potential future impacts. King praised the collaborative nature of UP:STREAM, which allows educators to learn from diverse perspectives to strengthen STEM education.
Jessica Frith, a science teacher at Forest High School in West Carroll Parish, emphasized the value of bringing new science tools and hands-on experiences back to her students, noting their enthusiasm for environmental studies. Madden underscored the lasting connections teachers and students form with their communities through place-based learning, fostering their roles as scientists and environmental stewards.