ATEEC News Online–Winter 2003

The goal of integrating cutting-edge research into undergraduate and high school classrooms is one step closer to reality with the completion of a seven-module CD-ROM for college and high school instructors. ATEEC and MIT present a multi-faceted collection of learning modules that delve into important environmental-related issues and feature resources and activities to be used in the classroom. Student activities included in the modules will strengthen math, science, communication, and technical skills.

The powerful seven-module CD-ROM tackles emerging environmental issues including:

• MTBE: From America's Most Wanted to Most Unwanted Gasoline Additive. When methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) was added to gasoline, advocates saw it as a means of helping to solve air pollution problems in the U.S. But after years of leaks from underground storage tanks put MTBE in the nation's ground water, everyone is asking how we failed to foresee the potential for water pollution. A look at the complex process of environmental decisionmaking using MTBE as a case study.
• Climate Change. A resource to help you and your students understand, evaluate, and respond to the complex issues related to climate change. Discover what we know about climate change, who evaluates and interprets that information, how climate change affects individuals and society, and how to adapt to and reduce climate change.
• Air Quality. Using excerpts from MIT air quality experts Mario and Luisa Molina's book, Air Quality in the Mexico Megacity, this module illustrates a number of the issues and challenges surrounding air quality.
• Troubled Waters Underground. Half of the drinking water in the U.S.–and that includes more than 95 percent of the nation's rural drinking water–comes from underground sources of water, or ground water. But how safe is the nation's drinking water? This module looks at ground water quality and how it can be affected by industrial point source chemical contamination. A case study of Woburn, Massachusetts–the same scenario featured in the book and film, A Civil Action–illustrates this important issue.
• Round Rivers. The quality of our local water supplies is inextricably linked to the quality of regional and even global water supply systems. This module looks at the interconnectivity of surface water systems and the impact of agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) contamination on those systems. A case study features the hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone" and provides examples of the scientific principles discussed in the module.
• Driving Into the 21st Century: The Future of the Automobile. While the automobile provides us with convenient, personalized transportation, it also contributes to pollution, climate change, and dependence on foreign oil. Investigate some of the new technologies being developed to make automobiles cleaner and less dependent on gasoline, including hybrid-electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and alternative fuels. Discussion also includes the automobile's impact on society and alternatives to personal auto use.
• Environmental Decisionmaking. The central theme running throughout all the modules is environmental decisionmaking. This particular module examines the complex nature of environmental-related policies, including our society's decisionmaking structures, the myriad stakeholders involved, and the decisionmaking tools used in the process. Examples from the other modules and additional resources illustrate the difficulties of devising sound environmental policy in light of scientific uncertainty, differing economic and political perspectives, and technological challenges.

The modules will be available after April 1, 2003. The cost is $95 plus $5 shipping and handling for single usage or $295 plus $5 shipping and handling for a server version to be used by multiple users. The server version also includes a free wall-sized poster. Visit our website to download a brochure and place your order!

Each June the ATEEC Fellows Institute gives teachers the opportunity to study the latest information and research on current environmental issues. For the 2003 Institute, ATEEC is inviting twenty high school and community college science, math, and environmental technology teachers to learn about the complex and timely topic of climate change. The University of Northern Iowa, which hosts this week-long professional development opportunity, has invited researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to share their knowledge on the science surrounding climate change. In preparation for the Institute, the teachers will receive an instructional module on climate change, which was developed jointly by MIT and ATEEC. This CD-ROM module takes a pragmatic look at climate change and addresses the following questions:

• What do we know about the basic science principles that we use to understand climate change and what uncertainties remain?
• How do we interpret and evaluate the science, perceptions, and range of views surrounding this complex global issue?
• How might climate change affect individuals and their jobs, communities, businesses, industries, and technology locally and globally?
• What can we do to reduce the adverse effects of human influence on climate change?

ECAT Becomes HSET

Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICCD) has changed the neme of its Environmental Compliance and Technology program. The new name is HSET, or Health, Safety, and Environmental Technologist.

The name change reflects changes in both two-year and certificate programs to help graduates embrace current business and industry requirements. The new program has added Industrial Hygiene, Incident Investigation, and Worker Compensation, as well as Special Topics–Fire Prevention, Ergonomics, and How to Write Safety and Environmental Written Programs.

EICCD’s certificate program can be adapted to meet the student’s needs. Beginning with the choice of an emphasis on safety or environmental, the student can choose any combination of courses. With the advisor’s help, students can reach the 18 semester hours required for their certificates and yet fit their needs. The flexibility of the HSET certificate is ideal for individuals who have already earned a college degree but need more specific training.

Here is a short reminder from Western PETE about upcoming events. On June 6 - 10, 2003 the National Environmental Training Association (NETA) 25th Annual Conference and Workshops will be held in Reno, Nevada at the Reno Hilton Hotel. The Northwestern/Western PETE Instructors Resource Conference will take place in Portland, Oregon August 6 - 9, 2003. Be sure to jot down these conference dates!

Good News for Brownfields!

Brownfields in a Box has been added to the National Science Teacher's Association (NSTA) Newsletter and to the California Science Teacher's Association's (CSTA) Web site as a great resource for teachers.

March 2003

Northwest and Western PETE are once again jointly hosting an annual instructor conference. Make your plans now to attend the 2003 NW/W PETE conference, which will be held in Portland, Oregon August 6 - 9, 2003. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) will be the host venue. Additional conference details and a registration form will soon be available at the NWPETE website at: http://www.ateec.org/pete/nwpete/nwpete.htm

There are a great many benefits and opportunities available to those who join NWPETE. Membership is open to any educational institution, organization or individual with an interest in the future of environmental, health and safety education and training. For more information, contact Steve Fenton, Executive Director, about becoming a member, or you can view an application online at: http://www.ateec.org/pete/nwpete/nwpete.htm.

We welcome and thank our newest members:

• Casper College
• Central Washington University
• Concurrent Technologies Inc.
• Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
• Clover Park Technical College
• Dull Knife College
• Everett Community College
• Fluor Hanford Inc.
• Highline Community College
• Ilisagvik College
• Little Big Horn College
• Oregon Institute of Technology
• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
• Northwest Indian College
• Prince William Sound Community College
• Salish Kootenai College
• Skagit Valley College
• United Tribes Technical College

NWPETE’s Board of directors.

• Steve Fenton, Executive Director, Highline Community College, Washington
• Nolan Curtis, Board Chair and At-Large Member, National PETE, Fluor Hanford, Washington
• Dr. Andrew Jackson, Vice Chair and NW Representative to National PETE, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), Oregon
• Vince Kelly, Secretary/Treasurer and NW Representative to National PETE, Prince William Sound Community College, Alaska
• Zetra Wheeler, Salish Kootenai College, Montana
• Lars Svanevik, Oregon Instisute of Technology, Oregon
• Bill Mixer, Casper Community College, Wyoming
• Ken Erickson, Past Chair, Eastern Idaho Technical College, Idaho

Contact Information for Northwest PETE:

2003 Conference

• "Meeting Today's Challenges"
• Rhythm City Blackhawk Hotel
• Davenport Iowa
• March 20 - 22, 2003

The Central PETE Conference will be at the Rhythm City Blackhawk Hotel in Davenport IA, March 20–22. As a part of the theme of "Meeting Today's Challenges" topics will include: Teaching the Truth About Our Environment while Navigating in a Sea of Junk Science, GIS, Energy Services, Energy Efficiency for Schools, Building Operator Certification, Mold Remediation, Homeland Security, Terrorism, Digital course Development, Presenting and Administering Web-Based EHS Using Blackboard 5, Cornucopia of Gov Web Sites, Growing ATEEL, and more.

The conference includes Pre-conference Workshops of 501 OSHA General Industry Train-the-Trainer for CCCHST members at a special price of $300 and an HMTRI - CCCHST Instructor Refresher, and a Post-conference Workshop of Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO).

Transitioning toward Success: Contact Information

While files and important records are in transit to the new site of SCPETE at Nunez Community College (see address below), it might be a good time for many of you to call Sharon Flanagan’s office and let her know of your continuing interest in SCPETE. One of the first activities will be to assist in the joint NC/SCPETE Conference to be held in Davenport, IA in 2003.

2003 Conference Postponed until October!

The Eastern Region (Northeast and Southeast Regions) was to host its annual instructors conference in beautiful Naples, Florida on April 10-12. The conference had to be rescheduled to October. Check the Summer ATEEC News for more details!

ATEEC will soon release two new CD ROMs: "Virtual Waste Site" and "Infectious Disease Emergence." Virtual Waste Site is an interactive simulation, conceived by HMTRI's Doug Feil.

Infectious Disease Emergence is the first instructional module to be completed for the MIT-ATEEC grant. A case study approach is used to inform teachers about researchers' views of societal, ecological, and environmental trends associated with a dangerous increase of both old and new infectious diseases. The module includes student activities and Web resources for multidisciplinary teaching opportunities in environmental technology, the basic and social sciences, math, allied health fields, and communications.

by Garrett Simmelink
WorkSafe Institute of Washington

“I've never heard a group laugh at and with each other as much as this group. I think I can speak for everyone involved when I say that we all thoroughly enjoyed this training experience and were delighted at their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. Several of the tribal elders came in or stopped by to observe the class and reported that they were very pleased with the instructional staff and the progress of the students. For us, this training project was a rewarding and enriching experience.“
–Garrett Simmelink

In December 2001, The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation received a Job Training Development and Demonstration Pilot award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of this award was to recruit and train 40 low-income residents of the Colville Reservation for entry-level positions as Brownfield's technicians.

The WorkSafe Institute of Washington (a partnership of Central Washington University, Highline Community College, and Skagit Valley College) was selected to be the training provider for this project. The institute provides environmental health and safety training to workers and supervisors in the Northwest.

The training stage has now been completed, and the full story by Garrett Simmelink is in the ATEEC News Online. The next step is for the reservation to restore several hazardous waste sites to their natural state. This means employment for those that diligently paid their dues to become certified as hazardous waste workers. The key will be connecting this bright, young group of people with environmental restoration companies so that the money stays on the reservation and the environmental objectives are met. Thanks to innovative programs like the EPA's Brownfield Job Training Development and Demonstration Grant, there is funding to make this kind of magic happen.

A little over two years ago I was given the opportunity to accept, on behalf of PETE, the opportunity to go to Washington, DC, and work on an Enviro-Jobs project with the Department of Labor. PETE’s role was to promote and potentially provide training for local Workforce Boards to prepare workers for jobs in the environmental career area (Enviro-Jobs). The ability of PETE colleges to deliver quality training was a major aspect of the Enviro-Jobs project.

During the past two years I have worked to promote the fact that PETE colleges deliver quality training for an environmental workforce with the “best bang for the buck.” Community colleges are resources that are well established in the community, familiar with the needs of adult learners, able to provide high quality training, and adept at evaluating the effects of their training on diverse populations via multiple delivery methods. I believe that PETE and its network of community colleges stand to gain a great deal by involving individuals in Federal agencies through IPA’s. I will always be grateful to PETE and DOL for this opportunity.

–Randy J. Parker, Ed.D., Management Analyst, US Department of Labor

Meet Dawn Stuart, ECAT Student on the go in Hazwoper!

ECAT student Dawn Stuart took a 40-hour HAZWOPER training course at Scott Community College in Bettendorf. The following photo essay shows how Dawn spent an afternoon learning and participating in a hands-on training session.