Green School : News
NEEF Challenges HighSchools to Innovate
The National Environmental Education Foundation, in partnership with The Weather Channel, has launched the first phase of its new Classroom Earth program, designed to support environmental education in high schools. NEEF's National High School Challenge gives high school teachers the opportunity to secure $5,000 to $10,000 in funding to bring innovative conservationist themes into students' coursework. Twenty-five grants will be awarded in two different categories: course integration and professional development. Interested teachers must submit grant proposals by June 20. For submission requirements and other relevant information, visit here.
Canon Program PlantsSeeds of Accountability
Canon USA and the American Park Network have announced the Canon Forest Program, adding to Canon's growing list of environmental initiatives. Beginning last month and extending through August, Canon will plant a tree for every 10 Canon Generation Green products registered and give consumers the opportunity to take part in programs that will revitalize city parks, gardens, and public lands, helping to offset the collective carbon footprint. You can register your district's Generation Green products and track the progress of the Canon Forest Program by visiting here.
PC MALL GOV GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT TO ENVIRONMENTALISM
TO HELP CHILDREN learn about and becomeleaders in green technology, PC Mall Gov has created the Green LightContest for students in grades 5 through 12.Entrants must submit a short essay about stepsthey can take to promote energy-saving technologyuse. A panel of judges will choose two first-prize-winning essayists, one each from the middleschool and high school categories, to receive environmentallyfriendly laptops. One will be namedthe grand-prize winner; that student's school willreceive a complete, 30-seat "green" computer lab. Entries will be acceptedSept. 15-Dec. 15, and winners will be announced during the Florida EducationalTechnology Conference in January 2009. More info can be found on the PC Mall Gov website here.
Crestron Joins USGBC
Crestron, a provider of audiovisual and control solutions, has joined the US Green Building Council, the organization responsible for creating the Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED) Design Green Building Rating System. Membership will streamline the LEED accreditation process in projects that incorporate Crestron solutions, helping K-12 schools and other customers conserve both money and natural resources.
Students Unanimous: Ethanol Not the Answer
Launched in 2006, the annual Moody's Mega Math Challenge asks teams of high school students to use applied mathematics to solve challenging, real-world issues. For this year's competition, held in April, the student teams were given a hot environmental topic: replacing gasoline with corn-derived ethanol to reduce the US' dependence on depleting fossil fuels. Students had 14 hours to apply mathematical models to the chosen topic and submit their findings in a solution paper. Each of the top six teams concluded that replacing gas with ethanol is neither cost-effective nor environmentally sound. The winning team, whose solution paper was deemed the best by a panel of professional mathematicians, was from High Technology High School in Lincroft, NJ. Team members will share the$20,000 scholarship prize.
This article originally appeared in the 06/01/2008 issue of THE Journal.