Over the past couple months, many gatherings have transitioned from in-person to online due to the pandemic. Environmental Stewardship department employees have assisted a few educational organizations as they’ve gotten creative with virtual learning opportunities.
In early April, Ann McIver, Director, Environmental Stewardship, provided an online presentation for a class of about 20 Purdue University students enrolled in the Environmental and Ecological Engineering program. McIver discussed environmental compliance and Citizens’ Commitment to Sustainability and shared information about Citizens’ environmental programs. Because the course focus is regulatory compliance, the discussion provided an opportunity for the students to see the application of regulatory programs in a different context.
McIver also participated in an online interview on May 4 for Teach for America, an organization that recruits educators to commit to teaching for two years in a low-income community. Indianapolis-area Teach for America members are focused on increasing their students’ exposure to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers. McIver, along with other STEM professionals, was interviewed about her career journey. She shared why she is passionate about STEM and gave advice on pursuing a career in these fields. The recorded interviews were shared with area high schoolers through the Teach for America program.
Catherine Parsons, Environmental Specialist, was interviewed via Zoom on May 14 by Angela Fitzgerald, Program Director for The STEM Connection. The non-profit’s mission is to facilitate hands-on STEM experiences at a farm on the northwest side of Indianapolis, as well as in local schools. Parsons discussed her current job, background and previous work experiences. She also explained some of the personal protective equipment (PPE) that is used while working around chemicals, like neoprene gauntlet gloves and full-face respirators. Parsons encouraged children and their families to begin their own outdoor journeys and to observe the environment surrounding them. You can view the interview, and other similar videos, on The STEM Connection’s Facebook page.
“By engaging with students and sharing about the work Citizens does, we are putting our Commitment to Sustainability in action, as one of the focus areas is community involvement,” said McIver.
Photo caption: The STEM Connection is providing educational opportunities for students during the pandemic, such as video interviews with STEM professionals and instructions for activities to do at home.
