La EPA causa sensación con una adjudicación de $319,000 a Puerto Rico para apoyar el monitoreo de la calidad del agua en las playas a fin de proteger la salud pública
NUEVA YORK – Hoy, la Agencia Federal de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA) anunció una subvención de $319,000 para ayudar a las comunidades costeras de Puerto Rico a proteger la salud de los bañistas. Los fondos ayudarán a Puerto Rico a llevar a cabo programas de monitoreo de calidad de agua y programas para mantener al público informado sobre sus playas.
“Este financiamiento ayuda a mantener limpias las playas y las aguas costeras para que la gente pueda divertirse, relajarse y disfrutar de toda la belleza que las costas de Puerto Rico ofrecen”, indicó Lisa F. García, administradora regional. “El financiamiento de la EPA es vital para el éxito de los programas de monitoreo y notificación sobre el estatus de las playas”.
En virtud de la Ley de Evaluación Ambiental de Playas y Salud Costera (BEACH), la EPA otorga subvenciones a los solicitantes estatales, naciones indígenas y territoriales elegibles para ayudar a ellos y a sus socios del gobierno local a monitorear la calidad del agua en las playas costeras y de los Grandes Lagos. Cuando los niveles de bacterias son demasiado altos para nadar de manera segura, estas agencias notifican al público publicando avisos o cierres de playas.
Desde 2001, la EPA ha adjudicado casi $230 millones en subvenciones de la Ley BEACH para analizar las aguas de las playas en busca de bacterias que causan enfermedades, identificar las fuentes de problemas de contaminación y ayudar a notificar al público. Tres factores influyeron en las asignaciones de la EPA para los montos de las subvenciones de 2024: (1) la duración de la temporada de playa, (2) la cantidad de millas de costa y (3) las poblaciones de los condados costeros.
A fin de ser elegible para recibir las subvenciones de la Ley BEACH, los estados, las naciones indígenas y los territorios deben tener aguas recreativas costeras y de los Grandes Lagos adyacentes a playas o puntos de acceso similares utilizados por el público. También deben tener un programa de normas de calidad del agua y estándares numéricos de calidad del agua recreativa aprobados por la EPA para las aguas costeras. Además, las entidades elegibles deben cumplir con 11 criterios de desempeño para implementar los componentes de monitoreo, evaluación y notificación del programa de playas.
Más información sobre subvenciones de la Ley BEACH.
Consulte el sitio web estatal, tribal o territorial correspondiente sobre el programa BEACH para ver información acerca de cierres o notificaciones en una playa en particular.
Siga la Región 2 de la EPA en X y visite nuestra página en Facebook. Para obtener más información sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestro sitio web.
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“Este financiamiento ayuda a mantener limpias las playas y las aguas costeras para que la gente pueda divertirse, relajarse y disfrutar de toda la belleza que las costas de Puerto Rico ofrecen”, indicó Lisa F. García, administradora regional. “El financiamiento de la EPA es vital para el éxito de los programas de monitoreo y notificación sobre el estatus de las playas”.
En virtud de la Ley de Evaluación Ambiental de Playas y Salud Costera (BEACH), la EPA otorga subvenciones a los solicitantes estatales, naciones indígenas y territoriales elegibles para ayudar a ellos y a sus socios del gobierno local a monitorear la calidad del agua en las playas costeras y de los Grandes Lagos. Cuando los niveles de bacterias son demasiado altos para nadar de manera segura, estas agencias notifican al público publicando avisos o cierres de playas.
Desde 2001, la EPA ha adjudicado casi $230 millones en subvenciones de la Ley BEACH para analizar las aguas de las playas en busca de bacterias que causan enfermedades, identificar las fuentes de problemas de contaminación y ayudar a notificar al público. Tres factores influyeron en las asignaciones de la EPA para los montos de las subvenciones de 2024: (1) la duración de la temporada de playa, (2) la cantidad de millas de costa y (3) las poblaciones de los condados costeros.
A fin de ser elegible para recibir las subvenciones de la Ley BEACH, los estados, las naciones indígenas y los territorios deben tener aguas recreativas costeras y de los Grandes Lagos adyacentes a playas o puntos de acceso similares utilizados por el público. También deben tener un programa de normas de calidad del agua y estándares numéricos de calidad del agua recreativa aprobados por la EPA para las aguas costeras. Además, las entidades elegibles deben cumplir con 11 criterios de desempeño para implementar los componentes de monitoreo, evaluación y notificación del programa de playas.
Más información sobre subvenciones de la Ley BEACH.
Consulte el sitio web estatal, tribal o territorial correspondiente sobre el programa BEACH para ver información acerca de cierres o notificaciones en una playa en particular.
Siga la Región 2 de la EPA en X y visite nuestra página en Facebook. Para obtener más información sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestro sitio web.
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EPA Makes a Splash with Award of $319,000 to Puerto Rico to Support Water Quality Monitoring at Beaches to Protect Public Health
NEW YORK – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $319,00 in grant funding to help Puerto Rico ’s coastal communities protect the health of beachgoers. The funding will assist Puerto Rico in conducting water quality monitoring and public notification programs for their beaches.
“This funding helps keep beaches and coastal waters clean so that people can have fun, relax and enjoy all the beauty that Puerto Rico coastlines have to offer,” said Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator. “EPA funding is vital for successful beach monitoring and notification programs.”
Under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, the EPA awards grants to eligible state, tribal, and territorial applicants to help them and their local government partners monitor water quality at coastal and Great Lakes beaches. When bacteria levels are too high for safe swimming, these agencies notify the public by posting beach advisories or closings.
Since 2001, the EPA has awarded nearly $230 million in BEACH Act grants to test beach waters for illness-causing bacteria, identify the sources of pollution problems, and help notify the public. Three factors influenced the EPA’s allocations for the 2024 grant amounts: (1) the length of the beach season, (2) the number of miles of shoreline, and (3) the populations of coastal counties.
To be eligible for BEACH Act grants, states, Tribes, and territories must have coastal and Great Lakes recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the public. They must also have a water quality standards program and EPA-approved numeric recreational water quality standards for coastal waters. Additionally, eligible entities must meet 11 performance criteria for implementing monitoring, assessment, and notification components of the beach program.
More information on BEACH Act grants.
Check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program website for closing or advisory information at a particular beach.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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“This funding helps keep beaches and coastal waters clean so that people can have fun, relax and enjoy all the beauty that Puerto Rico coastlines have to offer,” said Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator. “EPA funding is vital for successful beach monitoring and notification programs.”
Under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, the EPA awards grants to eligible state, tribal, and territorial applicants to help them and their local government partners monitor water quality at coastal and Great Lakes beaches. When bacteria levels are too high for safe swimming, these agencies notify the public by posting beach advisories or closings.
Since 2001, the EPA has awarded nearly $230 million in BEACH Act grants to test beach waters for illness-causing bacteria, identify the sources of pollution problems, and help notify the public. Three factors influenced the EPA’s allocations for the 2024 grant amounts: (1) the length of the beach season, (2) the number of miles of shoreline, and (3) the populations of coastal counties.
To be eligible for BEACH Act grants, states, Tribes, and territories must have coastal and Great Lakes recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the public. They must also have a water quality standards program and EPA-approved numeric recreational water quality standards for coastal waters. Additionally, eligible entities must meet 11 performance criteria for implementing monitoring, assessment, and notification components of the beach program.
More information on BEACH Act grants.
Check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program website for closing or advisory information at a particular beach.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA and Partners Announce Winner of Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge
WASHINGTON - Today, June 20, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the results of Phase Two of the Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge. The challenge winner, Aqua Science, LLC, is receiving a prize of $105,000 for their innovative system, BioLight Toxy, that uses a bioluminescent bacterium that responds when exposed to toxins in water.
“Congratulations to the winner of the Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge for advancing an innovative water technology that offers the promise of addressing a difficult environmental problem,” said Chris Frey, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Research and Development. “The prize-winning technological solution has the potential to advance how we monitor and protect one of our most vital resources, ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water supplies.”
Contaminants such as pesticides, personal care products and other chemical pollutants can increase toxicity in water, creating exposure concerns for humans and aquatic organisms. These chemicals can disrupt the body's normal functions like breathing and cause chronic diseases and harmful health effects. Using existing methods, it can be costly to detect and identify many of these contaminants and often requires specialized laboratories and personnel, and extensive time. If the identity of the contaminants is unknown, it can be even more difficult to detect them.
To help improve methods for monitoring water toxicity, EPA and partners developed the Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge to encourage solvers to create new, effective solutions. The challenge consisted of two stages, first the concept design and then prototype development. Phase One Challenge participants submitted written concepts explaining how their proposed system could detect the activation of toxic pathways when exposed to various harmful chemicals or natural toxins.
During Phase Two of the challenge, which was open to all, solvers submitted a description of a prototype sensor and the results of initial testing of its ability to detect toxicity in water. The Challenge Committee selected finalists based on several criteria including the device’s ability to detect the presence of toxicity with quantitative data and for the device to be easy to use. Finalists were required to have their systems tested by an approved third-party evaluator for consideration for the final prize.
The winning sensor, BioLight Toxy was selected based on both the initial data from the prototype and the results of the third-party evaluation.
Challenge Winner:
BioLight Toxy is a system that can be used in the field or the lab that measures the light levels of a bacterium to determine the toxicity of a sample. Proposed by Iwona Evans, Owner/CEO, Aqua Science LLC, Newark, Delaware. Read the full description of the winning solution.
Honorable Mention:
SCENTINEL is a prototype that uses a paper sensor containing bioluminescent bacteria. Water samples are added to wells in the sensor and the level of bioluminescence emitted, which depends on the level of toxicity, can be captured by a smartphone. This prototype was developed by Professor Elisa Michelini, Dept of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Italy.
The Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge is a collaborative effort of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, the Greater Cincinnati Water Works, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and The Water Research Foundation.
“Congratulations to the winner of the Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge for advancing an innovative water technology that offers the promise of addressing a difficult environmental problem,” said Chris Frey, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Research and Development. “The prize-winning technological solution has the potential to advance how we monitor and protect one of our most vital resources, ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water supplies.”
Contaminants such as pesticides, personal care products and other chemical pollutants can increase toxicity in water, creating exposure concerns for humans and aquatic organisms. These chemicals can disrupt the body's normal functions like breathing and cause chronic diseases and harmful health effects. Using existing methods, it can be costly to detect and identify many of these contaminants and often requires specialized laboratories and personnel, and extensive time. If the identity of the contaminants is unknown, it can be even more difficult to detect them.
To help improve methods for monitoring water toxicity, EPA and partners developed the Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge to encourage solvers to create new, effective solutions. The challenge consisted of two stages, first the concept design and then prototype development. Phase One Challenge participants submitted written concepts explaining how their proposed system could detect the activation of toxic pathways when exposed to various harmful chemicals or natural toxins.
During Phase Two of the challenge, which was open to all, solvers submitted a description of a prototype sensor and the results of initial testing of its ability to detect toxicity in water. The Challenge Committee selected finalists based on several criteria including the device’s ability to detect the presence of toxicity with quantitative data and for the device to be easy to use. Finalists were required to have their systems tested by an approved third-party evaluator for consideration for the final prize.
The winning sensor, BioLight Toxy was selected based on both the initial data from the prototype and the results of the third-party evaluation.
Challenge Winner:
BioLight Toxy is a system that can be used in the field or the lab that measures the light levels of a bacterium to determine the toxicity of a sample. Proposed by Iwona Evans, Owner/CEO, Aqua Science LLC, Newark, Delaware. Read the full description of the winning solution.
Honorable Mention:
SCENTINEL is a prototype that uses a paper sensor containing bioluminescent bacteria. Water samples are added to wells in the sensor and the level of bioluminescence emitted, which depends on the level of toxicity, can be captured by a smartphone. This prototype was developed by Professor Elisa Michelini, Dept of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Italy.
The Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge is a collaborative effort of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, the Greater Cincinnati Water Works, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and The Water Research Foundation.
EPA Announces Grant Award of Over $6.1 million for Clean School Buses for Fort Worth ISD as Part of the Investing in America Agenda
DALLAS, TEXAS (June 20, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Fort Worth Independent School District is receiving $6,167,108 through EPA’s first Clean School Bus Grant Competition. The significant award, which is made possible through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, will help the school district purchase 15 clean school buses.
EPA Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance joined Rep. Marc Veasey, Superintendent Dr. Angélica Ramsey, district leaders, and community members in Fort Worth, TX, today to celebrate the award and highlight how the program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save schools money, and better protect children’s health.
“Today’s $6 million grant delivers a tremendous investment in environmental justice and clean energy by replacing older diesel engines, which disproportionately expose communities of color to harmful pollution, with clean school buses,” said Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, fewer children will face asthma risks linked to air pollution as EPA continues to work every single day to create cleaner and healthier communities.”
“This investment will work towards making our air cleaner and better our children's futures here in Fort Worth," said Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33). "In 2021, I was proud to vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that made this accomplishment possible by ensuring our communities have the tools for zero-emissions electric buses."
"We are thrilled that Fort Worth ISD has been awarded a grant to invest in electric school buses for our district,” said Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Dr. Angelica Ramsey. “Fort Worth ISD is proud to be among the school districts in Texas to receive a grant for electric buses. These electric buses will provide our students with a cleaner, quieter, and more efficient mode of transportation, enhancing their daily school commute. By integrating electric buses into our fleet, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also directly benefiting our students' health and well-being. We look forward to seeing the environmental and cost-saving benefits that Fort Worth ISD will experience with these electric-powered school buses.”
In January 2024, the EPA announced Fort Worth ISD’s selection among the Notice of Funding Opportunity’s top tier Texas applicants to receive this historic investment in their community.
Under the program’s multiple grant and rebate funding opportunities to date, the EPA has awarded almost $3 billion to fund approximately 8,500 school bus replacements at over 1,000 schools. By accelerating the transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles, these awards will improve air quality for children and their families and advance environmental justice, all while boosting the economy and creating good-paying jobs.
The Clean School Bus Program is having far-reaching effects across school districts and their surrounding communities. Air pollution from older diesel engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and can cause them to miss school. Phasing out these older diesel engines, which disproportionately affect communities of color and Tribal communities, ensures cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day.
The program delivers on President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution.Throughout the selection process, EPA prioritized high-needs school districts, including school districts with more than 20% of students in poverty, rural school districts, Tribal school districts and districts in underserved and overburdened communities.
About the Clean School Bus Program
The EPA Clean School Bus Program was created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides an unprecedented $5 billion of funding to transform the nation’s fleet of school buses. The Clean School Bus Program funds electric buses, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, as well as propane and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, which produce lower tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors.
To learn more about the Clean School Bus Rebate Program, applicant eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates for future rounds of funding, visit the Clean School Bus Program website.
Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), or visit our homepage.
EPA Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance joined Rep. Marc Veasey, Superintendent Dr. Angélica Ramsey, district leaders, and community members in Fort Worth, TX, today to celebrate the award and highlight how the program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save schools money, and better protect children’s health.
“Today’s $6 million grant delivers a tremendous investment in environmental justice and clean energy by replacing older diesel engines, which disproportionately expose communities of color to harmful pollution, with clean school buses,” said Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, fewer children will face asthma risks linked to air pollution as EPA continues to work every single day to create cleaner and healthier communities.”
“This investment will work towards making our air cleaner and better our children's futures here in Fort Worth," said Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33). "In 2021, I was proud to vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that made this accomplishment possible by ensuring our communities have the tools for zero-emissions electric buses."
"We are thrilled that Fort Worth ISD has been awarded a grant to invest in electric school buses for our district,” said Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Dr. Angelica Ramsey. “Fort Worth ISD is proud to be among the school districts in Texas to receive a grant for electric buses. These electric buses will provide our students with a cleaner, quieter, and more efficient mode of transportation, enhancing their daily school commute. By integrating electric buses into our fleet, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also directly benefiting our students' health and well-being. We look forward to seeing the environmental and cost-saving benefits that Fort Worth ISD will experience with these electric-powered school buses.”
In January 2024, the EPA announced Fort Worth ISD’s selection among the Notice of Funding Opportunity’s top tier Texas applicants to receive this historic investment in their community.
Under the program’s multiple grant and rebate funding opportunities to date, the EPA has awarded almost $3 billion to fund approximately 8,500 school bus replacements at over 1,000 schools. By accelerating the transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles, these awards will improve air quality for children and their families and advance environmental justice, all while boosting the economy and creating good-paying jobs.
The Clean School Bus Program is having far-reaching effects across school districts and their surrounding communities. Air pollution from older diesel engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and can cause them to miss school. Phasing out these older diesel engines, which disproportionately affect communities of color and Tribal communities, ensures cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day.
The program delivers on President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution.Throughout the selection process, EPA prioritized high-needs school districts, including school districts with more than 20% of students in poverty, rural school districts, Tribal school districts and districts in underserved and overburdened communities.
About the Clean School Bus Program
The EPA Clean School Bus Program was created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides an unprecedented $5 billion of funding to transform the nation’s fleet of school buses. The Clean School Bus Program funds electric buses, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, as well as propane and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, which produce lower tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors.
To learn more about the Clean School Bus Rebate Program, applicant eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates for future rounds of funding, visit the Clean School Bus Program website.
Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), or visit our homepage.
FMC says investigating potential violations of recent ruling on chassis control
The February decision from the agency said ocean carriers can mandate which chassis to use for carrier haulage business, but not for merchant haulage.
India-US East Coast trade poised for major ocean capacity shakeup
Hapag-Lloyd will be withdrawing from the Indamex service it has operated in conjunction with CMA CGM for decades and will kick off a standalone loop on the route in early August.
ILA contract rhetoric turns up heat as uncomfortable summer begins for shippers
The pointed sentiments expressed recently by the ILA are a departure from the low-key, business-like approach to prior negotiations along the East and Gulf coasts, and thus unfamiliar to shippers trying to weigh the risks of labor strife, writes Peter Tirschwell.
EPA Announces Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators Awarded to Science Teacher at Pine Intermediate School in North Olmsted, Ohio
CHICAGO (June 18, 2024) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, announced that Shari Insley, a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Pine Intermediate School in North Olmsted Ohio, has won the 2024 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators.
“We are delighted to celebrate and recognize the remarkable contributions of educators and students across our country,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Our awardees exemplify commitment to environmental education and steadfast leadership in taking creative and innovative approaches to protect human health and tackle climate change. To the awardees, we extend our sincere appreciation for your unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship – we look forward to seeing what you accomplish next.”
“Environmental stewardship often begins in the classroom with young people and educators who are taking our planet’s most pressing climate change and environmental justice challenges head on,” said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. “This year’s awardees represent passionate and dedicated leaders who are tackling the climate crisis, improving public health, and delivering a more equitable future for all.”
With more than 18 years of teaching experience, Shari Insley, prioritizes dynamic and engaging learning environments for her students. Her work as an educator extends beyond the classroom, as she integrates service-learning experiences into her curriculum to inspire curiosity and insightfulness from her students. She possesses a keen awareness of her students' needs, ensuring that she meets them at their individual levels and tailors her curriculum accordingly. Through a blend of outdoor activities, research endeavors, and collaborations with local experts, Insley's students actively participate in hands-on learning experiences.
“I'm honored to be a PIAEE awardee and help inspire the next generation of aquatic scientists,” said Shari Insley, teacher at Pine Intermediate School.
In collaboration with her fellow educators, Insley created the North Olmsted Middle School Water Guardians Project for students to use scientific equipment for research and water sample testing to gain practical insights into environmental science and conservation. Insley's students exhibit confidence, enthusiasm, and eagerness as they leave the confines of the classroom to test the campus creek. During these outdoor studies, students collaborate with field experts, professionals, and educators who encourage them to ask questions and nurture their innate curiosity. In addition to this project, Insley also hosts a field trip to the Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory. The laboratory, in the western basin of Lake Erie, is where Stone Lab scientists share their expertise with students and discuss topics relevant to the Lake Erie ecosystem. Through these activities, students gain tangible experience and knowledge about the importance of preventing and reducing water pollution. Ultimately, Insley is dedicated to serving as a model for students and fellow educators, sharing her knowledge and best practices to promote excellence in teaching.
The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators award was established by the 1990 National Environmental Education Act and seeks to recognize, support, and bring public attention to the outstanding environmental projects performed by teachers who go beyond textbook instruction to incorporate methods and materials that utilize creative experiences and enrich student learning in K-12 education. The CEQ, in partnership with the EPA, administers this award.
From across the country, nine educators received the 2024 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. Winning educators demonstrated leadership by integrating environmental education into multiple subjects and using topics such as climate change, environmental justice, water infrastructure, waste management, water quality, environmentally friendly agricultural practices, STEM education, and school gardens to teach about environmental sustainability. The winners also effectively demonstrated how they inspire members of their communities to participate in environmental education activities.
To read about the winning projects in detail, visit: PIAEE Winners.
“We are delighted to celebrate and recognize the remarkable contributions of educators and students across our country,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Our awardees exemplify commitment to environmental education and steadfast leadership in taking creative and innovative approaches to protect human health and tackle climate change. To the awardees, we extend our sincere appreciation for your unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship – we look forward to seeing what you accomplish next.”
“Environmental stewardship often begins in the classroom with young people and educators who are taking our planet’s most pressing climate change and environmental justice challenges head on,” said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. “This year’s awardees represent passionate and dedicated leaders who are tackling the climate crisis, improving public health, and delivering a more equitable future for all.”
With more than 18 years of teaching experience, Shari Insley, prioritizes dynamic and engaging learning environments for her students. Her work as an educator extends beyond the classroom, as she integrates service-learning experiences into her curriculum to inspire curiosity and insightfulness from her students. She possesses a keen awareness of her students' needs, ensuring that she meets them at their individual levels and tailors her curriculum accordingly. Through a blend of outdoor activities, research endeavors, and collaborations with local experts, Insley's students actively participate in hands-on learning experiences.
“I'm honored to be a PIAEE awardee and help inspire the next generation of aquatic scientists,” said Shari Insley, teacher at Pine Intermediate School.
In collaboration with her fellow educators, Insley created the North Olmsted Middle School Water Guardians Project for students to use scientific equipment for research and water sample testing to gain practical insights into environmental science and conservation. Insley's students exhibit confidence, enthusiasm, and eagerness as they leave the confines of the classroom to test the campus creek. During these outdoor studies, students collaborate with field experts, professionals, and educators who encourage them to ask questions and nurture their innate curiosity. In addition to this project, Insley also hosts a field trip to the Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory. The laboratory, in the western basin of Lake Erie, is where Stone Lab scientists share their expertise with students and discuss topics relevant to the Lake Erie ecosystem. Through these activities, students gain tangible experience and knowledge about the importance of preventing and reducing water pollution. Ultimately, Insley is dedicated to serving as a model for students and fellow educators, sharing her knowledge and best practices to promote excellence in teaching.
The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators award was established by the 1990 National Environmental Education Act and seeks to recognize, support, and bring public attention to the outstanding environmental projects performed by teachers who go beyond textbook instruction to incorporate methods and materials that utilize creative experiences and enrich student learning in K-12 education. The CEQ, in partnership with the EPA, administers this award.
From across the country, nine educators received the 2024 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. Winning educators demonstrated leadership by integrating environmental education into multiple subjects and using topics such as climate change, environmental justice, water infrastructure, waste management, water quality, environmentally friendly agricultural practices, STEM education, and school gardens to teach about environmental sustainability. The winners also effectively demonstrated how they inspire members of their communities to participate in environmental education activities.
To read about the winning projects in detail, visit: PIAEE Winners.