Earthworks, a program of the University of Colorado at Boulder, has received an environmental education partnership award from the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education in the Higher Education category.
An outreach program of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), Earthworks helps middle and high school teachers transfer new science content and teaching strategies into the classroom, said Alex Weaver, director of the CIRES K-12 Outreach Program.
The weeklong summer program began in 1998 and has involved more than 50 teachers from 17 states. Each summer teachers choose a research topic and become partners with scientists who have similar interests to complete a field-based research project in the mountains west of Boulder, Weaver said.
Earthworks also introduces teachers to earth system sciences, an interdisciplinary subject that combines the study of geology, meteorology, biology, hydrology and chemistry.
The CAEE awards are presented to individuals or organizations in Colorado that have demonstrated success in developing and implementing environmental education partnerships. They also recognize leadership in developing effective cooperative, multi-participant programs.
"It聮s wonderful that our hard work has been recognized," Weaver said. "Our program evaluation shows that Earthworks is unique and that students across the United States benefit from their teachers聮 involvement."