| NEWS RELEASE |
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Office of External Communications |
Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Marisa Ramirez |
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TO FOCUS ON CHEMISTRY & ENVIRONMENT More than 30 science teachers in grades 4-12 from around the state are expected for the Chemicals and the Environment—Science Teachers Institute at the University of Houston, July 10 - 22. The 16th annual conference will feature presentations on epidemiology, toxicology, cancer in Texas, and air and water quality. “We are interested in real world experiences and examples of chemicals and the environment that can be practically applied to science curricula,” said Eugene L. Chiappetta, UH curriculum and instruction professor and coordinator of UH’s Chemicals and the Environment Institute. “This has become a very popular program for teachers and for personnel in the chemical industry.” One of the major course requirements is for the participants to organize a mini-unit to incorporate what they have learned during the institute into classroom lessons. During the two week institute, chemical and environmental experts will gather for a panel discussion on air quality. The discussion will take place at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 20. Panelists will include John Wilson, executive director of the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention; Dr. Thomas Stock, associate professor of environmental science a the University of Texas Health Science Center; Dr. Michael Honeycutt, manager of toxicology section for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; and Steven Hansen, Houston regional monitoring manager of environmental affairs with Shell Chemical LP. Participants will also take three field trips to Houston-area petrochemical plants for firsthand observations of chemical manufacturing. They will learn about the transportation of chemicals during a visit to Lyondell Chemical in Channelview; get an overview of waste water treatment when they visit Rohm and Haas Texas in Deer Park; and receive information on the processing of plastics from officials at Innovene in LaPorte. “This is a great opportunity for teachers to ask questions of industry and environmental experts that will ultimately benefit the students,” Chiappetta said. The event is sponsored by The Texas Chemical Council and the Association of Chemical Industry of Texas.
Schedule Highlights:
For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom. |
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