Desmond Beirne
CERC
“Sustainability means supporting youth to obtain and promote lives of socioeconomic and environmental well-being and fulfillment. That’s what we are ultimately all about.”
Research, Ecology Exchange for Students). TREES focuses on STEM learning and 21st-century skills and careers, and includes partners in the nonprofit and business sectors that also practice the STEM model. Starting with a hypothesis, teams of students used special equipment to monitor the flow of energy to appliances and devices throughout their schools like smart boards, vending machines, and computers. Students then analyzed their results, made recommendations, and gave real-world “briefings” as interschool energy consultants.
Desmond Beirne
Pam Scott, a literacy teacher at IS 52, commented, “When Nancy first told us about the term vampire energy and the Modlet, a brand-new product designed by engineers at ThinkEco and Junior Energy, we all got very enthused. They want to combat the problem of the energy wasted when appliances are in standby mode. We knew it was a perfect fit for our students. They learned a tremendous amount and can’t wait for Phase II next year when we branch out into our community. We’re also going to be looking for concrete evidence of increases in student performance. This is truly cutting-edge.”
Above right: Nancy Degnan, CERC’s Executive Director, discusses environmental sustainability issues with middle school students.
Bottom left and above right: Students from IS 52 Inwood discuss their final presentation for the Interschool Energy Project held at the new Science and Engineering Building at Columbia University on April 2, 2011.
annual donor report 2011