Toyota USA Foundation awards Lehigh University $317,778 to support environmental literacy programs

New grant will help Lehigh's Environmental Initiative integrate technology with science education

BETHLEHEM, PA (August 26, 2008)—Lehigh University has received a $317,778 grant from the Toyota USA Foundation to promote environmental literacy in the nation's middle schools. The grant will be used to create professional development materials for teachers, as well as to develop science curriculum using a package of innovative instructional technologies.

Lehigh's WELIM initiative—Web-enhanced Environmental Literacy and Inquiry Modules—is a collaborative effort between its College of Education and the university's Environmental Initiative. The program will be first piloted by Nitschmann and Broughal Middle Schools in Bethlehem, Pa, the latter of which is a NASA Explorer School.

"The Toyota USA Foundation is proud to support the WELIM initiative," said Patricia Pineda, Toyota's Group Vice President, National Philanthropy and the Toyota USA Foundation. "Education has always been a priority for us, and environmental literacy is critical for the next generation of leaders. WELIM will teach environmental science in a comprehensive and innovative way."

The program will rely on geospatial information technologies (GIT) to help students analyze information and data on three core topics: energy, climate change and the impact of human activity on the environment. Issues such as urban and suburban sprawl, water resource usage, pollution, and ecosystem management will be included in the curriculum.

The 2005 National Academies report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future, helped draw attention to a critical lack of focus on science education in America. In order to remain globally competitive, the report calls for 16.5% increase in the number of American students taking advanced placement (AP) or international baccalaureate (IB) level mathematics or science exams by 2010, as well as aggressive recruitment and training program for the nation's 250,000 secondary science and math teachers.

The WELIM initiative is a pilot program that directly addresses both concerns simultaneously using GIT. The technologies, which range from handheld GPS systems to Web satellite imagery, help students explore geography and collect data while becoming more familiar with their environment.

All materials will closely align with the National Science Education Standards, combining environmental sciences with a more contemporary curriculum.