Education

The Sustainable U series continues at Richland College on Dec. 12 with a discussion on energy efficiency in buildings. Speakers include experts like Paul Westbrook and Ryan Sheard. The free event, organized by DCCCD and EarthX, features panels and aims to raise sustainability awareness.

Nicole Gorretta transformed TCU's sustainability efforts since 2016. She initiated recycling programs, banned Styrofoam, and organized the campus's first Earth Day Fair, leaving a lasting impact on environmental stewardship. Her leadership inspired lasting institutional change, ensuring the university's commitment to sustainability endures beyond her graduation.

Eastfield College will host the free annual DCCCD sustainability summit on November 8, featuring Ian Garrett, who will discuss creativity in sustainability. Attendees can explore five learning tracks, including Social Equity and Resource Efficiency, to address various sustainability challenges. Lunch is provided, pre-registration requested.

Allen ISD's new STEAM Center, designed by VLK Architects, integrates arts into STEM education with indoor-outdoor learning spaces, sustainable design, and innovative facilities, promoting environmental education. It addresses a national STEM skills gap and offers diverse classes and real-world experiences, including ecological zones and a living laboratory pond.

Biologist and Paschal High School science teacher Andrew Brinker initiated a three-year Trinity River Turtle Survey to assess turtle populations in North Texas, amid urban development. Students collect, measure, and tag turtles for analysis, contributing to baseline data and gaining valuable research experience.

North Texas kids are trained as Junior Master Naturalists at the City of Coppell’s Biodiversity Education Center and The Perot Museum. Targeting fourth to sixth-graders, these programs offer interactive learning and field trips, encouraging young people to appreciate and understand Texas ecosystems.

A local environmental watchdog wants to teach kids some new tricks. Like paying attention to what they're breathing. Kids-U provides after school and summer programs for kindergarten through 8th graders at 12 apartment complexes in low-income neighborhoods in DFW.

UNT Prof. Rudi Thompson secured $7 million to study water conservation in Dallas through an Environmental Education Initiative, teaching Pre-K to 5th graders conservation techniques like building aquifers. This program saves $3 million annually and over 22 billion gallons of water. Thompson continues to promote sustainable habits.

A new park opened at Dan D. Rogers Elementary as part of a Dallas ISD greening initiative. The Texas Trees Foundation's Cool Schools program, tackling urban heat and pollution, installed 90 trees and recreational facilities. More schools will join the initiative, backed by anonymous donations.

EarthX, founded by Dallas philanthropist Trammell S. Crow, is a large Earth Day festival held April 26-28 at Fair Park, Dallas. It features eco-exhibitors, conferences, the EarthxFilm festival, the Tiny House Village, the Vegan Village, and new additions like the EarthX app and EarthxLeague.