Sustainability in Motion Program Receives State Grant

Westminster College's Sustainability in Motion (SuSIM) outreach program received a $7,500 grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Education Grants Program.

SuSIM, which just completed its first year, is modeled after a sister program, Science in Motion (SIM).  SuSIM develops hands-on activities and laboratory experiments on alternative energy, available as kits that can be borrowed by the 53 school districts served by SIM.

SuSIM also offers teacher and community workshops, supports sustainability education at Westminster, and hosts field trips.  Programming for the first year focused on solar energy and coincided with the installation of solar panels at Westminster's Field Station.  Second-year programming will include topics on wind energy, fuel cells, and biofuels.

The grant proposal was authored by Westminster faculty Dr. Helen Boylan, associate professor of chemistry; Dr. Patrick Krantz, associate professor of education and director of the Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning; and Dr. Timothy Sherwood, associate professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry.

Contact Boylan at (724) 946-6293 (email boylanhm@westminster.edu) or visit www.westminster.edu/sustain for additional information.

SuSIM student team members (l-r) Zachary Smith, Nicole George, Colin Agner, and Cassandra Treshok presented at the Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration in April.