Water Science Grant Program Supporting STE(A)M Education in Miami’s Title 1 Schools 

Science education has never been more essential for enabling healthier drinking habits, wise water decisions, sustainable practices, and inspiring water-conscious interest in areas like urban and industrial development, farming, conservation, nutrition and domestic use. In partnership with Miami Dade County Public Schools and the Foundation for New Education Initiatives, we dedicated our first-ever program to generating community impact through water science education by supporting nine Title 1 / STE(A)M designated elementary schools–and benefiting their 4,405 students–throughout the 2021-2022 school year`. Through this grant program, we embedded water science into our public elementary STEM curriculum to instill awareness toward our most valuable resource and empower positive change through equitable access.

Partnership with FIU to measure water quality in Floridian agriculture 

Water and its quality is critical to the life and economy of Florida as it is vital for plants, animals, and humans. The majority of the state’s water comes from aquifer systems under. There are two major aquifers in Florida: the Floridan (the whole state), and the Biscayne (South Florida). The Floridan aquifer is the largest and deepest in the state. It holds groundwater like a sponge. Its holes allow the water to move freely through it. The Floridan aquifer stretches for 82,000 square miles beneath Florida and parts of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. In collaboration with Florida International University’s Institute of Environment, Weo Foundation will be assessing the quality of water used in Field crops, and in Animal farms. This study, conducted by researchers in the Conservation & Sustainable Horticulture Lab of Agroecology Program, Department of Earth and Environment, will provide an overview on the quality of water used in the Agriculture sector for diverse major commodities throughout the state of Florida.

“Follow the Water” Outreach Program With the Frost Science Museum 

While Frost Science is well-known internationally for its continuous dedication to science education, we’re thrilled to combine forces in our quest for supporting local science programs in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Together, we are forging new paths in the health and science realms, with a focus on STEM programs in Title 1 schools across South Florida in partnership with M-DCPS. With this new professional development initiative and resources for teachers that will bridge formal and informal chemical education, we empower young learners to participate in scientific inquiry and build a more sustainable future.

Each elementary school level’s water science curriculum can focus on specific elements designed to engage curiosity and incite a desire to learn more about one of life’s most essential elements. Areas of focus will include: understanding how scientists are following the water, to better understand life on Earth, and to explore its possible existence in other worlds, as well as problem-solving and engineering practices applied to water filtration in order to obtain clean water for human consumption.

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