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Education Outreach Associated with Technology Transfer in a Colonia of South Texas: Green Valley Farms Science and Space Club for Middle School Aged Children in Green Valley Farms, San Benito, TexasTexas colonias are unincorporated subdivisions characterized by inadequate water and wastewater infrastructure, inadequate drainage and road infrastructure, substandard housing, and poverty. Since 1989 the Texas Legislature has implemented policies to halt further development of colonias and to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs in existing and new colonias along the border with Mexico. Government programs and non-government and private organization projects aim to address these infrastructure needs. Texas Tech University's Water Resources Center demonstrated the use of alternative on-site wastewater treatment in the Green Valley Farms colonia, San Benito, Texas. The work in Green Valley Farms was a component of a NASA-funded project entitled Evaluation of NASA's Advanced Life Support Integrated Water Recovery System for Non-Optimal Conditions and Terrestrial Applications. Two households within the colonia are demonstration sites for constructed wetlands. A colonia resident and activist identified educational opportunities for colonia children as a primary goal for many colonia residents. Colonia parents view education as the door to opportunity and escape from poverty for their children. The educational outreach component of the project in Green Valley Farms was a Science and Space Club for middle-school age students. Involved parents, schoolteachers, and school administrators enthusiastically supported the monthly club meetings and activities. Each month, students participated in interactive learning experiences about water use and reuse in space and on earth. Activities increased knowledge and interest in water resource issues and in science and engineering fields. The Institute for the Development and Enrichment of Advanced Learners (IDEAL) at Texas Tech University provided full scholarships for five students from Green Valley Farms to attend the Shake Hands With Your Future camp at Texas Tech University in June 2003. The educational outreach component was evaluated in February 2004 using survey instruments for students and parents, and interviews with science teachers and counselors.
Document ID
20050217230
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Potess, Marla D.
(Texas Technological Univ. Lubbock, TX, United States)
Rainwater, Ken
(Texas Technological Univ. Lubbock, TX, United States)
Muirhead, Dean
(Lockheed Martin Space Operations TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
Paper-04ICES-76
Meeting Information
Meeting: 34th International Conference on Environmental Systems
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: July 19, 2004
End Date: July 22, 2004
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC9-157
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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