Reno, Nev. (July 24, 2024) – The Desert Research Institute’s (DRI) STEM Education Team has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enhance environmental education in Nevada schools. The funding will be used to produce additional educational kits known as Greenboxes, aimed at raising awareness about microplastics in the environment.
“DRI is honored to be awarded this EPA grant, and we are eager to continue our outreach to underserved rural and urban communities across Nevada,” said DRI STEM Education Program Manager Emily McDonald-Williams. “Middle school students and their families will learn about emerging environmental concerns and how to make informed decisions to help mitigate environmental issues.”
Monica Arienzo, PhD, a global leader in microplastics research at DRI, developed the first microplastics Greenboxes with her team using funds from her NSF CAREER Award. These kits are designed for middle school students and include information on plastic production, chemical composition, and environmental impacts. Students can examine microplastic samples under a microscope, observe their degradation process, engage with interactive games illustrating their breakdown in water, design tools for filtering microplastics from water, and create Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to educate their communities.
“I’m thrilled that the Greenboxes developed through my NSF CAREER Award will be further supported through this EPA award,” Arienzo stated. “This will enable us to educate the next generation of scientists and support greater public awareness of this issue.”
The STEM Education Team plans professional development sessions for teachers in Reno, Las Vegas, Elko, Mesquite, and Winnemucca to explore the Greenboxes. Additionally, the grant supports community partnerships with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Get Outdoors Nevada for outreach events focused on microplastics.
“Our partnerships are a great way to expand the microplastics curriculum we created to all generations throughout the community,” McDonald-Williams added.
Educators can request Greenboxes through DRI’s website; they will be shipped free of charge.
For more information on DRI’s Greenboxes program or Monica Arienzo’s Microplastics Laboratory:
- [Greenboxes Program](https://www.dri.edu/science-alive/green-boxes/)
- [Microplastics Laboratory](https://www.dri.edu/labs/microplastics/)
- [EPA Release](https://www.dri.edu/epa-selects-dri-for-funding/)
About DRI:
Founded in 1959 as Nevada's non-profit research institute, DRI focuses on scientific research that addresses critical questions impacting human and environmental health. With over 600 scientists across its Reno and Las Vegas campuses, DRI conducted over $47 million in sponsored research in 2023 alone.