November 24, 2009

The Fresno Regional Foundation has granted $19,840 to California State University, Fresno’s College of Science and Mathematics to develop activities that improve local high school students’ knowledge of air quality issues.

A check will be presented by foundation officials at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, to college Dean Andrew Rogerson, Associate Dean Fraka Harmsen, Dr. Don Hunsaker, director of the Institute for Climate Change, Oceans and Atmosphere at Fresno State, and Dr. Alam Hasson, an associate professor of chemistry and the project’s principal investigator.

The project involves collaboration among Fresno State researchers and two community groups: the Coalition for Clean Air and the Fresno-Madera Medical Society.

Fresno State faculty will deploy air quality monitoring equipment at high schools, where students will measure and interpret air pollution.

Students will identify an environmental problem in their community, and then several students will be selected to participate in a summer internship, spending several weeks at Fresno State scientifically investigating their issue. That will be followed by an internship at one of the community partners to learn about the environmental legislative process.

“This is a great opportunity for Fresno State to help high school students not only learn about one of the region’s most important environmental challenges, but also gain an appreciation about how they can help make things better,” said Hasson.

The Fresno Regional Foundation’s purpose is to improve the quality of life in the central San Joaquin Valley.