SEEDS » Component Programs » Chapters » Chapter Directory » Florida A&M University
"Environmental Sciences Student Organization (ESSO)" » Tallahassee, Florida
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Florida A&M University's Environmental Sciences Student Organization (ESSO) was founded by Environmental Sciences Institute graduate students in 1997. Our mission is to develop programs and activities to enhance the educational and professional development of our members and to increase awareness and appreciation of the environment through community outreach and campus initiatives. Visit the club's website: http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?a=environmentalscience&p=SEEDS |
Plans for 2009-2010
- Campus wide Leadership retreat with focus on Environmental/Climate Change Issues
- Professional/ career workshops
- Interdisciplinary Publication workshops
- Focus the Nation (national -campus environmental forum)
- Community service in environmental education at local elementary/middle/high school
- Student retreat/ecological fieldtrip
Activities of 2008 -2009
- Homecoming Outreach – chapter members constructed a float for the university’s homecoming parade. The float included information such as environmental facts, organization/institute mission and accomplishments. Members also participated in homecoming coronation to display organizational representatives in the royal court. Collectively, float construction, coronation, and the parade took about a week and included about fifteen members.
- Publishing Workshop – chapter organized and hosted a three hour workshop in members as well as other students of the FAMU community were taught guidelines to effective publishing in the sciences. The workshop included faculty panelists who gave insight into areas such as writing with clarity, choosing a journal, the peer review process, and authorship. There were about twenty attendants to the workshop. Surveys disseminated after the event indicated that about 90% of workshop attendants mentioned that the workshop was well organized, insightful, and met their expectations.
- “Change a Light Campaign” – chapter members volunteered for an environmental awareness event organized by another campus organization. During the event, volunteers passed out compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs to residents of the Tallahassee community. The event took place on a Saturday and involved two chapter members.
- Ocean’s Bowl Assistance - a center within our department has a high school oceans bowl team that is coached and managed by chapter members. The team meets on Fridays throughout the academic year. E-board members also volunteer in “buzzer” questions when the team has an upcoming competition. Collectively these activities includes four chapter members.
- Journal club workshop- The chapter organized a one hour workshop that discussed recent commercial applications of nanotechnology. The workshop also discussed the current lack of coherent policies in dealing with nano-wastes and the lack of information about the impact of these wastes on the environment.
- Earth Day on “The Set” - environmental education session on during the afternoon. Chapter members passed out educational materials, facilitated environmental games, and explained information on a display case to students at a university commons area “The Set”. About five chapter members were involved in this activity.
Faculty Advisors
- Dr. Henry Williams
"Enriching the Pipeline: Implementing a sustainable outreach program for elementary schools" Special Project |
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Funded in 2006, this project allowed the Environmental Sciences Student Organization (ESSO) to establish a model poster competition for elementary school students to increase awareness of current environmental issues, stimulate interest in environmental stewardship, and inspire students to ultimately pursue careers in ecological sciences.
The student poster competition is an intervention-outreach effort aimed at elementary school students in grades 3 through 5. The competition promoted student awareness of the ecological sciences through hands-on scientific inquiry.
