EPA Grant Awarded to Green Team Professor

Merrimack College students have recently been involved in an Environmental Protection Agency grant, obtained by a collaborative effort between the College, the Town of North Reading, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Martins Pond Association. 

The grant EPA grant project stems from a bigger initiative to help protect Massachusetts’s water resources. Projects that are in place to do this are: constructing storm-water treatment systems and educating the general public about the importance of protecting these resources. The aim of these projects is to improve infiltration and water quality by reducing storm water runoff through innovative technology.

This EPA grant project is centered on designing and installing innovative storm water infiltration projects on private and public properties in North Reading. Jonathan Lyon, Merrimack College professor, is the grant writer as well as the co-Principal investigator of the project. Four students are also involved with the project as they have designed and built rain gardens at several different locations, including the North Reading Common and the Hood Elementary School.

One portion of the grant consists of educating the public sector about storm water runoff and the pollutions that are present. The students, along with Jonathan recently displayed an educational exhibit and demonstration at North Reading’s annual Apple Festival on September 15.  Janet Nicosia, co-chair of Martins Pond Association and co-investigator of the project was also present at the event. The students used watershed models to teach children about watersheds and runoff. The grant received funding starting in 2010 and will continue to run until 2013. In addition to the students pictured, 14 students have been involved in the grant including: Jackie Jones, Devon Robinson, Cassandra Summit, Alicia Cyr, Peter Kenyon, Robert Jackson, Chelsea Hildebrandt, Jessie Doiron, Kiley Home, Courtnee Barchus.

 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Related News

Merrimack College Roddy Award winner Stephanie Garrone-Shufran

Garrone-Shufran, School of Education Professor, Wins Roddy Award

 |
By: Joseph O'Connell
An associate professor in the School of Education and Social Policy, Stephanie Garrone-Shufran was nominated by both students and peers for the 2024 edition of Merrimack College’s teacher of the year award.
Coaching alums story

From Merrimack Players to Merrimack Coaches for Men's Basketball Staff

 |
By: Joseph O'Connell
Four of the men’s basketball team’s five coaches are Merrimack College alumni and former players.
Photo of Deborah Ndayisaba holding a poster featuring Martin Luther King, Jr. that reads, "MLK Day of Service: Who was MLK and what as his mission for justice?"

Black Student Association receives monumental changes under new president

 |
By: Michael Cronin
“Whether we have one or two small events a month, I want people to stay engaged and immerse themselves in Black culture,” said BSA President, Deborah Ndayisaba ’ 27.