"It's important for us to understand that the water that we have now on Earth is basically the same water the dinosaurs had, and it's just basically recycled," says former astronaut, Dr. Mae Jemison. "We have to understand how to be good stewards of it."
As part of last week's activities for World Environment Day, Dr. Jemison led the Bayer-sponsored workshop "Water Matters to Youth, Too" Friday at the
Carnegie Science Center. Jemison, a former environmental studies professor at Dartmouth College and A.D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University, discussed the global water shortage and local water issues. She also serves as Bayer's national science literacy advocate.
Seventy lucky middle school students participated in the workshop. With the help of
Bayer volunteers, they came up with solutions to various water issues including potable water in the Pittsburgh area, safety in the three rivers and how water is used in food.
Jemison says it was important to have this workshop because kids are "the ones who are going to inherit this earth and be responsible for it." The workshop, part of Jemison's The Earth We Share curriculum, followed the Global Water Conference that was the signature event for World Environment Day. As part of Bayer's
Making Science Make Sense project, which looks to promote science literacy, the workshop also helped kids with critical thinking and problem solving skills.
The students were eager to provide their own solutions says Jemison. "Many of the answers revolved around each person and their family doing at least the small things they can do as individuals," she says. Petitioning to government officials and grassroots campaigns also made the list of resolutions.
"I believe that the most important thing we can do about environmental issues is awareness," Jemison says. "It's awareness that every little bit we do makes a difference."
Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Dr. Mae Jemison, Katie Kirkpatrick, Bayer Corporation
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Image Courtesy of Bayer Corporation