PITTSBORO, N.C. - As the inaugural year of the EARTh Center at Central Carolina Community College ends, the Center has plenty to celebrate and even more to look forward to! With its mission to advance environmental and natural resource technology education in the community college space, the EARTh Center has not only achieved significant milestones but also laid a solid foundation for the future.
The EARTh Center's primary initiative is collaborating with educators and industry leaders to develop instructional and training materials in support of environmental tech industries such as those involved with water and air quality, natural resource management, energy efficiency, and renewable energy technologies. This is accomplished through the creation of online educational resources; mentoring services for current and prospective NSF ATE Principal Investigators; and both in-person and virtual professional development events.
Professional development opportunities through the EARTh Center are open to community college, tribal college, and high school educators from all over the United States. Over the summer, the EARTh Center hosted two major in-person professional development events: the Summit for Tribal College Educators and the annual EARTh Center Institute.
In May, the Summit for Tribal College Educators in Michigan provided an invaluable forum for Tribal college faculty to meet in-person and discuss the current challenges and opportunities of environmental technology education at Tribal colleges. And in June, Nahant Marsh Education Center co-hosted the EARTh Center Institute in Iowa, bringing together 17 educators together for an immersive five-day event, exploring water quality, conservation, and the unique ecosystems of the upper Mississippi River region.
In 2025, the EARTh Center will be hosting two in-person professional development opportunities and have several virtual opportunities in the works. In June, the EARTh Center will take educators to Beaver Island, Mich., for the EARTh Center Institute, and to Boulder, Colo., for the first part of the brand-new EARTh Center Fellows Program. Applications and details for both opportunities can be found on the EARTh Center website.
A standout achievement for the EARTh Center from this year is the development of immersive educational modules and simulations, and their availability for educator use through the EARTh Center website. These cutting-edge resources integrate simulation-based learning environments with interactive coursework, allowing students to engage in realistic scenarios where they can apply their knowledge in safe, controlled settings.
The most recent creation of simulation-based materials is aimed at photovoltaic (solar) programs. The coursework and simulations created by the in-house Immersive Ed Design team walks students through the necessary knowledge checks and information for working on energized high-voltage photovoltaic systems, allowing students to gain experience with tools and situations they may experience in a real-world environment, without being exposed to the potential dangers of high voltage electricity.
As the Center continues to innovate and expand its offerings, it remains committed to equipping the next generation with the tools and knowledge needed to lead in environmental technology.
For more information and resources, visit the EARTh Center's new website (www.earthcntr.org) and follow the EARTh Center on LinkedIn (search "EARTh Center (Environmental and Natural Resources Technology Center)" on LinkedIn). Additionally, interested instructors, educators, and industry partners can reach out to Tiffany Breindel (tbreindel@cccc.edu) (Communications) or Andrew McMahan (amcmahan@cccc.edu) (Director) to discuss involvement and opportunities with the EARTh Center.