News - Mission Earth
Upward Bound Students Explore Toledo’s Environment and Contribute to Heat Island Workshop
The GLOBE Mission Earth (GME) team worked with the Upward Bound program at the University of Toledo to provide hands-on environmental research opportunities for 11 students. Through the program, students learned to use atmosphere protocols to measure surface temperature and hydrosphere protocols to assess water quality, including pH, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature. They also learned to identify tree species and evaluate their health.
Guided by the Upward Bound program and GME, students collected data from multiple locations, including UT Main Campus, Lake Erie Center, Olander Park, Scott Park, and the Junction neighborhood in Toledo. Their findings were presented at the Upward Bound Banquet and Presentations Program at the UT Student Union on July 10.
Students also shared their research at a community workshop on reducing urban heat islands in the Junction neighborhood, held at the Mott Branch Library on July 22. The workshop was part of activities supported by an EPA Community Change Grant. This two-day event, organized by the Junction Coalition, the City of Toledo, Lucas County, the University of Toledo, and NeighborWorks Toledo Region, allowed community members to provide input on cooler and hotter areas, identify local heat islands, and explore solutions implemented in other cities. The EPA team conducted the session where participants selected the top three mitigation strategies and developed detailed action plans to address heat islands in their neighborhood.
Through this collaboration with GLOBE Mission Earth and the Upward Bound program, students gained valuable scientific skills while contributing to meaningful, community-driven solutions for Toledo’s environmental challenges.
News origin: University of Toledo - Partnership