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An Environmental Engineering Sequence: Deliberately Addressing and Evaluating Environmental Attitudes and Knowledge (presentation & 6-page paper)

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Conference

2017 Mid-Atlantic Section Fall Conference

Location

Penn State University - Berks Campus - Reading, Pennsylvania

Publication Date

October 6, 2017

Start Date

October 6, 2017

End Date

October 7, 2017

Conference Session

Mid Atlantic Papers

Tagged Topics

Diversity and Mid-Atlantic Section Fall Conference

Page Count

25

DOI

10.18260/1-2--29366

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/29366

Download Count

292

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Paper Authors

biography

Erick Martinez P.E. United States Military Academy

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Erick Martinez is a Captain in the United States Army and an Instructor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering at the United States Military Academy. He is a 2007 graduate of the United States Military Academy with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and recently graduated from the University of Florida with an M.E. in Environmental Engineering. He teaches Environmental Engineering for Community Development, Environmental Science, and Environmental Engineering Technologies.

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Charles M Ouellette United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996

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Charles Ouellette is a Captain in the United States Army and an Instructor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering at the United States Military Academy. He is a 2006 graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. in Economics. He obtained an M.S. from Missouri Science and Technology in Geological Engineering and most recently graduated from Cornell University with an M.S. in Ecology. He teaches Ecology, Environmental Science, and Environmental Engineering Technologies.

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Luke Thomas Plante United States Military Academy

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Luke Plante is a Captain in the United States Army and an Instructor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering at the United States Military Academy. He is a 2008 graduate of the United States Military Academy with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and recently graduated from Columbia University with an M.S. in Environmental Engineering. He teaches Environmental Biological Systems, Environmental Science, and Environmental Engineering Technologies.

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Benjamin Michael Wallen P.E. United States Military Academy

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Benjamin Wallen is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering at the United States Military Academy. He is a 1996 graduate of the United States Military Academy with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and obtained an M.S. from both the University of Missouri at Rolla in Geological Engineering and the University of Texas at Austin in Environmental Engineering. Most recently, he graduated with his Ph.D. from the Colorado School of Mines in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He teaches Water Resources and Planning, Environmental Science, and Environmental Engineering Technologies.

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Jeffrey A. Starke P.E. U.S. Military Academy

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COL Jeff Starke is a Military Intelligence officer with command and staff experiences at the battalion, brigade, joint task force and combatant command levels. His most recent operational experience includes strategic planning at the United States Central Command in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (actions against ISIS). Academically, COL Starke specializes in environmental engineering with research and teaching interests in drinking water, public health, and microbial-mediated processes to include renewable energy resources. COL Starke teaches senior-level design courses in Physical and Chemical Processes, Biological Treatment Processes, and Solid and Hazardous Waste Technologies. COL Starke has published several peer reviewed research articles and has presented his research at national and international conferences. He maintains a focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning in engineering education. COL Starke is a registered Professional Engineer (Delaware), member of several professional associations, and is a member of the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES).

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Abstract

The need for improved environmental knowledge and attitudes has never been greater due to increased stress on Earth’s resources. The unique pedagogical structure of an engineering sequence at the undergraduate level provides a means to improve environmental knowledge and attitudes. This increase in skill sets enables permeation of sound science and principles that have the potential to influence policies made by the next generation of leaders. This study explored the environmental knowledge and attitudes of two different populations including those with a STEM and non-STEM academic field of study taking a similar introductory environmental science course at the United States Military Academy. Initial environmental knowledge differences between Hispanic/Latino and Black/African American students (p=0.0137), between Black/African American and White students (p=0.0002), and between male and female students (p=0.0016) were found to be statistically significant. After taking an environmental science course at the undergraduate level, our results suggest that these differences are no longer significant.

Martinez, E., & Ouellette, C. M., & Plante, L. T., & Wallen, B. M., & Starke, J. A. (2017, October), An Environmental Engineering Sequence: Deliberately Addressing and Evaluating Environmental Attitudes and Knowledge (presentation & 6-page paper) Paper presented at 2017 Mid-Atlantic Section Fall Conference, Penn State University - Berks Campus - Reading, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--29366

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