Innovative STEM partnership builds stormwater garden designed by and for students at Philly high school

For the past year, students at the agricultural high school, located near Fairmount Park, have designed the project with the guidance of Julie Ulrich, urban conservation director for The Nature Conservancy; Andrew Potts and Susan Beck, water resources engineers at CH2M, and local landscape architect Hans Hesselein, of Apiary Studio. This week, those plans for a green infrastructure solution will take shape to benefit the school and the city for years to come.

"We are thrilled about the opportunity for CH2M engineering professionals and Conservancy scientists to pass their knowledge and passion on to students through mentorship in real-world green engineering projects," said Ellen Sandberg, executive director of the CH2M Foundation and vice president of community investment.

"Philadelphia is known as a leader in managing water with natural solutions, and this project will contribute to citywide goals for more natural infrastructure, while providing students experience with emerging green jobs," Ulrich said.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than six million Americans already work in careers classified as "green" – whether offering environmentally friendly goods and services, or doing business in a more sustainable way.

In December 2015, the CH2M Foundation awarded a grant to The Nature Conservancy to develop the STEM education pilot project at W.B. Saul High School's campus in Philadelphia. The goal of the partnership is twofold: To increase student interest in green STEM careers through access to mentors and project-based learning in the fields of science and engineering, and to engage the school community around the value of green infrastructure solutions that create healthier urban environments such as the rain garden that students, teachers and volunteers installed Wednesday.

"We are mentoring young leaders in green STEM principles and increasing green infrastructure in urban Philadelphia by leveraging our scientific expertise alongside CH2M's engineering and infrastructure capabilities. Through this partnership, we are working toward creating a world where people and nature thrive together today and into the future," said Ulrich.

Last year the project was recognized by the US2020 STEM Mentoring Awards, a platform to celebrate and encourage exceptional work in the STEM mentoring field. The Award for Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships recognized the CH2M Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and W.B. Saul High School's innovative, cross-sectoral approach to connecting students with talented science and engineering professionals and providing real-world STEM learning opportunities.

The mission of the Walter Biddle Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences, a diverse learning community, is to develop in students an understanding of and appreciation for the career and leadership opportunities that are available to them in the many fields of agriculture.  It is also our commitment to cultivate each student's individual abilities to prepare him or her for a lifetime of productive academic, vocational, and civic endeavors.

CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. In this way, CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management services for clients needing world-class solutions in environmental; industrial and advanced facilities; transportation; and water markets, from iconic infrastructure to global programs like the Olympic Games.

Ranked among the World's Most Ethical Companies and top firms in environmental consulting and program management, CH2M in 2016 became the first professional services firm honored with the World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for efforts advancing sustainable development. Connect with CH2M at www.ch2m.com; LinkedIn; Twitter; and Facebook.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at unprecedented scale, and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in more than 65 countries, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners.

SOURCE CH2M

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