Geology Professor Honored for Project Impact Work
Release Date: January 5, 2001
Release Number: R10-01-01
The University of Puget Sound (UPS), in Tacoma, WA is home to Associate Professor of geology, Dr. Mike Valentine. Dr. Valentine's work won him recognition as an "Outstanding Academic Leader in Support of Project Impact Communities" at November's Project Impact Summit 2000. "My involvement with Project Impact came about because it was a perfect combination of science and policy," said Dr. Valentine. "Science in Context (currently a mandatory junior standing requirement at UPS) existed for several years prior to my involvement with the Disaster Resistant Community initiative. I saw an obvious link between geology and mitigation. With the support of the Pierce County Project Impact Coordinator, we were able to incorporate local business participation into our curriculum." Dr. Valentine's expertise in paleomagnetism and structural geology gives him keen insight into the seismic hazards in the Northwest that could potentially be mitigated.
Science in Context at UPS is the only interdisciplinary course of its kind; it brings science from the theoretical to the practical. Perhaps more importantly, it is also an opportunity to incorporate youthful enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to promote a disaster resistant community. "I have had 5-12 students per semester working as Project Impact interns. It has been the individual students who have worked hard to reach out on Project Impact's behalf." UPS students spend time canvassing small business around the Tacoma area, learning to be aware of potential risk. As one student puts it, "I feel more responsible for business safety and it is easy for me to enter a small business and spot the potential problems. I also learned that mitigation is the solution for most of these tribulations."
"Involvement with Project Impact affords the students the opportunity to contact and discuss mitigation tactics with the owners," says Dr. Valentine. "I can teach the science, but the most valuable part of this course is talking to the people and getting involved, not just doing library research. Contacting the appropriate organizations and taking steps to educate society is a difficult task, but it's good for the students."
For more information visit The University of Puget Sound's Website
Last Modified: Friday, 24-Oct-2003 14:24:31