EPA honors MfCA and UTMB’s Ozone Theater with Clean Air Excellence Award
By Kristen Hensley
MAY 25, 2007--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored Mothers for Clean Air and UTMB’s Ozone Theater with a national Clean Air Excellence Award in a ceremony held earlier this month in Washington, D.C. The interactive theater-based game teaches children about the importance of clean air and explains how our actions can prevent air pollution.
As part of the Institute for the Medical Humanities, the Theater Outreach and Education program created Ozone Theater with Mothers for Clean Air, a non-profit organization concerned with air pollution in the Houston-Galveston area and its effects on children’s health. TOE promotes theater as a tool for education and uses theater to raise awareness of health science and medical humanities issues within the community. It encourages youth and adults to learn about what affects their health in an enjoyable, imaginative, interactive and entertaining educational setting.
“Utilizing theater to teach about air pollution is a great way for kids to learn,” said Cheryl L. Kaplan, director of the Theater Outreach and Education program. “These active lessons really capture their interest.”
Ozone Theater includes two games designed for a classroom setting with a trained leader. In “Pesky Polluters,” for children in pre-K through second grade, children learn about air pollution in their community. In “Good Ozone, Bad Ozone,” for grades 3-5, students learn about the EPA’s Air Quality Index and act out activities that are safe during different ozone pollution levels.
“We’re thrilled that EPA has chosen to recognize Ozone Theater,” said Jane Laping, executive director of Mothers for Clean Air. “So far, we’ve provided this free program to more than 10,000 students in the Houston area, and they really have a great time learning about our air.”
The EPA’s Clean Air Excellence Awards recognize innovative and unique programs, projects and technologies that reduce emissions of pollutants, provide a model for others to follow and result in positive, sustainable outcomes. There are five categories of awards: Clean Air Technology, Community Action, Education/Outreach, Regulatory/Policy Innovations and Transportation Efficiency Innovations. Ozone Theater is one of two winners in the Education/Outreach category.
“One should never underestimate the power of American innovation. These original ideas and cutting-edge projects embody our nation’s unwavering commitment to cleaner, healthier air,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “Congratulations to the winners of the 7th annual Clean Air Excellence Awards.”