Local educator wins national environmental award
Ruth Booker, Schools Sustainability Officer for Oxfordshire County Council, has won an Earthwatch Environmental Award for Teachers and Educators and the opportunity to join leading scientists on an Earthwatch field research project in the UK.
Launched in December 2004, the Earthwatch Environmental Awards were open to UK school teachers and conservation educators and were part of a national award scheme run by the international environmental charity Earthwatch and generously supported by GlaxoSmithKline.
This year, twenty five teachers have won awards by successfully demonstrating how this scheme will benefit them both personally and professionally and also how it will help them to raise awareness of environmental issues. On their return from the field, a £125 community grant will be provided to enable them to bring the natural world to life in the classroom and their local area.
On Earthwatch's Seals of Scilly project, Ruth will help Earthwatch supported scientists to compile the first ever baseline survey of grey seals during the breeding season on the beautiful Isles of Scilly. Ruth will enjoy a rare insight into these wonderful creatures as she makes daily trips to grey seal breeding sites to carefully photograph pups and monitor human activity in the area. Her hard work is part of a wider effort to conserve grey seal populations and provide future recommendations for the management of their breeding sites.
With her community grant, Ruth plans to run an event at the local environmental education centre to teach local school children about the environmental issues involved in the project. She hopes to produce a mural or a permanent display, with the children's help, that will help them to appreciate the importance of conservation.
Ruth says, ‘I was delighted to hear that I had been successful in gaining a place on the Seals of Scilly Earthwatch project. I have always wanted to visit the Scilly Isles and to be able to do so whilst contributing to the conservation of the area will make my first visit very special. I am really looking forward to both the trip itself and to holding the event for schools on my return.'
Sharon Williams, Head of Environmental Engagement at Earthwatch, says, ‘This is the third year for these important awards that give teachers and conservation educators the chance to look at environmental issues in a way that is inspiring and immediate. This enables them to go back to their classrooms and communities with increased awareness about conservation and with new ideas, creating a network of ambassadors for the environment.'
For press information, images and interviews, please contact Zoe Gamble, Press Officer, 01865 318806 / zgamble@earthwatch.org.uk
These awards have been generously supported by Glaxosmithkline.
Editors Notes
Photo credits: ©Stephen westcott/EWE