Pitt-Bradford is hosting the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) workshop, from July 28 to Aug. 1, for 20 college professors who teach environment-related courses in science, math, engineering, and technology.

“This workshop will offer the faculty members hands-on experience,” said Assad Panah, professor and program director of Pitt-Bradford’s Department of Geology and Environmental Science. “They’ll be able to take what they’ve learned here back to their colleges and universities to enhance their own courses.”

Panah was awarded a regional leader grant to host the workshop for the NSF, which is offering these workshops for the next five years. Panah is one of 15 regional leaders in the U.S. Other regional workshops will be held this year in Maine and Alabama.

Pitt-Bradford’s workshop will focus on a hypothetical environmental problem that the faculty members will have to investigate — how the water table and wetlands would be affected in Allegany State Park in New York state if a new facility were built.

The professors will use seismic refraction technology, surveying equipment, and a global positioning system to prepare maps and models that might be adversely affected by development, Panah explained. They also will write an environmental impact assessment explaining how the proposed development would affect the park.

“While working on the hypothetical problem, the faculty members will learn to use sophisticated equipment,” Panah said. “They will then be able to use this equipment in their courses and teach their students how to use it to solve environmental problems.”

—Pat Frantz Cercone