Educators across North Louisiana are continuing their education on environmental studies, thanks to the Science and Technology Education Center (SciTEC) in Louisiana Tech’s College of Education and Human Sciences.
Created by Diane Madden, associate director of SciTEC, and funded by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Gulf Research Program, this hands-on, place-based education initiative is aimed at equipping educators and students with tools to develop environmental skills and address pressing issues in their communities.
During the first year of UP:STREAM in 2025, educators tested water samples, examined aquatic organisms, and developed lesson plans focused on local watersheds and community environments. Educators took this knowledge back to their classrooms, where they engaged students in place-based education through investigations of local watersheds. Last month, educators returned to Louisiana Tech to showcase their students’ accomplishments and share the impact of their classroom investigations, student projects, and place-based learning experiences.
Anna King, master teacher and assistant principal for Start Elementary, understood the need for students to learn about the communities around them, especially in Richland Parish where the new META data center is developing.
“Our project was designed to educate students about the developments happening in our community and help them see how those changes could impact their futures,” King said. “One of the greatest strengths of UP:STREAM is the opportunity to collaborate with fellow science-minded educators. Your greatest resource is the teacher next door, and by learning from different perspectives, we can strengthen STEM education for all students.”
For Jessica Frith, a science teacher at Forest High School in West Carroll Parish, one of the biggest takeaways from the workshop was the opportunity to bring new resources and hands-on experiences back to her students.
“Bringing science tools back to my classroom was really exciting, not just for me but for my students as well,” Frith said. “They were eager to jump right into hands-on environmental studies, and their enthusiasm reminded me why experiences like this are so valuable. Coming to Louisiana Tech has opened the doors for educators in smaller communities by helping us build foundations from these workshops and provide resources that strengthen our classrooms.”
Through UP:STREAM, teachers transformed their classrooms into a space of authentic scientific inquiry. Madden celebrates the dedication of educators who continue to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, researchers, and leaders.
"The true impact of UP:STREAM is not measured only by the lessons taught or the field experiences completed, but by the lasting connections teachers and students have formed with the places they call home,” Madden said. “Through place-based learning, students have become scientists, problem-solvers, and environmental stewards who understand that meaningful change begins close to home.”
For more information on UP:STREAM and future workshops, contact Diane Madden at DMadden@LATech.edu.