Application Deadline: Jan 9, 2026
Join the EARTh Center for a hands-on professional development institute designed for community college environmental technology and STEM educators. Over three days in scenic St. Petersburg, Florida, participants will explore how technology, innovation, and conservation intersect to create exciting opportunities for the future workforce in several environmental-centered industries.
The program will feature collaborative sessions at St. Petersburg College’s Bay Pines STEM Center, where educators will engage in the design and application of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), microplastics education with hands-on labs, and discuss how emerging technology impacts environmental education.
Participants will also take part in exclusive industry tours, like the Pinellas County’s Waste-to-Energy Plant and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where they’ll gain insight into regional conservation initiatives, sustainable infrastructure, and workforce pathways in water, energy, and marine science sectors.
Throughout the event, educators will collaborate with peers from across the US, share classroom-ready ideas, and discover new strategies to inspire student research and engagement in environmental technology.
Program Highlights:
- Tours to industry sites that are incorporating innovative technologies and methodologies in their operations
- Hands-on labs featuring underwater ROVs and microplastics
- Conversations about the changing ecological and terrestrial landscapes
- Close-up experiences with native (and invasive!) Florida aquatic wildlife
- Small group setting for networking and peer-to-peer connection
Participants will Receive:
- Travel reimbursement
- Participation stipend of $575
- Classroom resources to duplicate some of the hands-on labs
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: January 9, 2026
Selection Notifications: By January 16, 2026
Event Dates: March 12-14 (Participants will arrive 3/11 and depart 3/15)
Questions?
Email Tiffany Breindel (tbreindel@cccc.edu)