SRI Educational Program Impacts Science Teachers and State Governors

As part of its Vision 2009 focus, the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) is placing renewed emphasis on its educational efforts for students from kindergarten through high school and their teachers. These educational efforts include everything from informational games on ROSCOE's Recycle Room (www.recycleroom.org) to Cycles for Science, which was created to assist secondary teachers and students (grades 9-12) in meeting state and local goals for learning in biology, chemistry, general/earth science and physics. The curriculum meets educators' needs for information on recycling, solid waste management and natural resource management.

Cycles for Science is distributed to teachers at the annual ASM Materials Camp. One of the attendees wrote to SRI about the impact of the curriculum on her job:

I have been attending a Materials Science Camp, and the instructors have distributed some of the lesson plan books that are sponsored by your company. I just want you to know that I really appreciate the donation! I have taught recycling and conservation for the last four years that I have taught science. Before today, I have never seen any lesson plans on these topics, and it certainly isn't in the textbooks, so I have had to research all of my information on my own, which is time consuming. What I am trying to say is that anything you do to help educate children or teachers so that they can educate children is greatly appreciated and WILL BE USED! Thank you so much!

Kristy M.
Gilcrease Middle School
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Science Teacher

Cycles for Science was also presented at the annual National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) on July 25-27, where the governors were encouraged to distribute the curriculum in their respective states. At the conference, SRI representatives discussed steel recycling and steel's sustainable benefits and efforts in automotive, construction and container markets with this influential audience.

Bill Heenan, president of the SRI, said: "SRI's educational outreach is critical to the foundation that our industry has built to establish steel as the most recycled material on the planet. We are reaching the next generation of recyclers through our educational programs-efforts that will have a lasting effect for many years to come." For more information, contact Jim Woods.