3/9/99 For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Heather Augustyn
(312) 573-4646
haugustyn@latinschool.org

The Latin School of Chicago Awarded NSTA and Toyota Tapestry Grant

Chicago -The Latin School of Chicago was selected as one of 50 recipients from over 800 submissions for the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) and Toyota Motors Tapestry Grant. This $10,000 grant is given to innovative projects that enhance science education in schools. The Latin School received the award for their submission of a "sidewalk astronomy" project that will educate students and the community about the effects of light pollution. This project will bring science to the street by creating a mobile observatory and education lab, making the night sky accessible to everyone, from the passerby and homeless individual to the bus driver and community decision-maker. This mobile observatory will consist of telescopes in public locations and verbal and visual presentations to audiences viewing the sky. Latin's project was also selected due to its goal of working with the City to change current street lamps to more light-efficient fixtures. Students will give a multimedia presentation about the effects of light pollution to the Chicago City Council in an effort to persuade them to begin replacing pollutant lights around the community. Students will also work with ComEd representatives to gain the company's commitment to decrease light pollution. The Latin School of Chicago is an independent, co-educational day school with 1,022 students in grades junior kindergarten through twelve.

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