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Holy Cross Receives Award from 3M Foundation to Establish 'Blackstone Collaboratory'
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2007
Contact: Nikolas Markantonatos
508-793-2419
nmarkant@holycross.edu
WORCESTER, Mass. - The College of the Holy Cross has
received
$20,000 in seed money from the 3M Foundation to establish the Blackstone
Collaboratory, which will bring together natural scientists,
mathematicians, historians and economists from Holy Cross and the region
to address key scientific questions related to the environmental health
of the Blackstone River.
The project is also designed to help coordinate the efforts of local
and regional educational and community organizations with an interest in
the river and the Blackstone Valley.
To be housed on the College's campus, the new collaboratory will take
advantage of Holy Cross' physical proximity to the river's
headwaters as well as the new Blackstone Gateway Visitor Center, just a
quarter mile from campus. The project will draw on faculty expertise
from the College's various academic disciplines, including
Environmental Studies and Community-Based Learning courses.
The genesis of the project began in 2003, when Catherine Roberts,
associate professor in the department of mathematics and computer
science and co-recipient of the grant with Charles S. Weiss, director of
Grants and Corporate and Foundation Giving, created a working group of
faculty from several colleges and environmental institutions in
Worcester. As word spread about these efforts, more and more community
partners expressed interest in Blackstone-related issues and
possibilities for collaboration and sharing information.
In March 2006, Holy Cross hosted the John H. Chafee Blackstone River
Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission's Annual Dinner and
Symposium. Last fall, the College hosted the Blackstone Canal Symposium
at which Edward O'Donnell, associate professor of history at Holy
Cross, shared his research on how Irish immigrants played a major role
in the Industrial Revolution.
Since fall 2005, the College has provided office space to the
Blackstone River Coalition, a partnership of more than 20 organizations
working to restore the Blackstone River and to improve the watershed.
Through the collaboratory, the College will make laboratory space on
campus available to support the water-quality testing efforts of the
Blackstone River Coalition in their Campaign for a Fishable/Swimmable
Blackstone by 2015. The College provides greenhouse space to the
Regional Environmental Council in support of their urban garden program,
and is a major supporter of their annual Earth Day clean-up event in
Worcester. The Collaboratory will seek additional ways to connect the
College to these and other community groups.
Roberts will serve as director of the Blackstone Collaboratory,
coordinating courses, programs, student internships, faculty and
community partners, including the Blackstone River Coalition, the
Blackstone River Science Collaboratory, the National Park Service, and
the Regional Environmental Council.
About Blackstone River Valley
The National Park Service established the Blackstone River Valley
National Heritage Corridor in 1986. NPS describes the rich history and
culture of the region, characterizing it as the "Birthplace of the
American Industrial Revolution." America's first textile mill was
built on this river in 1790. Other mills soon followed, drawing
immigrant workers. The Blackstone Valley contains more than 10,000
historic buildings and sites that together tell the story of America's
transition from an agrarian society to one of industry. For more
information visit: http://www.nps.gov/blac/.
About Catherine Roberts
A member of the faculty since 2001, Roberts specializes in mathematical
modeling. Roberts' work as the editor of the journal Natural Resource
Modeling led to her leadership in the development of a recreational use
model for white water rafting traffic on the Colorado River for the
Grand Canyon National Park. Roberts was recently selected as one of 14
master teachers for the Intel Massachusetts Department of
Education/Intel Math Initiative, where she will take part in a teacher
professional development program for K-8 mathematics teachers designed
to ensure high quality mathematics instruction and high levels of
mathematics learning in elementary schools.
About 3M Foundation
3M is a $22.9 billion diversified technology company with leading
positions in electronics, telecommunications, industrial, consumer and
office, health care, safety and other markets. Headquartered in St.
Paul, Minn., the company has operations in nearly 200 countries. 3M
Community Giving consists of product donations and cash grants by 3M
and the 3M Foundation and bolstered by employee and retiree
volunteerism. In 2006, over $37 million was awarded to education and
charitable organizations.
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The College of the Holy Cross (www.holycross.edu) is the oldest
Catholic college in New England. Founded in 1843 by the Society of Jesus
(Jesuits), Holy Cross is a highly selective, four-year, undergraduate
liberal arts institution and ranks among the nation's leading liberal
arts colleges.
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