.jpg.aspx?lang=en-US&width=350&height=234 "Teachers peer into a bin containing solids removed from the wastewater when it first comes into the Metro facility.")
On July 23, teachers from across Minnesota spent a summer day learning how wastewater is treated to become cleaner than the Mississippi River where it’s released.
The Metropolitan Council joined with the Mississippi River Institute and Hamline University to provide a day of continuing education training for 50 teachers at the Metropolitan Water Resource Recovery Facility. It is one of the largest wastewater plants in the nation, serving two-thirds of the Twin Cities metro region.
"This partnership represents a strategic alignment with the Met Council's fundamental mission to build a thriving, sustainable region," said Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle. "Having just completed our comprehensive Imagine 2050 regional plan, we're positioned to leverage this collaboration to advance our integrated approach to housing development, transportation infrastructure, parks and recreation, and water quality management across the Twin Cities metropolitan area."
In addition to operating the region’s nine water resource recovery plants, the Met Council also provides planning assistance to cities on water supply and stormwater management.
Collaboration inspires teachers for lessons on water
The Mississippi River Institute and Hamline University offer continuing education for teachers so they can participate in an inquiry-based science and engineering program around the Mississippi River.
“Our rivers institutes are important to teachers because we offer them an opportunity to ‘be students’ in the field and to engage in inquiry and field-based learning,” said Kristin Bennett, Director of K-12 Resources at Hamline’s Center for Global Environmental Education.
“Through our exploration of rivers and watersheds, we offer place-based science and engineering investigations along the Mississippi River,” Bennett said. “Teachers leave our institutes inspired and empowered to do hands-on work with students, both inside and outside of their classroom.”
Investing in our collective future
"These teachers are shaping the future leaders, innovators, and changemakers we designed our Imagine 2050 plan to serve,” said Chair Zelle. “Today's third graders will be in their late 30s by 2050 — in their prime working years. Today's high schoolers will be in their late 40s, leading organizations and communities. The students in our classrooms right now will be the ones driving our economy, enriching our culture, and raising the next generation. That's why investing in education today is investing in our collective future."