PACERS Rural Science for Life Solar Project

On April 20th students and faculty at Spring Garden High School (Cherokee County)-with help from the Spring Garden School and Community Foundation-kicked off the PACERS solar project. Students demonstrated the project's center-piece, a state of the art instructional passive water heater model designed in conjunction with volunteers from the Upper Sand Mountain Parish (UMC) volunteers and active and retired engineers from NASA. Students presented and interpreted information gathered from the unit's computer read-outs. They discussed the unit's potential for science and math study and emphasized the cost-savings documented through the read-outs. Presenting information on the history of the use of solar power, students made clear the project's implications for study and for improved community life. In addition to the teaching module, students constructed a low-cost batch solar water-heater to further demonstrate low-cost solar energy options, and the Spring Garden Foundation offered prizes for Earth Day posters and for solar designs. Teachers Hilarie Howard and Dennis Tierce, principal Michael Welsh, and foundation president Brian Jennings have spearheaded the program at Spring Garden.

State Representative Richard Lindsay, Cherokee County Superintendent Brian Johnson, county commission and school board members, and representatives of environmental groups attended the meeting and added their support to the solar program.

The solar project is a component of PACERS science program, Rural Science for Life: Water, Sun, and Soil. In 2007-2008 the program will be available to all PACERS communities/schools. They will be able to use for one month the instructional passive water heater, and when funding is available, schools have resources to build the unit for permanent use as a teaching lab. PACERS will provide plans and training for students to operate and monitor passive solar water-heaters. Venture capital will be available for students interested in building and selling units. Teachers and engineers participating in the project have prepared lesson plans for using the solar teaching unit as a living lab for hands-on science and math instruction and learning opportunities that correlate to the Alabama course of study. Beginning in 2007-8 cash awards will be made for exceptional new passive solar designs by students. Workshops will be held to develop lesson plans and curriculum and to consider possible extensions for the project.

Project objectives include improving students' interest in and knowledge of science. It seeks to build young peoples' confidence that they can enter science and math-based occupations and post-secondary/post-grad study. The initiative will provide equitable opportunities for all students to learn science and math through the use state of the art technology, and it will demonstrate and result in the creation of energy-saving solar devices. Young people will have significant opportunities for community service and entrepreneurship by building low-cost units for sale. As with all PACERS projects, professional volunteers will assist provide schools and communities science expertise and help connect young people to science/math-related careers.

Schools in Tallapoosa, Hale, and Covington County are on the list for participation in 2007-8, and the project committee is considering new solar applications for school and community energy savings.

For more information on Rural Science for Life write admin@pacersinc.org. Components include aquaculture and gardening/greenhouse projects.

Return to news and events page