IISG education team members Robin Goettel and Terri Hallesy partnered with the Field Museum’s Earth Force Program to work with students and teachers on raising awareness within the Calumet region about the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Earth Force engages 7th and 8th grade Chicago Public School students in action projects that address environmental issues in their community.
 
Windy City Earth Force coordinator Angie Viands invited Terri and Robin to visit classrooms on December 8 and 9 to offer students important information about the pharmaceutical and personal care product disposal issue, and to help teachers and students develop successful community projects. By talking with students about the problems that pharmaceutical and personal care products can create if not properly disposed of, they will be able to develop community-based information projects that will be showcased at a youth summit on May 18, coordinated by Earth Force.
 
Participating teachers included Mr. Neely, George Pullman Elementary; Ms. McNeal, Black Elementary School; Ms. Millner, Bennett Elementary; and Ms. Whitehead, Medgar Evers Elementary. Ms. McNeal’s students are members of an after-school science club, while the other teachers instructed formal science classes.

 

 
 
Terri and Robin provided an overview on the medicine disposal issue, then engaged the students in a Jeopardy game, a vocabulary word scramble game, and a marble labyrinth game called Get Rid of Stuff Sensibly. Activities were selected from IISG’s Medicine Chest, “It’s What You Can’t See” education tabloid from PA Sea Grant, and other curriculum materials.
 
 
Photos:  
1) Ms. Millner’s students learn about medicine disposal by reading the new Great Lakes Sea Grant education tabloid, “It’s what you can’t see…Learn about hidden chemicals in your water.”
2) Environmental science club members at Black Elementary are fascinated play the GROSS marble game and learn about properly disposing of household items.
3) Ms. Whitehead’s students research unwanted medicines and personal care products to solve a word scramble activity.
 
This “Undo the Chemical Brew” education project is funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Check out the latest information on www.unwantedmeds.org.

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Making Sense of Social Media: Presented by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant & Purdue Extension‌When: December 6, 2025, from 1 - 4:00 PM ESTWhere: RDM Shrimp, RDM Shrimp, 101 N 850 E, Fowler, IN 47944Registration Link in bio.‌Social media can be a great way to market your small business and products, but sometimes it might feel like you are casting a net again and again to find that your net is empty. After all, the point of using social media marketing is to connect with customers. By attending this workshop, you will:-Hear Research Findings-Participate in an Interactive Workshop Session-Learn Real World Application-Tour a Shrimp Farm-Network at the “After Hour Social”‌This program is supported by the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center and put on in partnership with the Indiana Aquaculture Association Inc, RDM Shrimp, and Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University.‌For questions contact Amy Shambach by email (ashambac@purdue.edu) or phone (317-238-0511)
This Halloween, we’re diving into the eerie depths of the Great Lakes.Each lake has its own spooky story:🕯️ Lake Superior hides ghost ships beneath its icy waves...🦴 Lake Michigan whispers tales of vanishing beaches…🌉Lake Huron hides prehistoric hunting camps on a lake bottom ridge...🧪 Lake Erie bubbles with algal blooms that glow like potions...🦠 Lake Ontario was first to host strange creatures like the blood sucking sea lamprey. Never fear, we have resources to help you make these fascinating topics less frightening at iiseagrant.org/education.
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