One of Eight Universities Selected Nationwide
EPA announced today its selection of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as an academic partner for the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) University Challenge, a project designed to find innovative ways to increase public awareness of toxic chemical releases in their communities and around the country. UCLA is one of eight diverse academic institutions selection nationwide.
TRI provides communities with information about toxic chemical releases to the air, water, and land and helps industry, government, non-governmental organizations, and the public make more informed decisions to protect their health and environment.
UCLA’s project seeks to advance the knowledge, use and understanding of TRI data to promote more informed decision?making and action on the part of communities and manufacturers. The project will include the development of a robust ranking methodology of manufacturing facilities in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Students and faculty will engage stakeholders and work to improve the communication of TRI related information in order to potentially influence facilities in Los Angeles to reduce emissions. The Greater Los Angeles area is home to a diverse set of manufacturing facilities. Based on TRI past data, some of the top industries include the petroleum industry, primary metals, electrical equipment, fabricated metals and chemicals.
Through these partnerships, EPA will work with the eight academic institutions to develop practical and replicable projects focused on pollution prevention, sustainability, community engagement, and technology for improving the presentation and understanding of TRI data.
The TRI University Challenge is open to anyone connected with an accredited college or university, and project timelines are flexible. The selected projects were proposed by faculty and students from Drew University, Huston-Tillotson University, Indiana University-Bloomington, SUNY Plattsburg, University of California-Los Angeles, University of Washington-Bothell, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and Washington University in St. Louis.
While there is no financial award for this Challenge, academic partners will receive support from TRI Program staff and national recognition by being featured on the TRI website. In addition, partners will be encouraged to pursue opportunities to speak at relevant conferences and events.
The selected projects will begin in the fall of 2013 and are expected to conclude at the end of the academic school year in the summer of 2014.