- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
CROWNPOINT, N.M. — Navajo Technical University (NTU) has received a $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support STEM instruction and research.
The grant was awarded under the NSF’s Tribal Colleges and Universities Program that promotes STEM instruction and research.
NTU will use the grant to expand its engineering department by establishing a baccalaureate degree program in Environmental Engineering. The NTU’s will focus on uranium mine remediation and mitigation with the new program.
NTU professor Harry S. Whiting II, who teaches industrial engineering, plans to partner with outside organizations to assist in researching environmental issues on the Navajo Nation. Partners will include higher education institutions, such as the University of Idaho and the University of Arizona, and private companies, such as Tetra Tech, an environmental service company based in California.
“It’s a daunting task,” said Whiting, noting the amount of data collection and analysis that needs to take place. “Our first priority is to update the maps we are currently using to locate problematic areas.”
The Navajo Nation has numerous uranium mines that have yet to be remediated, most notably the Church Rock uranium mill spill in 1979. The university and its partners will begin locating and mapping locations across the Navajo Nation prior to initiating the remediation process. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are over 500 abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation.
Currently, NTU offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree and a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Science and Natural Resources. NTU also offers engineering focused programs in Pre-Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Chemical Engineering Technology. The university’s Industrial Engineering and Electrical Engineering programs are ABET accredited.
More Stories Like This
Congressional Hearing Exposes Decades of Mismanagement and Abuse at Haskell Indian Nations UniversityPikes Peak State Announces First Nations Promise to Cover Costs for Native Students
American Indian College Fund Publishes Tribal College and University Research Journal Volume 7
Zuni Youth Enrichment Project In- and After-School Programs Served 563 Students in 2023-24
New Center to Help Lead National Indigenous Language Revitalization Efforts
Join us in observing 100 years of Native American citizenship. On June 2, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act, granting Native Americans US citizenship, a pivotal moment in their quest for equality. This year marks its centennial, inspiring our special project, "Heritage Unbound: Native American Citizenship at 100," observing their journey with stories of resilience, struggle, and triumph. Your donations fuel initiatives like these, ensuring our coverage and projects honoring Native American heritage thrive. Your donations fuel initiatives like these, ensuring our coverage and projects honoring Native American heritage thrive.
