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Air-quality degree plan is already in demand

Proposal is drawing interest from local high schools

By Matt Cooper
The Daily Cougar

The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics has proposed a new interdepartmental bachelor's degree in environmental systems and modeling, a program that will focus on reducing pollution.

"I think it's a degree we need," John Bear, NSM dean, said. "Students should take at least a course like this to find out what the problems really are."

The program will be particularly relevant in light of Houston's continuing air quality issues. If the city does not bring its pollution levels in line with federal standards by 2007, it stands to lose millions of dollars in highway funding.

"Five years ago, we had the highest ozone you could think of," Bear said. "There are days when it's not too healthy to be outside breathing."

The program will draw resources from the departments of Chemistry, Geosciences and Mathematics.

"Currently, we don't have a degree plan with a focus on environmental issues," Archibald Reid, undergraduate adviser for the Department of Geosciences, said. "It fits an interest for many students."

Classes for the degree program have already been added to the course catalog. The college will use existing faculty and facilities to teach the new courses.

"The bulk of the courses were put together and being taught before the proposal," Ian Evans, associate NSM dean, said. "We can put together quite a nice group, and quite a nice academic program for the University."

Evans said students in the program will get global insight through local study.

"Students will be exposed to a range of courses focusing on the pollution in the Houston area," Evans said. "Of course, pollution is a global problem."

The degree plan will be up for a vote during the UH System Board of Regents' meeting Feb. 19 at UH-Victoria. If approved, the plan will go to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in Austin for final approval. 

"I thought it was a great idea," regent Michael Cemo said. "It's tied into our mission of serving the community."

The college expects between five and 10 students to be enrolled in the first year, possibly increasing to 15 students within five years.

"That's a fairly small number, but the program is highly specialized," Evans said. "Clearly, we hope it becomes a successful program."

Evans said the college is already starting to get telephone calls from local high school students asking about the program. He said he is already planning on adding a graduate-level program in the field if the current proposal is a success.

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