Youth Learning as Environmental Citizen Scientists (YLACES), an organization committed to advancing student engagement in science, announces David A. Padgett as the winner of its sixth annual Youth Environmental Science (YES) Medal.
Padgett serves as Associate Professor of Geography and Director of the Geographic and Information Sciences Laboratory at Tennessee State University in Nashville. The YES Medal will be presented at the GLOBE Annual Meeting on July 16, 2020, in Washington, DC, or at a subsequent GLOBE gathering should the in-person Annual Meeting be delayed.
When Padgett joined the faculty of Tennessee State University (TSU) in 1999, TSU was among the Historically Black Colleges and Universities that did not have earth science or geospatial technology programs. Undaunted, in 2000, David founded the TSU Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory. Over two decades as the lab’s Director, he and his many undergraduate research assistants have provided technical assistance in geoscience and geographic information systems (GIS) to environmental justice communities throughout the United States. “It is a true honor to be selected for the 2020 YLACES YES Medal. My work within the environmental justice community and on the GLOBE program is consistent with the motto of TSU, “Enter to work, leave to serve,” that calls for all faculty members and students to serve the community,” says David.
In 2001, David became TSU’s GLOBE Trainer and Partner. He has trained and certified numerous TSU pre-service teachers and in-service educators in the GLOBE protocols. According to Dixon Butler, Founder and President of YLACES, “it is gratifying to recognize David who has engaged so many teachers from throughout the Nashville region in the GLOBE Program.”
David has designated two organizations to split the $10,000 YES Medal grant that he receives from YLACES—Earth Matters Tennessee, based in Nashville, and the GreenDoor Initiative based in Detroit. David selected these two community-based organizations because they have a long and successful track record training youth and young professionals in the areas of sustainability, technology, and environmental justice.
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