The College of the Canyons Students for Sustainability, will host the college’s second Environmental Science Fair featuring projects presented by elementary, junior high, high school and COC students from across the Santa Clarita Valley.

Organized by Students for Sustainability and sponsored by the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the 2010 Environmental Science Fair will take place from 3 to 7 p.m., Friday, May 7, in the COC student center located on the college’s Valencia campus.

Featuring displays of environmental themed projects and reports from students grades K-14, the event is part of the college’s ongoing 40th Anniversary celebration, and will coincide with day one of the college’s ARTstART festival.

“Environmental awareness has to start early. We can’t afford to wait until students come to college to begin talking about environmental issues,” said Jia-Yi Cheng-Levine, Students for Sustainability advisor. “By raising awareness in K-12 students, and carrying that through to the college students, we have a better chance of affecting positive changes for a more balanced and environmentally sustainable future for all.”

This is the second time that College of the Canyons has hosted a regional environmental science fair. The first such event was held in October 2008, and featured more than 35 entries based around categories including: transportation, ‘green’ building and design, plastics and recycling, daily toxins, composting and sustainable gardening and organic foods.

At this year’s event students will present their projects and offer explanations of their research and experimentations to the science fair’s group of judges, fellow students, and various visitors. In addition, Students for Sustainability will be awarding a total of $1,000 in cash prizes in the form of gift cards, for winning projects in each of the four age categories.

“This is truly a community event in which we get to see the creative side of our younger generation,” said Cheng-Levine. “We encourage everyone to come view what our kids have to offer and explore the ways in which they see our environmental future.”

Students for Sustainability is dedicated to promoting sustainability awareness and practices both on campus and in the community. The club works closely with the Sustainable Development Committee in activities and events that help COC students become more active and involved in environmental issues.

For more information about the College of the Canyons Environmental Science Fair or the Students for Sustainability campus organization please contact Jia-Yi Cheng-Levine at (661) 362-5806.