Cory Jensen
Areas of Expertise Chemical, Biological, Environmental & Sustainable Engineering; design, evaluation and analysis of these systems, including policy frameworks, with interests in extending traditional design principles. Examples include: utilizing design for the environment principles, sustainability pedagogy particularly using science-technology-society perspectives, and that involve innovation! Research Projects Experience Optoelectronic Biosensors, Environmental Field Work, Process (bio and traditional chemical) Modeling, Biogas Technologies and Policy Considerations, Life Cycle Analysis of Materials, Energy Studies With Wireless Motes & Networks, Chemical Safety Assessment, Aquatic Plant Based Remediation, Outreach & Community Capacity Building.
While at the Colorado School of Mines I have been developing pedagogical philosophy and a deep appreciation for community, made possible via work with a Denver Public School. As part of this process, Denver Urban Gardens community gardens have been used as experiential learning and teaching tools to build a basis for exploration of sustainability science topics that have allowed for extension and innovative as part of a senior design engineering program. My efforts have also allowed me to participate in a NSF GK-12 fellowship program and a student diversity internship with the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention in the US EPA. I am also interested in studies of China and in Asian Development.
Outreach and giving back to the community has been just as important to me as taking exams, being productive in the work environment, and accumulating accreditations. Others workforce members have also shared with me how enlightening it has been for them to regularly volunteer with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity or Engineers without Borders. One of my most recent forays into outreach was with the Cole Arts & Science Academy (CASA) in Denver, Colorado (http://www.coleacademydenver.org/).
The Colorado Department of Education passed the Innovation Schools Act of 2008 (http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdegen/SB130.htm) with the purpose of increasing the effectiveness of education partly by "...supporting greater school autonomy and flexibility in academic and operational decision-making." CASA is one of five Denver Public Schools whose proposals for the program have been approved, affording the school greater autonomy in decision-making, budget control, hiring, and the ability to efficiently implement innovations with direct impact on student academic achievement.
In an effort to promote arts and science education, CASA has implemented a weekly arts and science infusion program through which students may elect a course of study and pursue inquiry-based thinking on a specific topic for eight sessions. By designing and facilitating an infusion class titled Urban Gardening Extravaganza, faculty member Ms. Lindsey Hall and I have used a three-year effort to revitalize a local Denver Urban Garden (i.e., Mitchell Garden) as an instructional tool for a group of students ranging from 4th to 8th grade who are interested in gardening.
Students take part in gardening activities thanks to CASA's infusion course
We have introduced fundamental concepts of agriculture and science that incorporates hands-on activities, planting seeds, upkeep, composting, and typical garden work. The culminating event of this infusion class will include a student-led presentation of learned concepts to other CASA students. We have begun to coordinate efforts on a second project that will involve designing and constructing an indoor Greenhouse at CASA.
Do you have a favorite organization you volunteer for, or are you looking for a program that's a good fit for you?
Related articles
- What is an urban garden and how does it benefit the community? (greenanswers.com)
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