Qed Foundation

MITS, Inc, Museum Institute for Teaching Science, was founded in 1983 with the goal of improving student interest and literacy in science and encouraging more students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in their higher education. Seven prominent museum directors in the Boston area met with the President of MIT to discuss the declining percentage of students furthering their education in science and engineering and the serious problem this presented to the economic future of this country. At this meeting the idea of using museums and their educators as a means to offer professional development for teachers was born. The focus was the elementary and middle school levels ( K-8 ) where students can easily be discouraged and/or lose interest in these subjects with little likelihood of continuing or returning to them in later years. It is important to capture and nurture students' natural curiosity of the world around them. Programs inspire and facilitate the incorporation of inquiry-based lessons into teachers' curriculum and are aligned with Massachusetts Frameworks A report from the National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century states: Four important and enduring reasons underscore the need for children to achieve competency in mathematics and science: ( 1 ) the rapid pace of change in both the increasingly interdependent global economy and in the American workplace demands widespread mathematics and science-related knowledge and abilities ; ( 2 ) our citizens need both mathematics and science for their everyday decision-making ; ( 3 ) mathematics and science are inextricably linked to the nation's security interests ; and ( 4 ) the deeper, intrinsic value of mathematical and scientific knowledge shapes and defines our common life, history, and culture. Mathematics and science are primary sources of lifelong learning and the progress of our civilization.

The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, located in Central Massachusetts, has been dedicated to Buddhist study and practice for over 30 years, offering a variety of residential and online programs designed to support practitioners at all levels. Through its immersive courses, retreats, and resources, the center fosters an inclusive community that emphasizes deepening understanding, practice, and connection with others. With a diverse array of teachers and programs, including specialized writing retreats and courses exploring central Buddhist concepts, the Barre Center encourages a commitment to environmental responsibility and social equity. As part of its mission, the center provides accessible resources like The Daily Sit and a comprehensive dharma library to support practitioners globally. Generated from the website

"If H2E is going to meet its waste reduction goals of 50 percent by 2010 and its goal of virtual elimination of mercury by 2005, we need to throw the net far and wide in the health care industry, and our Champions for Change award winners are excelling in that effort, " said H2E coordinator Laura Brannon.The New Hampshire Hospital Association actively promotes the concepts of waste reduction, pollution prevention and energy efficiency to New Hampshire hospitals. NHHA communicates environmental news and resources through "STAT Green, " a quarterly environmental newsletter, and its Web site, www.nhha.org. It recently established the New Hampshire Hospitals for a Healthy Environment network, whose primary goal is to reduce both the volume and toxicity of hospital waste and to advance the goals of H2E. Additionally, NHHA provides environmental education programs. This June, NHHA will offer "Reducing Our Ecological Footprint, " a workshop that will present opportunities to minimize health care's environmental impact through improved purchasing and disposal choices."We're proud to be recognized for our environmental improvement efforts." said Debbie Augustine, environmental affairs coordinator at NHHA. "Our involvement in H2E reflects our belief that one critical way to promote the health of our communities is to protect the environment we all share."NHHA was one of 11 organizations in the U.S. chosen to receive the Champion's for Change Award at the First Annual H2E Environmental Leadership Awards Ceremony on April 8th at the annual meeting of the American Hospital Association in Washington, DC.