We founded the Data Engagement and Access Project in September 2019 to address several interconnected needs: an abundance of low-to-no cost, underutilized data, recent national revision of K-12 curricula, trends in formal and informal education, and heightened awareness of both established and emerging environmental problems.

Where there are needs, there are opportunities. Firstly, by incorporating environmental data into formal and informal education we foster numeracy, science and engineering literacy, communication skills, and more. Secondly, by teaching students and communities to engage with data from their local environment, we empower them to make a difference in their environment, health, and more. Finally, we can combine learning and empowerment through collaborative research projects and field and lab experiences.