The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

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Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor, send us an op-ed pitch or check out our open positions for the chance to be published by the Daily Utah Chronicle.
@TheChrony
Print Issues

Rocky Mountain Power financially fuels Honors College Program

This year the Honors College received a $2,500 grant from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation to help fund their Praxis Lab program.

Originally called “Think Tanks,” the labs started about 10 years ago through funding by the university. Each one features a group of students who study a social or political issue, such as poverty in Salt Lake City, for an entire year. The grant from Rocky Mountain will fund one of four of the labs available this year, with the money going mainly toward student scholarships.

Emily Wallis, director of advancement and community engagement for the U’s Honors College, said this “Fueling Up” Praxis Lab will study the geoscience, engineering, ecosystems and socioeconomic systems behind energy. This is the first grant the Honors College has received from Rocky Mountain, and Wallis is excited the foundation is not only local, but also related to the topic students will be studying.

“It’s an organization that’s closely tied to Utah and has a great legacy of community service,” she said. “It’s an important step for the relationships of the Honors College and the U.”

The Marriott Honors Community, Wednesday, August 26, 2015. Photo credit: Chris Samuels
The Marriott Honors Community, Wednesday, August 26, 2015. Photo credit: Chris Samuels

Each Praxis Lab costs about $18,000 to run. With 12 students in each course, each student receives a $1,000 scholarship. The courses run for both fall and spring semesters and finish with a $6,000 budget project.

Brenda Bowen, professor of geology and geophysics, and Brett Clark, professor of sociology, will be co-teaching the “Fueling Up” course this year. Bowen is actively engaged in sustainability education and is excited to work with Clark and the students.

Students study and play at the Marriott Honors Community, Wednesday, August 26, 2015. Photo credit: Chris Samuels
Students study and play at the Marriott Honors Community, Wednesday, August 26, 2015. Photo credit: Chris Samuels

“I’m a geologist and he’s a sociologist, so we have pretty different perspectives that we’re bringing to the course,” she said. “The students in the class are from at least half a dozen, if not more, different departments.”

The first half of the class, taking place this semester, will provide the background information for students to do an action-oriented project next semester.

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@carolyn_webber