Jim presentationJames Hance, P.E., spoke on 25 March to approximately 20 eighth grade students from the all-girls Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, Maryland.

The goal of the students’ trip was to explore issues facing our world through hands-on service learning, with a focus on sustainable cities and communities. From James, the students learned about the particular challenges facing southeast Louisiana. He spoke about the resilient measures that have become key components of life in the ever-changing Greater New Orleans area. His talk included the region’s geology, Hurricane Katrina, coastal protection and restoration, and green infrastructure.

“I was impressed with how deeply engaged these students are,” James said. “They asked questions that showed they really thought about their place in the world, and how they can contribute.”

At the end of each day, the students reflected on their experiences in blog posts.