Laurene Allen - Stopping PFAS Pollution
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Civics, Health
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Goldman Environmental Foundation
What it is
- This resource introduces students to the story of Goldman Environmental Prize Winner Laurene Allen, who worked with scientists, government officials, and community members to stop the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics plant from polluting Merrimack, New Hampshire's water and air.
- Students will understand that PFAS chemicals released from the plant were harming residents of Merrimack and surrounding towns, and that Laurene helped form Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This inspirational story highlights the importance of citizen science and seeking the truth.
- Students will love hearing how Laurene became a self-taught expert and fought against major corporations.
Prerequisites
- It may benefit students to have a basic understanding of water contamination and governmental organizations in place to protect the safety of water and air.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This guide from the Goldman Environmental Foundation is a companion resource with note-taking guides, activities, and questions that can be implemented with any of the videos for the prize winners.
- Either before or after exploring Laurene Allen's story, students can research the harmful impacts of PFAS and how they are released into the environment. This resource, though it focuses on Wisconsin, can help students get a better understanding of the health risks associated with PFAS.
- Teachers can connect this story to climate change by discussing the increasing issues of water scarcity due to climate change and the importance of clean water access.
- Teachers can use this story as an example of the interconnectedness between the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly highlighting the connections between Goal 3, Good Health and Well-Being, and Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation.
- To make connections to students' climate emotions, teachers can highlight how Laurene channeled her outrage, an emotion many young people may feel in response to inaction by people in power, into action.
From the scientist review
This resource focuses on the efforts of Laurene Allen to address PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in her home of Merrimack, NH. The article and video describe what Allen did to spread awareness and fight for change, along with basic information about why PFAS are a concern and harm both humans and the environment. This resource is a good example of activism and shows students how everyday people can make a difference. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
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