Air Toxics Under The Big Sky – A High School Science Teaching Tool

A project has been developed between Big Sky High School and The University of Montana (UM) which has brought together high school students and teachers, university scientists, and county environmental health officials in a multilayered research experience focusing on the collection and analysis of specific air toxics, and investigating their relationship to respiratory diseases. The Air Toxics Under the Big Sky project allows students to benefit from an independent experience linking science, research, and local environmental issues. We see this as a long term project which will be built upon and expanded by future students during each new school year and as new schools are added. This project will foster a long-term scientific collaboration between UM and Montana high schools, and establishes high school students as valuable contributors to the scientific community while educating them about environmental issues