The US EPA, a COPUS participant, is using interactive on-line chats to reach out to students and members of the public. On Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. EDT, George M. Gray, Ph.D., EPA Science Advisor and assistant administrator for Research and Development, will host the online interactive forum, “Ask EPA,” and take questions from the public about science careers and opportunities at the agency.

This online interactive forum for the public is patterned after Ask the White House, and allows the public to interact with EPA officials on a wide range of environmental and human health issues. Questions can be submitted online, in advance, beginning on Monday, March 10 as well as during the one-hour live session. As many questions as possible will be answered by Dr. Gray and posted to the Web site as a transcript so that others may also benefit from the discussion.

Join in on the discussion or ask a question to Dr. Gray: http://www.epa.gov/askepa/

Has your organization tried similar on-line activities to engage the public? We want to hear what other COPUS participants are doing! Comment here and be sure to register your innovative programs in the COPUS Program and Resource Directory: www.copusproject.org/find_listings/index.php