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The JASON Alliance of Southeast Texas (JASET) and ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ are holding the 2016 JASON Event in the Setzer Student Center weekdays, January 5-22, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for approximately 7,000 4^th-8^th grade science students from across Region V.

These students are learning about wetlands and wetlands restoration. Jadyn Stack, an 8^th grade student at Little Cypress Jr. High is one of the students featured in the JASET environmental science video “Wonderful Wetlands” a 50-minute video produced by the ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ Departments of Communication and Earth & Space Sciences and taped in wetlands across southeast Texas featuring both students and local wetlands experts.

After showing the video, NOAA scientists give 20-minute live presentations about Louisiana’s wetlands that are threatened by sediment starvation, land subsidence and sea level rise.

The daily event is wrapped up by 7 & 8^th grade students participating in Interactive Breakout Sessions presented by engineers from BASF Total Petrochemical, ChevronPhillips, ExxonMobil, Flint Hills Resources, Motiva, TOTAL and Valero. Other breakout stations are hosted by experts from the Baptist Hospital School of Radiology, Lamar Institute of Technology (Computer Networking, Criminal Justice, Process Operating, Radiology & Ultrasound), the National Weather Service-Lake Charles, and Texas Parks & Wildlife Coastal Fisheries.

Breakout Sessions for 4^th-6^th graders will be hosted by specialists from the Beaumont Children’s Museum, Big Thicket Association, Big Thicket National Preserve, National Weather Service-Lake Charles, Shangri La Nature Preserve, Jefferson County’s Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (4H & Marine/Sea Grant), and Texas General Land Office Oil Spill Prevention & Response. Two days of the 4-6^th grade Interactive Breakout Sessions will be hosted by 8th grade students from Beaumont ISD, Bridge City Jr. High, Little Cyprus Jr. High, Nederland ISD, St. Mary’s Catholic School, and West Orange Cove CISD

Participating school districts include: Beaumont ISD, Bridge City ISD, Catholic Diocese of Beaumont (including Orange and Port Arthur schools), Kountze ISD,Little Cypress Mauriceville CISD, Nederland ISD, Orangefield ISD, Port Arthur ISD, Vidor ISD, West Orange Cove CISD and Woodville ISD. Approximately 68 percent of students who are reached by the presentations are economically disadvantaged.