OCE Environmental Education

Environmental Education

Environmental Education is aligned with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s (MDEQ) goal of maintaining an adequate level of outreach to ensure citizens, businesses, and communities engage in behaviors that both protect the health of and preserve Mississippi’s environment. The MDEQ’s Office of Community Engagement (OCE) offers an environmental education outreach platform through the office’s Environmental Justice (EJ) and Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs (SBEAP). Both programs collaborate with other internal programs that create opportunities for knowledge and interest in environmental stewardship. As a result, businesses, communities, government officials, and schools are provided essential environmental tools to help protect the State’s natural resources.

Municipal Outreach

The OCE staff works to strengthen municipal officials’ capacity to make informed environmental decisions that will protect the environment and public health in the areas they service. Officials are advised on state and federal environmental regulations and their environmental roles as pivotal leaders. Training, which can be customizable, includes but is not limited to air quality, solid waste, hazardous waste, and wastewater.

Click the links below for more information:

Environmental Permits

This quick guide provides both a brief overview of the types of permits that municipalities may be required to obtain as well as the contact information for staffers available to assist in that area.

Environmental Permits

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM):

The OCE supports STEM by working with the agency’s internal programs to make interactive STEM activities available to students. Students get to engage across multiple disciplines while investigating, learning processes, and problem-solving. They gain knowledge that can encourage environmental stewardship and spark curiosity in STEM careers.

The collaboration between OCE and other internal programs has provided speakers, science fairs judges, interactive booths at collegiate and community events, and provided guided lab tours as well as hands-on educational training at the agency’s lab.

View the following links to learn more about the OCE’s STEM activities and careers at MDEQ.

STEM Education Youth

STEM Education Activities