UMass Chan environmental specialist wins Earth Month social media contest

Miranda Courteau, an environmental health and safety specialist in the Department of Environmental Health and Safety at UMass Chan Medical School, is the winner of the inaugural environmental justice social media contest, hosted by the Office of Sustainability during Earth Month in April.  

Courteau, of Auburn and a recent graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, joined UMass Chan in March. As an environmental health and safety specialist, Courteau is responsible for managing pharmaceutical waste disposal and monitoring air quality and chemical exposure to ensure employee safety.

Her winning submission is a collage called "Change Your Ways, Don't Stop the Rain," from photos taken during her 2018 trip to the Amazon Rainforest, highlighting the impact that deforestation and climate change have on the rainforest. 

The prize includes a UMass Chan tote bag filled with summer picnic items, including a blanket, UMass Chan tumbler and compostable utensil sets, as well as two passes to the Worcester Art Museum.

The environmental justice social media contest is part of an ongoing initiative to build environmental justice programming at UMass Chan. The university will be engaged in the creation of this programming through next fall.