- link Copy Url
- [  Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Environmental Engineer in Saginaw Sees the Value in Sharing Science with Students https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/38320?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter")
- [  Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/38320?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin")
- [  Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/38320?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook")
- [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Environmental Engineer in Saginaw Sees the Value in Sharing Science with Students&body=ESG News from General Motors https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/38320?absolute=1 "Share via email")
 
 

 [Social Impact & Volunteering](/CSR-News/social-impact-volunteering)

 # Environmental Engineer in Saginaw Sees the Value in Sharing Science with Students

 

#####  

 

 

 Jul 29, 2013 1:15 PM ET

  Campaign:  [GM Resource Preservation ](/node/26037)  ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_2x/s3/images/boyscoutssmco_0.jpg) 

[Beyond Now Blog](http://bit.ly/152U3H7)

For a group of middle school students from Millington, Mich. Junior High, building a mechanical lift device to raise a battery without dropping it was anything but “mission impossible.”

With the help of Renee Mietz, senior environmental engineer at [Saginaw (Mich.) Metal Casting Operations](http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/company_info/facilities/powertrain/smco-2.html) (SMCO), the students competed in a challenge called “Mission Possible” in Michigan’s state-wide Science Olympiad. The team placed 3rd in the state in a “Crime Busting” challenge: identifying a crime scene using their knowledge of science.

Mietz has been helping out with a variety of projects in the Millington schools. In addition to the Olympiad students, Mietz leads [GM GREEN](http://www.earthforce.org/GREEN) (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network) trips which take children through local wetlands in Bay City to show them the importance of protecting water quality and ways to improve the lakeshore.

“My goal when working with the kids is to get them to see that science is alive,” Mietz said. “These activities get students thinking about their surroundings and begin to understand the relationship between science, math and the real world.”

Even among her work colleagues, Mietz promotes continuing education in the natural sciences. Twice yearly, Mietz moves her office into the entrance of the plant and brings a variety of insect and bird identification and tree health books so that fellow employees can better understand the wildlife that surrounds their workplace.

And the vast wetland near the plant provides an ideal location for [hands-on learning events](http://www.gmbeyondnow.com/2013/01/14/be-eco-prepared-boys-scouts-visit-gm-plants-wildlife-habitat/) for Boy Scout troops and classes from local schools. Mietz takes students right up to the wetlands, then into the plant where they discuss what they’ve seen outdoors.

“Even if they don’t go into science, the subject teaches important lessons about problem solving,” Mietz explained. “We’ll benefit by raising children who can think on their feet and get things done.”



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/106821423-1610125493528-Untitled-5.jpg)](/profiles/general-motors)

 



 

### More from General Motors

###### [Used General Motors Fire Hoses Get New Life at Potter Park Zoo](/news/used-general-motors-fire-hoses-get-new-life-potter-park-zoo)

 Jan 25, 2021 11:00 AM ET

  



###### [California Fire Foundation and General Motors Team up to Donate Vehicles to California Fire Departments](/news/california-fire-foundation-and-general-motors-team-donate-vehicles-california-fire-departments)

 Dec 17, 2020 1:00 PM ET

  



###### [General Motors Donates Face Masks and Flu Vaccines to California Communities](/news/general-motors-donates-face-masks-and-flu-vaccines-california-communities)

 Nov 18, 2020 2:45 PM ET

  



###### [General Motors Named One of America's Most Just Companies by Forbes and JUST Capital](/news/general-motors-named-one-americas-most-just-companies-forbes-and-just-capital)

 Oct 14, 2020 10:50 AM ET

  



###### [General Motors Receives EPA Green Power Leadership Award](/news/general-motors-receives-epa-green-power-leadership-award)

 Sep 22, 2020 4:45 PM ET

  



###### [GM Awarded for Global Sustainability Leadership Award](/news/gm-awarded-global-sustainability-leadership-award)

 Sep 8, 2020 2:40 PM ET

  



###### [GM’s Spring Hill Manufacturing to Run on the Sun](/news/gms-spring-hill-manufacturing-run-sun)

 May 14, 2020 11:05 AM ET

  



###### [General Motors and DTE Energy are Making Michigan a Clean Energy Powerhouse](/news/general-motors-and-dte-energy-are-making-michigan-clean-energy-powerhouse)

 Apr 20, 2020 11:30 AM ET