<< Back 11/20/02 Young appointed director of environmental research center SMN Rob Young, Western Carolina University associate professor of geology, has been appointed director of the Helen Patton Environmental Research Center, a 10-acre facility in Macon County that provides opportunities for Western students and faculty to conduct field-based environmental research projects. The research center, located in Patton Valley just south of Franklin, was a gift to the university in 1997 from Helen Patton, a Western alumna and retired art educator. Since her retirement in 1981, Patton has nurtured the property as a showcase of conservation and natural beauty. The tract was originally part of land settled in 1820 by her great-great grandfather, George Patton, for whom the valley is named. Young said he plans to increase the center’s focus on educational outreach by creating a science education center for public school students and teachers, focusing initially on Macon County schools. That project is being supported through a collaboration with Western’s College of Education and Allied Professions and a new graduate assistant’s position provided by WCU’s Office of Research and Graduate Studies. “We plan to utilize students in Western’s science education programs to host environmental research and education activities for area young people. We believe this effort will open the door to considerable grant opportunities in environmental education,” Young said. For more information, contact Young at 828.227.3822.