Educational/Academic Background BA in Geography (minor in Anthropology/Archaeology), University of Arizona, 1969. MA in Geography (minor in Astrogeology), University of North Dakota, 1971. Post-graduate research in Geography, specializing in Applied Remote Sensing of the Environment, Rutgers University, 1971-1973. Hawaii State Life-time Adult Education Credential California State Life-time Community Credentials in Earth Sciences and Developmental Education Honorary Professor, Qufu Normal University-Rizhao Branch, Shandong Prov., P.R. China Visiting Professor and Honorary Board Member, Aurora College, Shanghai, P.R. China Web Sites Rural Training Center-Thailand Earth Systems Science, Inc. Geography Dept. at PCC	Gregory Lee, ESSI Co-Founder
	Co-Founding ESSI I co-founded Earth Systems Science, Inc. in order to provide urban families with an alternative means to get environmental education. The California public education system was not doing a very good job in science education. Overall, the American public education, especially in Los Angeles, was having serious problems. It is hard to change a large bureaucratic system, so I wanted to empower families and individuals to become their own best teachers. The Community-based environmental education model was a result of my past experiences. I recalled things from my days as a student, a consulting engineers applying Geography, and as a teacher both here in the US and overseas. I remember some of my best teachers and learning experiences as well as teachers and lessons that could have been better. ESSI successfully applied this model and used much of the curricular methods and lessons I developed for my classroom teaching.	Starting the RTC-Thailand I decided to step down from ESSI as concerns about energy, water, and climate change grew. I shifted my focus from urban Los Angeles, to the rural poor in developing countries. I co-founded the Rural Training Center-Thailand (RTC-TH) with my wife. The RTC-TH will adapt and refine the community-based environmental education model and my curricular materials to the rural conditions of the third world. The RTC-TH is dedicated to providing community-based environmental education for the self-sufficiency and sustainability of small rural family farms. ESSI will continue with new leadership dedicated to the original ideals of serving urban families and empowering them to build and maintain sustainable neighborhoods.
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