Student Organizations

Air & Waste Management Association

The vision of the Air & Waste Management Association is to be the premier international environmental organization promoting global environmental responsibility.

The mission of the Air & Waste Management Association is to assist in the professional development and critical environmental decision making of our members to benefit society.

The purpose of the Air & Waste Management Association is to enhance environmental knowledge and provide quality information on which to base environmental decisions.

THE ASSOCIATION
The Air & Waste Management Association is a nonprofit technical, scientific and educational organization with more than 17,000 members in over 65 countries. Founded in 1907, the Association provides a forum where all viewpoints of an environmental issue (technical, scientific, economic, social, political and risk assessment) receive consideration. This worldwide network represents many disciplines: physical and social sciences, health and medicine, engineering and law. The Association attracts decision-makers from agencies, industry, business and the academic and research communities.

To serve its members, A&WMA provides opportunities for technological exchange, professional development, public education and networking. Through these efforts, the Association realizes its vision of becoming the premier international environmental organization promoting global environmental responsibility.

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
Membership is available in various categories. The three main types are described below. For information on organization, contributing, second family member or special membership categories, contact the Member Services Department at 1-800-270-3444. Membership entitles individuals to participate at all three levels of the organization: International, Section and Chapter. A portion of the member's payment is allocated to Section/Chapter support. Membership begins on the first day of the month following receipt of membership dues and runs for a full year.

Individual Membership
Anyone wishing to further the mission and objectives of A&WMA is eligible for individual membership. Annual dues $95.00 plus $15.00 for section/chapter support.

Affiliate Membership
Anyone under the age of 27 is eligible for Affiliate Member status. After three years at this level, you must convert to the individual member level. Affiliate members do not have the right to vote or hold office. Annual dues for affiliate members $47.50 plus $7.50 for Section/Chapter support.

Student Membership
Any full time, graduate or undergraduate student enrolled at an accredited university or college is eligible for student membership. At the completion of the degree requirements, student members are eligible for either individual or affliliate membership. Student members do not have the right to vote or hold office. Annual dues for student members is $20.00 plus $5.00 forSection/Chapter support.

EDUCATION
Continuing Education Courses
Each year the Association, offers 50-100 short courses in conjunction with Section and Chapter events. These unique opportunities for professional development are presented for various levels of expertise - from introductory to those geared to the more advanced professional. Courses are multimedia in nature and are presented in a 1/2 to 2-day format. A&WMA Faculty are enviromental experts chosen through a rigorous selection process coordinated by the Association's Educational and Technical Councils.

Certification
The QEP is a multimedia, multi-disciplinary, board-certified credential that requires environmental professionals to see "the big picture" and to have the skills and knowledge to solve "real world problems". Through the QEP certification, environmental professionals demonstrate the breadth and depth of their knowledge and experience. They also agree to abide by IPEP's Code of Ethics.

Environmental Resource Guide (ERG) Series
Over the past four years, the Association has undertaken the development of a series of teacher manuals, better known as Environmental Resource Guides (ERGs), to assist elementary and secondary school teachers in educating their students about environmental issues. To date, ERG's have been developed for a number of different grade levels around the topics of Air Quality and Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention. Other ERGs presently under consideration deal with waste and energy issues.

You may become involved in the ERG program in a number of ways:

1. become involved in the Association's Educational Council and assist in the development of the ERGs.
2. sponser an ERG workshop for teachers in your area.
3. work with your local member unit to incorporate the ERG series into your local school district.

TECHNICAL PROGRAMS


Speciality Conferences
Speciality conferences perform two vital functions for members: They satisfy the environmental professional's needs to receive and share information and they disseminate information over a wide geographic area. These intensive conferences provide professionals quick and easy access to the available information on a specific subject or aspect of air pollution control or waste management. The Association conducts 10-15 speciality conferences each year.

The technical programs are very comprehensive, informative and timely. Experts from around the world contribute to the conference proceedings. Continuing education courses that relate tothe conference topic are usually offered on the day proceeding the start of the conference. An exhibition of instrumentation and relevent services compliments the conference.

Workshops
Each year, the Association sponsers 15 to 20 two-day workshops offered several times throughout the United States with Sections and Chapters serving as the local hosts. Workshops provide in-depth, practical information on how to comply with federal and state regulatory requirements.They also provide information on emerging environmental issues and new technologies available to facilitate compliance. They are an excellent opportunity for environmental professionals to exchange technical and managerial information on local, national and international issues.

Each workshop assembles leading experts into an interactive forum which encourages extensivequestion and answer exchange. They feature a faculty of leading experts and include representation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the appropriate state and local government agencies. The programs translate complex regulatory provisions into business compliance stategies through expert presentations, real-life case studies and experience sharing by practioners and regulatory agency staff. In addition, each workshop concludes with a panel discussion by leading authorities from industry and state and local government agencies.

Satellite Seminars
A&WMA Satellite Seminars prove an effective medium to simultaneously exchange information among individuals located in varied geographic areas. Via toll-free telephone lines, participants may direct questions to the experts and hear their responses "on air". Before or following the satellite seminar, participants are encouraged to discuss the topic on a more local level. These seminars stimulate the development of local agendas, spur new relationships and encourage partnerships among individuals from business, local government, academia and environmental groups. Individuals who cannot attend the satellite seminar can still benefit from the program by purchasing a video of it.

For more information, contact Dr. Pao-Chiang Yuan at (601) 968-2489