As part of UF Gulf Scholars, the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program (SPOHP) announce the seven University of Florida undergraduates who have been selected to participate in the Pensacola Environmental History Project.
Students:
- Hannah Bokor, environmental science major
- Sophia Cachaldora, advertising and public relations major
- Liya Johny, history major
- Mattison Mathews, history major
- Beckett Price, history major
- Caitlin Remmert, economics major
- Amelia Sewell, economics and sustainability studies major
During this 3-credit oral history internship, students have been interviewing residents of Pensacola, Florida who were impacted by several toxic waste sites, including one dubbed “Mount Dioxin.” In 1996, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency relocated 358 households surrounding the site, marking the third largest Superfund relocation initiated by the EPA after Love Canal in Niagara Falls, New York and Times Beach, Missouri. Following the field excursion, students will process and finalize the collected material for inclusion in the UF Digital Collections.
“SPOHP is thrilled to partner with the Bob Graham Center for the inaugural Gulf Scholars fieldwork trip to Pensacola to document community organizing in response to the enduring impacts of Pensacola’s Superfund sites,” said Anna Hamilton, assistant director for SPOHP.
“Oral history is a powerful community-building tool and research method, and we’re excited to see how this year’s cohort incorporates oral history in their broader work throughout our Gulf communities. Our students represent a range of majors and minors, and each will contribute their unique perspective to this project and the research team as a whole.”
View the team’s interviews so far at the following link: Pensacola Environmental History Project
The team will continue to take fieldwork trips once a semester to conduct more interviews. For their Gulf Impact Project, the team will be developing digital and/or pop-up exhibits to share with the community.
Would you like to participate?
This internship (HIS 4944) is offered every semester. Email Anna Hamilton, assistant director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at annahamilton@ufl.edu to learn how to sign up!