The next phase of Gannon University's Project NePTWNE  will soon be complete.

The Center for the Lake Erie Education and Research will take education and learning a step further with the space in the Blasco Library.


Dr. Sherri "Sam" Mason, the Program Director for Project NePTWNE explained, "To have this space and to be able to open it up soon to the public and actually share it with the community, my love for the Great Lakes as a whole and have all these tools at our disposal, to bring people in, to break down the traditional barriers to science."


This educational space has been in the works for months and project leaders are excited that it will advance studying about the environment. According to Dr. Mason, "Everything we put out on our grass here pours out into the entire world, and that's how we can show this. We can showcase this with the tools we have accessible."


It also makes teaching about the Great Lakes easier with Lake Erie being right outside. Jessica Spitulski, the Executive Director of the Erie County Public Library said,  "I think environmental education is important for anyone that is aware of what's happening in Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Board of Education has added environmental standards for all. Not only will this be a great way for students to interact, but for teachers to interact both to those standards and to their environment."


Once these space opens in a few weeks, people will be able to use the different areas from a laboratory, to exhibits and interactive areas. Officials said having this space in the library brings a whole new meaning to learning. As Dr. Mason explained, "It's such an incredible partnership and we really compliment each other. This really is the perfect place for this because it is education in action."


Spitulski said it's a new approach to interacting with what they are learning about, "People are ingesting information in new ways every day and this gives us a chance here at the library to do that in a new way and to bring education to life."

The grand opening for the event is set for October 4 and 5, with a ribbon cutting, outdoor activities, demonstrations and tours.