WHO: Robin Muksian-Schutt, operations director for the Providence Public School Department, and Kate Venturini, interim director of the URI Extension Outreach Center, along with numerous teachers attending the School Garden 101 Conference.

WHAT: The speakers will announce the launch of a pilot project to establish school gardens as learning environments in Providence in an effort to grow student competency in science, technology, engineering and math. Included will be teacher training opportunities, technical guidance and garden-based lesson plans adhering to Next Generation Science Standards. This project will be used to develop best practices and resources for school systems throughout southern New England.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 16 at 3 p.m.

WHERE: Paff Auditorium, URI Providence Campus, 80 Washington St., Providence.

CONTACT: For information about covering the announcement, contact Todd McLeish in the URI Department of Communications and Marketing at 401-602-0896 or 401-874-2116 or tmcleish@uri.edu.