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Wetlands Mapping, Teacher Bias Research, And Other Eugene-Based Projects Get Mozilla Money

Bureau of Land Management of Oregon/Washington
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Flickr.com

Eugene is receiving $90,000 in grant money. The Mozilla  Foundation – the non-profit arm of Firefox – is providing the funds, for what it calls “tech for good” projects.  KLCC’s Brian Bull reports. 

Five projects in Eugeneare receiving grants, ranging from $15,000 to $23,000 each. They’re to pair innovation with high-speed internet to benefit their communities.

For Eugene, this includes a wetland restoration mapping and analysis project. Another uses virtual reality to help teachers recognize their unconscious biases, and therefore reduce disproportionate penalties against minority students.

Lindsey Frost Dodson is the Mozilla Foundation’s Director.  She says Eugene’s values of equity and inclusiveness made it a great fit for the grant program.

“We have been blown away at every turn by how many excited and connected organizations there are in Eugene, really working to make the city not only a high-tech community, but a high-tech community that works for all of your citizens,” she tells KLCC.

Eugene is among five cities receiving grants from the Mozilla Foundation, which is partnering with the National Science Foundation.

Copyright 2018, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.