One OU student’s dedication to the environment is out of this world.

OUr Earth president Rebecca Wood, named a NASA earth ambassador in September, will travel to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland to study climate change, according to a press release.

Wood, interdisciplinary perspectives on the environment and English junior, will attend a two-day workshop Oct. 13-14 and join earth scientists investigating climate change, according to the release. She will study how to effectively communicate the ideas of global climate change to the public.

During her stay in Maryland, Wood is scheduled to meet with representatives from the Citizen’s Climate Lobby and several congressmen. In the upcoming spring semester, she will also host the Earth Day event at OU in cooperation with NASA.

One of the things Wood will address is the little knowledge people have of environmental concerns.

OU and Norman lag behind their counterparts in California and Hawaii, and Wood said the lack of recycling facilities and the reliance of vehicles for commuting are two issues that must be addressed.

A proposal has been submitted to Student Congress to establish a dedicated bike path from The Cottages of Norman, Commons on Oak Tree and Crimson Park apartment complexes to campus.

The path would take a few years to establish, Wood said.

“After all, perhaps people do care about their environment and their well-being in this state,” Wood said. “But since so many people are employed by the oil and gas industry, it becomes a very inconvenient matter to speak about.”