Laurene Allen - Stopping PFAS Pollution
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Provided by: Goldman Environmental Foundation|Published on: August 21, 2025
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This resource introduces students to the story of Goldman Environmental Prize Winner Laurene Allen, who worked with scientists, government officials, and community members to stop the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics plant from polluting Merrimack, New Hampshire's water and air.
- Students will understand that PFAS chemicals released from the plant were harming residents of Merrimack and surrounding towns, and that Laurene helped form Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water.
Subjects: Biology, Civics, Health
Authors: The Goldman Environmental Prize
Region: New Hampshire
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This inspirational story highlights the importance of citizen science and seeking the truth.
- Students will love hearing how Laurene became a self-taught expert and fought against major corporations.
Prerequisites
- It may benefit students to have a basic understanding of water contamination and governmental organizations in place to protect the safety of water and air.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This guide from the Goldman Environmental Foundation is a companion resource with note-taking guides, activities, and questions that can be implemented with any of the videos for the prize winners.
- Either before or after exploring Laurene Allen's story, students can research the harmful impacts of PFAS and how they are released into the environment. This resource, though it focuses on Wisconsin, can help students get a better understanding of the health risks associated with PFAS.
- Teachers can connect this story to climate change by discussing the increasing issues of water scarcity due to climate change and the importance of clean water access.
- Teachers can use this story as an example of the interconnectedness between the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly highlighting the connections between Goal 3, Good Health and Well-Being, and Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation.
- To make connections to students' climate emotions, teachers can highlight how Laurene channeled her outrage, an emotion many young people may feel in response to inaction by people in power, into action.
This resource focuses on the efforts of Laurene Allen to address PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in her home of Merrimack, NH. The article and video describe what Allen did to spread awareness and fight for change, along with basic information about why PFAS are a concern and harm both humans and the environment. This resource is a good example of activism and shows students how everyday people can make a difference. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
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About the Partner Provider
The Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize honors the achievements and leadership of grassroots environmental activists from around the world, inspiring all of us to take action to protect our planet. Prize winners are announced each April, coinciding with Earth Day. They are celebrated with a live ceremony in San Francisco.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
