The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 62
From Science Fair
to
Wildfire
written by Anthony Giorgetti
Margaret Key's environmental journey,
from a chance science fair project to
firefighting on the frontlines, unfolds as
she advocates for nature and warns of
climate change's impact on Virginia.
L
isten up, kids: The rest
of your life might hinge on
your next science fair.
Margaret Key spent 27
years working for Virginia's
Department of Environmental Quality. But
the Bedford native's career began as a science
teacher in Oklahoma, where she attended
college. There, a friend of hers working as a
government recruiter requested she put in her
resume to drive up his numbers, even if she
wasn't interested.
But Key was interested - and pleased when
they invited her to interview. During the interview
over three decades ago, one question was
whether she'd ever done a science project.
She told them about one she'd done in high
school on the effects of pollution on nylon
hoses. Funnily enough, Key gave her teacher a
hard time about that project. It was supposed
to be voluntary, but the teacher required it to
get an A in her class!
But Key got a lot more than that. When she
received her job offer, it was because the interviewer
was impressed that she'd been interested
in air quality from a young age, as evidenced by
the " voluntary " science project.
" I went back and told (my teacher), 'Guess
what? I got a job because of that science fair
project that you made me do!' " Key says.
She's always loved nature and spends much
62 MARCH/APRIL 2024
TheRoanoker.com
COURTESY OF MARGARET KEY
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker March/April 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker March/April 2024
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - Cover1
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - Cover2
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 3
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 4
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 5
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 6
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 7
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The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 62
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The Roanoker March/April 2024 - Cover3
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - Cover4
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