The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched the inaugural cohort of faculty for its groundbreaking Faculty-Applied Clean Energy Sciences (FACES) Program. This program aims to bridge the gap between DOE laboratories and the academic community, improve STEM education, and promote clean energy responsibility in social and environmental sciences.
Focusing on providing hands-on clean energy research opportunities, the FACES program has selected faculty members from minority-serving institutions (MSI) nationwide, including Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions (ANNHSIs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (AANAPISIs).
During the 10-week summer program, MSI faculty members will collaborate with scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Their main goal is to develop educational modules on various clean energy-related topics that can be easily scaled. These modules will be incorporated into the curriculum at their home educational institutions and shared among MSIs to support teachers in developing resources that can help students pursue careers in clean energy.
Terrence Mosley, senior advisor for diversity and STEM at DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), expressed excitement about the opportunity given to MSI faculty members to engage directly with DOE and national laboratories through FACES. He stated that by expanding their research networks and empowering them to educate students on cutting-edge clean energy science topics, the program aims to enhance STEM education and promote diversity in the scientific workforce to create a sustainable future for America.
The FACES program is an essential step towards bridging the gap between academia and industry while promoting diversity in STEM fields. The collaboration between MSI faculty members and NREL scientists will provide a platform for knowledge sharing, innovation, and capacity building. It is a significant investment in building a better future for America by empowering diverse groups of people to take up careers in clean energy science fields.
In conclusion, the launch of the FACES program marks an important milestone towards creating a more sustainable future for America by promoting diversity in STEM fields. By providing hands-on research opportunities to MSI faculty members from across the country, this initiative aims to enhance STEM education while bridging the gap between academia and industry.