Outreach
Developing a renewable energy-driven economy is crucial to the sustainable development of the United States. Particularly, Utah is among the top three states with the most abundant solar energy resources; it is also abundant in wind energy. As addressed in Utah’s 10-Year Energy Plan, Utah’s State government is committed to increased utilization of renewable energy and the development of relevant energy technologies. The integrated research and education programs in our group will not only lead to the development of economically viable and sustainable energy technologies, but this project will also build the necessary talent pool of the next generation of scientists and engineers to work in the critically important and emerging field of renewable energy technologies.
Leveraging our research expertise in the educational context, we have been developing educational programs serving the wider communities throughout the entire State of Utah and offering research opportunities to all level students. Since joining USU, the PI has been actively involved in outreach programs, including (i) USU Eastern Blanding Native American Summer Mentorship Program (NASMP), (ii) USU STARS! program, and (iii) Summer Undergraduate Research Internship. Program (i) focuses on attracting and training Native American students who are underrepresented in STEM disciplines. Program (ii) focuses on stimulating interest and curiosity in science of academically talented high school students, creating the next generation of leaders in science and technology development. Program (iii) provides intensive research experience to undergraduate students that are from other Utah state colleges through a competitive fellowship. In addition, we have been actively participating local and regional science fairs including science demo and acting as volunteer judges.
Leveraging our research expertise in the educational context, we have been developing educational programs serving the wider communities throughout the entire State of Utah and offering research opportunities to all level students. Since joining USU, the PI has been actively involved in outreach programs, including (i) USU Eastern Blanding Native American Summer Mentorship Program (NASMP), (ii) USU STARS! program, and (iii) Summer Undergraduate Research Internship. Program (i) focuses on attracting and training Native American students who are underrepresented in STEM disciplines. Program (ii) focuses on stimulating interest and curiosity in science of academically talented high school students, creating the next generation of leaders in science and technology development. Program (iii) provides intensive research experience to undergraduate students that are from other Utah state colleges through a competitive fellowship. In addition, we have been actively participating local and regional science fairs including science demo and acting as volunteer judges.
- USU Eastern Blanding Native American Summer Mentorship Program (NASMP)
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USU Eastern Blanding is a two-year campus located 30 miles north of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. A majority (~60%) of their 612 students are Native American. These students face significant challenges to pursue opportunities in higher education, as only 12% of the reservation’s entire adult population has a Bachelor’s degree. To enhance these students’ exposure to STEM fields and career possibilities, USU has hosted this growing 4-week campus-wide NASMP for 4 years, bringing a total of 30 students to campus in 2017. This program includes safety training, lab tours, mentored research, and group meetings, and concludes with a student-led poster session. Historically, the PI’s group has led lab tours and safety training for the participants, and we have hosted NASMP students to experience one-week hands-on cutting-edge battery research activities.
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- USU STARS! Program
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In the USU STARS! program, selected K11/12 high school students join a research lab at USU to conduct a one-semester research project aligning with their own interests. In the Department Chemistry and Biochemistry, participating students receive professional safety trainings, and are involved in project design, hands-on research, and scientific writing. By the end of the program, these students submit a written report summarizing their projects, as well as present a poster to compete in regional and statewide science fairs. Shown in figure right is Christopher Seefeldt (K12) from Logan InTech High School who conducted an aqueous organic redox battery project in our group. Christopher’s project poster won third place in the Ritchey Science & Engineering Fair at Weber State University, along with a scholarship to support his future college studies. In addition, Christopher’s one semester of diligent work culminated in a co-authored manuscript.
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