RET Site in Engineering and Computer Science: Energy and Sustainability - To Develop the Green Collar Workforce for the 21st Century

该奖项为艾奥瓦州立大学(ISU)的工程和计算机科学教师研究经验(RET)现场项目提供资金，该项目为期三年，由Eric W.Cochran博士指导，题为“RET工程和计算机科学现场：能源和可持续性--培养21世纪的绿领劳动力”。该网站的技术重点是可持续能源和材料。教师导师代表了支持这一主题的各种背景，并隶属于许多ISU中心和研究所，包括NSF生物可再生化学品中心(CBiRC)工程研究中心。研究机会将包括以能源和可持续发展为主题的一系列专业：从可再生原料生产燃料、化学品和聚合物；到光伏和燃料电池的进展；以及新型水净化系统。这些项目突出了执行支助股为开发技术所作的努力，这些技术将能够在不危害环境的情况下继续目前的生活水平。这些话题与RET网站特别相关，因为它们解决了与参与教师服务的学生直接相关的需求。项目带头(PLTW)培训和职业与技术教育(CTE)高中教师将在暑假期间获得7周的真实工程学科研究经验，并在学年期间进行额外活动。这些经历将使参与者能够为他们的学生做好准备，并激励他们成为21世纪“绿领”劳动力的一部分。总共39名参与者(每年13名)将从爱荷华州受过PLTW培训的高中教师以及尚未参加PLTW计划的CTE讲师中挑选出来。该网站的目标是：为技术和工程预科教师提供沉浸在工程研究和应用中的帮助；帮助教师学会将这种经验转化为学生在STEM领域的更多参与；将研究经验转化为增强的课程交付，旨在招收学生并为未来的工程和技术领域的职业生涯做好准备；在ISU工程学院和爱荷华州PLTW和CTE教师之间建立个人联系，最终帮助提高学生为过渡到大学做好准备的水平。该项目的更广泛影响包括：增加了高中PLTW和CTE教师的专业发展；教师有更多机会促进他们在课程开发方面的努力，以便能够与他们的学生分享与工程职业相关的有益和令人兴奋的机会；训练有素、具有全球竞争力的劳动力队伍给美国经济带来的好处；以及将RET参与者引入ISU工程女性计划(PWSE)，学生榜样。

This award provides funding for a three year standard award to support a Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science Site program at Iowa State University (ISU) entitled, "RET Site in Engineering and Computer Science: Energy and Sustainability-To Develop the Green Collar Workforce for the 21st Century", under the direction of Dr. Eric W. Cochran. The technical focus of this Site is sustainable energy and materials. Faculty mentors represent a diverse array of backgrounds supporting this theme and are affiliated with a number of ISU centers and institutes including the NSF Center for BioRenewable Chemicals (CBiRC) Engineering Research Center. Research opportunities will include a broad spectrum of specialities within the theme of energy and sustainability: from the production of fuels, chemicals, and polymers from renewable feedstocks; to advances in photovoltaics and fuel cells; and to novel water purification systems. These projects highlight the efforts at ISU to develop technologies that will allow a continuation of current living standards without jeopardizing the environment. Such topics are especially relevant for an RET Site since they address needs that directly connect with students served by participating teachers. Project Lead the Way (PLTW)-trained and Career and Technology Education (CTE) high school instructors will receive authentic research experiences in engineering disciplines for 7 weeks during the summer plus additional activities during the academic school year. These experiences will enable participants to prepare and inspire their students to become part of the 21st century "green-collar" workforce. A total of 39 participants (13 per year) will be selected from Iowa's pool of PLTW-trained high school teachers as well as CTE instructors who are not yet part of the PLTW program. The objectives of this Site are to: provide technology and pre-engineering instructors immersion in engineering research and applications; help teachers learn to translate this experience into increased student engagement in the STEM fields; leverage the research experience into enhanced curriculum delivery designed to recruit and prepare students for future careers in engineering and technology fields; and form personal connections between ISU Engineeirng Faculty and Iowa PLTW and CTE teachers, ultimately helping to raise the level of student preparedness for the transition to college. Broader impacts of the project include increased professional development for high school PLTW and CTE teachers; increased opportunity for teachers to catalyze their efforts in curriculum development to be able to share with their students the rewarding and exciting opportunities associated with a career in engineering; benefits to the U.S. economy resulting from a well-trained, globally competitive workforce; and the introduction of RET participants to the ISU Program for Women in Engineering (PWSE), Student Role Models.