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

该奖项为为期三年的标准奖提供资金，以支持爱荷华州州立大学（ISU）的工程和计算机科学教师研究经验（RET）项目，该项目名为“工程和计算机科学的RET网站：能源和可持续性--为21世纪世纪发展绿色领劳动力”，由Eric W.科克伦本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，并隶属于一些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。 研究机会将包括能源和可持续发展主题范围内的广泛专业：从可再生原料生产燃料，化学品和聚合物;到光化学和燃料电池的进步;以及新型水净化系统。 这些项目突出了国际空间大学为开发技术所做的努力，这些技术将使目前的生活水平得以持续，而不会危害环境。 这些主题与可再生能源技术网站特别相关，因为它们解决了与参与教师服务的学生直接相关的需求。 项目带路（PLTW）培训和职业和技术教育（CTE）高中教师将在夏季获得7周的工程学科真实的研究经验，加上学年期间的其他活动。这些经验将使参与者准备和激励他们的学生成为21世纪的“绿领”劳动力的一部分。 总共有39名参与者（每年13名）将从爱荷华州接受PLTW培训的高中教师以及尚未参加PLTW项目的CTE教师中选出。本网站的目标是：提供技术和工程前教师沉浸在工程研究和应用;帮助教师学会将这种经验转化为增加学生在STEM领域的参与;利用研究经验增强课程交付，旨在招募和准备学生未来的职业生涯在工程和技术领域;并形成ISU工程学院和爱荷华州PLTW和CTE教师之间的个人联系，最终帮助提高学生准备过渡到大学的水平。 该项目的更广泛的影响包括增加高中PLTW和CTE教师的专业发展;增加教师的机会，以促进他们在课程开发方面的努力，以便能够与学生分享与工程职业相关的有益和令人兴奋的机会;美国经济受益于训练有素，具有全球竞争力的劳动力;并介绍了可再生能源技术参与者的国际空间大学计划的妇女在工程（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.