HDR DSC: Data Science for Energy Transition

随着公众对气候变化的意识日益增强，作为世界能源之都的休斯顿正在努力引领能源转型，以实现更可持续、更清洁的环境。迫切需要具备广泛理解的数据科学人才，以优化传统能源并引领能源转型。该项目侧重于培养来自不同背景的本科生和硕士水平的学生，以获得未来能源行业劳动力所需的广泛知识和技能。大休斯顿地区的五所主要公立大学与多个能源行业合作伙伴合作，从大型石油和天然气公司到能源领域数据分析的初创公司。鉴于参与项目的大学强调多样性和公平性，以及它们所服务的学生群体的多样性，该项目为科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域历史上代表性不足的群体扩大了培训机会。休斯敦大学（UH）主校区、UH- downtown、UH- victoria、UH- clear Lake和Sam Houston州立大学的统计学家、计算机科学家、地球物理学家和社会科学家正在合作开展为期一年的以能源转型为主题的教育活动，从传统的石油和天然气相关问题到可再生能源。课程包含一系列重要的主题，包括基础科学和工程理解，统计学和机器学习方法的本质，以及编程和数据可视化的实用技能。能源转型的社会科学方面及其对社会的影响也包括在课程中。该计划包括：(1)为期五周的夏季训练营，包括统计学/机器学习、计算机科学/编程、地球物理和地球科学、公共政策和工程等教育模块；(2)参与院校在次年秋季学期提供的进阶课程和微证书培训；(3)春季学期针对行业合作伙伴提供的问题进行为期一学期的团队研究项目；(4)暑期实习和/或会议演讲的机会，以结束该计划。每年约有40名学生参加该项目，共计约120名学生参加，分3个队列。一个研究项目可以在其中进行的框架被开发。该计划亦促进区内学术界与业界的互动与合作，为教育和科研合作提供更多机会。所有项目数据都有良好的文档记录，并免费提供。学生和项目层面的成果将被正式评估，结果将通过发表在同行评议的期刊和会议报告上进行传播。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With the growing public awareness of climate change, Houston, the energy capital of the world, is undertaking efforts to lead the energy transition for a more sustainable and cleaner environment. There is urgent demand for a data science workforce equipped with broad understanding for optimizing conventional energy and leading the energy transition. This project focuses on training undergraduates and Masters-level students from diverse backgrounds to achieve a wide range of knowledge and skill sets essential for the future energy industry workforce. Five major public universities in greater Houston are teamed up with multiple energy industry partners, ranging from large oil and gas companies to startups on energy sector data analytics. Given the emphasis of participating universities on diversity and equity and the diverse student populations they serve, this project broadens training opportunities for groups historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).Statisticians, computer scientists, geophysicists, and social scientists at the University of Houston (UH) main campus, UH-Downtown, UH-Victoria, UH-Clear Lake, and Sam Houston State University are collaborating to develop year-long educational activities under the theme of energy transition, from traditional oil- and gas-related problems to renewable energy. The curriculum contains an array of important topics including fundamental science and engineering understanding, essence of statistics and machine learning methods, and practical skill sets of programming and data visualization. Social science aspects on the energy transition and its implications for society are also included in the curriculum. The program consists of: (1) five-week summer boot camps with educational modules on statistics/machine learning, CS/programming, geophysics and earth sciences, public policy, and engineering; (2) advanced courses and micro-credential training offered by participating universities in the following fall semester; (3) semester-long team research projects on problems provided by industry partners in the spring semester; and (4) summer internships and/or conference presentation opportunities to conclude the program. Each year, about 40 students participate in the program, totaling about 120 student participants over 3 cohorts. A framework in which research projects can be carried out is developed. The project also promotes interaction and collaboration between academia and industry in the region, opening up more opportunities for education and research collaboration. All project data is well documented and made freely available. The student and program-level outcomes are formally assessed, with results disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.