REU Site: Renewable Energy Generation and Storage

解决对清洁能源日益增长的需求需要一支能够开发、部署和管理可再生能源技术的熟练劳动力。尽管有这种需求，但大多数理工科本科生获得能源材料和技术、研究方法、跨学科合作、科学交流或职业规划方面的经验的机会有限，无法为清洁能源事业做好准备。由材料研究部资助，这个本科生研究经验（REU）网站解决了这些培训差距，同时帮助吸引和留住有前途的学生，最终从事科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）和能源领域的职业。为此，该REU网站整合了以能源为重点的跨学科研究经验的本科生，并提供指导，职业指导和在STEM专业中茁壮成长所需的技能培训。通过与当地可再生能源公司和新能源纽约的互动，提供对可再生能源事业的深入了解，新能源纽约是一个新授予的设施，旨在使宾厄姆顿地区成为电池开发的中心。招募不同的学生群体，包括来自研究基础设施有限的学校的学生，是通过与附近的学院和六所历史上的黑人学院和大学合作来支持的。该REU网站旨在激发学生对跨学科研究的兴趣，为学生从事科学和工程（重点是可再生能源）的职业做好准备，并扩大从事研究的学生的多样性。学生们与东北化学能源存储中心、自主太阳能中心和能源可持续发展高级催化中心的四个科学和工程部门和团队合作，解决可再生能源发电和存储方面的基础研究问题。使用实验和计算方法，学生从事旨在降低太阳能成本的研究，收集浪费的热能和机械能，提高电池性能，并产生替代燃料。学生还可以通过与当地清洁能源公司和纽约新能源公司合作的研究合作、设施参观和研讨会，接触清洁能源行业的职业、制造和原型制作过程。学生通过研究伦理、科学传播、专业技能、材料表征和能源景观等研讨会，为STEM和清洁能源事业做好进一步准备。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。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYAddressing the rising demand for clean energy requires a skilled workforce that can develop, deploy, and manage renewable energy technologies. Despite this need, most science and engineering undergraduates have limited opportunities to gain experience with energy materials and technologies, research methods, interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific communication, or career planning to equip them for clean energy careers. Funded by the Division of Materials Research, this Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site addresses these training gaps while helping to attract and retain promising students for eventual careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and the energy sector. Towards this end, this REU site integrates undergraduates in energy-focused interdisciplinary research experiences and offers mentoring, career guidance, and training in skills needed to thrive in STEM professions. Insight into renewable energy careers is provided through interactions with local renewable energy companies and New Energy New York, a newly awarded facility aimed at making the Binghamton region a hub for battery development. The recruitment of diverse student cohorts that include students from schools with limited research infrastructure is supported by partnerships with nearby colleges and six historically black colleges and universities.TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis REU site aims to stimulate student interest in interdisciplinary research, prepare students for careers in science and engineering (with a focus on renewable energy), and expand the diversity of students engaged in research. Working with faculty spanning four science and engineering departments and teams in the NorthEast Center for Chemical Energy Storage, the Center for Autonomous Solar Power, and the Advanced Catalysis for Energy Sustainability Center, students tackle fundamental research problems in renewable energy generation and storage. Using experimental and computational approaches, students engage in research aimed at reducing the cost of solar power, harvesting wasted thermal and mechanical energy, enhancing battery performance, and generating alternative fuels. Students also gain exposure to clean energy industry careers, manufacturing, and prototyping processes through research collaborations, facility tours, and workshops in partnership with local clean energy companies and New Energy New York. Students gain further preparation for STEM and clean energy careers through workshops on research ethics, science communication, professional skills, materials characterization, and the energy landscape.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.