RET in Engineering and Computer Science Site on Engineering a More Sustainable Energy Future

该奖项为圣母大学工程和计算机科学领域教师研究经验(RET)项目提供资金，该项目为期三年，由Joan F.Brenneke博士指导，题为《工程和计算机科学领域关于工程更可持续能源未来的研究经验》。这个拟议的RET网站将资助总共54名初中和高中STEM教师，每年最多18名教师，为期三年，参与旨在解决挑战以创造更可持续的能源未来的工程研究。来自印第安纳州大南本德当地学校和全国天主教教育联盟(ACE)网络的教师将在夏季与工程学教师一起完成为期八周的最先进研究。利用实践经验和学习，教师将在经验丰富的STEM课程开发专业人员的协助下开发符合各自国家课程指导方针的STEM教材，适合初中生和高中生。由于课程开发工作组将包括在不同实验室工作的参与者，因此可以将能源科学和技术的许多方面纳入材料，这将允许教师从各种主题中进行选择，以满足其学校的教育需求。研究领域可能包括二氧化碳捕获、太阳能转换燃料、更安全的核能、新的风能技术、生物燃料和改进的电网技术。这些重要的主题将使教师能够通过大多数学生都能与之相关的现实世界挑战(能量)的框架来解决STEM教育。ACE教师的加入将把RET计划扩展到全国各地的学校，因此将显著增加接触到的学生数量，特别是少数族裔学生，因为超过50%的ACE学校主要服务于少数族裔学生团体。最后，对学生进行能源生产、使用和可持续性方面的教育对于推动社会采用更可持续的能源未来至关重要。

This award provides funding for a three year continuing award for a Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science Site Program at the University of Notre Dame entitled, RET in Engineering and Computer Science Site on Engineering a More Sustainable Energy Future", under the direction of Dr. Joan F. Brennecke. This proposed RET site will fund a total of 54 middle and high school STEM teachers, up to 18 teachers per year for three years, to participate in engineering research aimed at solving challenges to create a more sustainable energy future. Teachers from local schools in greater South Bend, Indiana and the national Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) network will complete eight weeks of state-of-the-art research working with engineering faculty members during the summer. Using hands-on experiences and learning, teachers will develop STEM teaching materials with the assistance of an experienced STEM curriculum development professional which meet respective state curricular guidelines and are appropriate for middle and high school aged students. Since the curriculum development working groups will include participants working in varied labs, many aspects of energy science and technology can be incorporated in the materials, and this will allow teachers to draw from a variety of topics to fit the educational needs of their schools. Research areas may include CO2 capture, solar to fuels, safer nuclear power, new wind technology, biofuels, and improved grid technologies. These important topics will allow teachers to address STEM education through the framework of a real-world challenge (energy) to which most all students can relate.The addition of ACE teachers will expand the RET program to schools throughout the country and therefore significantly multiply the number of students who will be reached, particularly minority students, as greater than 50% of ACE schools serve predominantly minority student bodies. Finally, educating students on energy production, use, and sustainability is critical to move society toward adoption of a more sustainable energy future.