Collaborative Research: Developing a Diverse, Future-oriented Workforce for Renewable Energy Industries

该项目旨在通过研究如何培养新一代工程师以加入日益增长的可再生能源劳动力来服务于国家利益。向更多地依赖可再生能源的转变将需要一支熟练的工程队伍，能够开发和促进能源可持续性实践。为了帮助这些所需的劳动力做好准备，该项目旨在培养工科学生从知识获取到职业决策的多个层面的环境意识。通常，学生环境意识的改变本身并不能转化为可再生能源行业的劳动力发展。这项探索性研究旨在通过提供针对塔斯基吉大学和奥本大学工科本科生不同群体的环境意识的干预措施来解决这一差距。该项目旨在加深对环境意识和行为之间差距的理解，并确定可持续能源行业对新工程师的必要技术能力和软技能。为此，该项目将：(1)研究工程学学生的环境意识与他们在可再生能源领域从事职业生涯的意愿和准备之间的联系；(2)提供机械式教育设计，以最大限度地提高可持续性能力和行为；以及(3)创建一个在学术机构和可再生能源及相关行业之间建立管道的范例。这个项目来自阿拉巴马州的两个机构，与东南部的相关行业有很强的关联性。旨在支持发展多样化的可再生能源工程劳动力的活动包括可再生能源制造者培训空间、可持续发展概念在多门课程中的横向整合，以及加强大学与行业的接触，例如学生实地考察工业现场和行业代表对劳动力需求的反馈。一项混合方法的研究研究将提供与参与每项干预相关的技能和能力水平的洞察。环境意识的四个组成部分(知识、态度、意愿和感知的准备情况)将作为指标。NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过机构和社区转型轨道，该计划支持高等教育机构和学科社区转变和改进STEM教育的努力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by studying ways to prepare a new generation of engineers to join the growing renewable energy workforce. A shift to increased reliance on renewable energy will require a skilled engineering workforce that can develop and promote energy sustainability practices. To help prepare this needed workforce, the project aims to develop engineering students’ environmental awareness across multiple levels, from knowledge acquisition to career decisions. Typically, a change in students’ environmental awareness alone does not translate into workforce development for renewable energy industries. This exploratory research intends to address this gap by offering interventions that target environmental awareness across a diverse group of undergraduate engineering students at Tuskegee University and Auburn University. This project seeks to advance understanding of the gap between environmental awareness and behavior, as well as determine the necessary technical competencies and soft skills that sustainable energy industries demand from new engineers. To do so, this project will: (1) examine the link between engineering students’ environmental awareness and their willingness and preparedness to pursue careers in renewable energy fields; (2) offer mechanistic educational design to maximize sustainability competencies and behaviors; and (3) create a paradigm for building a pipeline between academic institutions and renewable energy and related industries. This project from two institutions in Alabama features strong associations with relevant industries in the Southeast. Activities intended to support development of a diverse renewable energy engineering workforce include a renewable makerspace, horizontal integration of sustainability concepts in multiple courses, and enhanced university-industry engagement, such as student field trips to industrial sites and feedback from industry representatives regarding workforce needs. A mixed-methods research study will provide insight on the skills and competency levels associated with participation in each intervention. Four components of environmental awareness (knowledge, attitude, willingness, and perceived preparedness) will serve as indicators. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Institutional and Community Transformation track, the program supports efforts to transform and improve STEM education across institutions of higher education and disciplinary communities.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.