RET Site: Integrating data-driven research in Renewable Energy Across Disciplines (I-READ)

德克萨斯农工大学金斯维尔分校的教师研究经验(RET)网站的总体目标是创建一个充满活力的多学科环境和实践社区，将研究、教育和推广整合在一起，为初中和高中(6-12年级)的STEM教师提供机会进行真正的尖端研究，并开发一系列创新的课程模块，以促进德克萨斯州南部的可再生能源和数据科学。该项目将建立一个个人共享知识、共同学习和分享共同做法的实践共同体(COP)。该项目将把非常不同的教师、教师教育工作者、研究人员、工业顾问、教育和工程研究生聚集在一起，围绕一个共同的目标--扩大和共享数据驱动的可再生能源方面的知识。这个RET网站将有助于COP加深对数据科学和可再生能源的理解，并探索有效的教学方法来支持初中生在这一领域的学习。在行业顾问的参与下，这个RET网站将通过建立COP来丰富南得克萨斯州的STEM研究和教育环境，其中实验室研究、课堂教学和现实世界的行业经验将协同整合。预期缔约方会议的协作工作将促进所有成员之间的信息自由流动、共享知识和持续的、积极参与的对话。该RET网站解决了数据驱动的可再生能源研究和德克萨斯州两个重要领域(可再生能源和数据科学)的紧迫挑战，以及基本知识和技能课程要求。RET网站的愿景是从代表不足的社区培养崭露头角的研究人员和教育工作者，以迎接数据驱动的可再生能源研究的挑战，并培养积极为国家能源自力更生议程做出贡献的未来领导者。可再生能源研究是一个复杂、多方面的主题，许多学科相互作用，以解决不同的、有时是相互矛盾的问题。数据驱动的研究方法可以通过利用世界各地可用的数据来加快可再生能源部门的技术进步。德克萨斯农工大学金斯维尔分校的教师研究体验(Research Experience for Teachers，RET)网站的目标是：1)为初中和高中(6-12年级)STEM教师，特别是拉美裔、女性和/或第一代大学毕业生提供数据驱动的可再生能源研究的不同方面的研究机会；2)通过一系列创新的课程开发和实施，增加未被充分代表的学生攻读STEM专业和职业的人数；以及，3)通过大学教师、STEM教师、研究人员、社区学院教师、研究生和行业之间的实践社区，建立可持续的纽带，以促进南得克萨斯州的STEM教育。该RET网站专注于数据驱动的可再生能源研究，这是一个具有地方意义和全球影响的主题。拟议的研究涵盖三个主要研究领域的数据收集、数据分析、数据可视化和决策：1)能源收集，2)能源利用，3)能源政策及其影响。在为期六周的暑期研究期间，每年将有10名RET参与者在协作小组环境中接受培训。RET参与者将处理数据驱动的可再生能源研究的各种主题，与教职员工和学生导师以及行业顾问互动，并发展可再生能源研究的整体系统视角和对数据科学重要性的认识。RET参与者将学习制定研究计划的要点，并推动项目向前发展以实现里程碑。他们将在教育教师、研究导师和产业顾问的真正指导下，根据他们的研究设计一系列课程模块，并将这些课程模块与其他学年后续活动一起用于课堂，以激发学生对STEM的兴趣。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。

The overarching goal of this Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) site at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is to create a dynamic multidisciplinary environment and a Community of Practice where research, education and outreach are integrated to provide middle and high school (Grades 6-12) STEM teachers with opportunities to conduct authentic cutting-edge research and develop a series of innovative curricular modules for promoting renewable energy and data science in South Texas. A Community of Practice (CoP), where individuals share knowledge, learn together, and share common practices, will be established in this project. The project will bring together a very diverse population of teachers, teacher educators, researchers, industrial advisors, education and engineering graduate students around a shared goal of expanding and sharing knowledge on data-driven renewable energy. This RET site will facilitate the CoP to develop deep and rich understandings of data science and renewable energy as well as explore effective pedagogies to support middle and high school students’ learning in the field. With industrial advisors involved, this RET site will enrich the STEM research and education environment in South Texas through establishment of the CoP where laboratory research, classroom teaching, and real-world industry experiences are synergistically integrated. It is expected that the collaborative work of the CoP will enable the free flow of information, shared knowledge, and ongoing and engaging dialogue among all members. This RET site addresses the pressing challenges in data-driven renewable energy research and two important fields (renewable energy and data science) in Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills curriculum requirements. The RET site builds on a vision of grooming budding researchers and educators from underrepresented communities to embrace the challenge of data-driven renewable energy research and building future leaders who proactively contribute to the nation’s energy self-reliance agenda.Renewable energy research is a complex, multi-faceted theme where many disciplines interact to address different and sometimes contradictory issues. A data-driven research approach can expedite the technological advancement in renewable energy sector by utilizing the data available around the world. The objectives of this Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) site at Texas A&M University-Kingsville are to: 1) provide research opportunities on different facets of data-driven renewable energy research to middle and high school (Grades 6-12) STEM teachers, especially Hispanics, women, and/or teachers who were first generation college graduates; 2) increase the number of underrepresented students pursuing STEM majors and careers through a series of innovative curriculum development and implementation; and, 3) build a sustainable bond through the Community of Practice among university faculty, STEM teachers, researchers, community college faculty, graduate students and industries to accelerate STEM education in South Texas. This RET site focuses on data-driven renewable energy research that is a theme of local significance and global implications. The proposed research covers data collection, data analysis, data visualization and decision making in three major research areas: 1) Energy Harvesting, 2) Energy Utilization, and 3) Energy Policy and Its Impacts. Ten RET participants will be trained every year during six weeks of summer research in a collaborative group setting. The RET participants will tackle various topics of data-driven renewable energy research, interact with faculty and student mentors and industrial advisors, and develop a holistic systems’ perspective of renewable energy research and awareness about the importance of data science. The RET participants will learn the essentials of developing a research plan, and driving the project forward to achieve milestones. They will design a series of curricular modules based on their research with authentic mentorship from an education faculty, research mentors, and industrial advisors, and will use these curricular modules in their classrooms along with other academic year follow-up activities to inspire students’ interests in STEM.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.