RET Site: Chip Design Experiences for Teachers to Stimulate Semiconductor Education in Oklahoma

在美国，从非常先进的集成电路（IC）设计到大规模生产，全面缺乏熟练的半导体劳动力。《美国芯片法案》要求投资520亿美元用于国内半导体制造和研究，这将在6年内创造4.2万个半导体工作岗位。但是，仅靠大学是无法满足这种需求的，因为许多半导体工作更适合高中和社区大学的学生。这个RET网站通过向斯蒂尔沃特和塔尔萨地区的高中和社区大学教师介绍为期六周的开源网络安全芯片设计经验，解决了半导体人才发展的挑战。这些经验将培养教师对半导体的基本知识。教师还将把他们的研究成果转化为9-14年级急需的探究式、与文化相关的半导体课程。随着越来越多的学生对半导体感兴趣，我们的国家将有一个可持续的人才管道，以恢复我们在半导体和半导体技术方面的技术领先地位，如5G/6G、人工智能和量子计算。该项目还服务于少数民族学生人数较多的地区。更高的半导体参与度也将改善EPSCoR州俄克拉荷马州周边地区的经济前景。这个RET项目将邀请来自斯蒂尔沃特和塔尔萨市区的10名高中和社区大学教师，为期三年，在俄克拉荷马州立大学（OSU）进行为期六周的开源网络安全芯片设计研究。然后，教师将把他们的研究经验转化为9-14年级的探究式和文化相关的半导体课程。RET项目的目标是：1)发展教师在半导体方面的知识，2)在9-14年级创建创新的半导体课程，以及3)在俄勒冈州立大学，塔尔萨地区STEM联盟（TRSA），参与学区和社区学院之间建立长期可持续的关系，以提高学生的兴趣并刺激俄克拉荷马州的半导体教育。其智力价值包括提高对硬件相关网络安全问题的认识，以及通过开源工具减轻教师开发新课程的负担。更广泛的影响包括通过提高非大学毕业生（包括少数民族和代表性不足的群体）对半导体的兴趣水平，快速发展半导体人才管道，以响应《美国芯片法案》。该项目还将帮助填补9-14年级半导体课程的空白，并通过开源工具使芯片设计大众化。该项目由工程教育和中心部（EEC）和促进竞争研究的既定计划（EPSCoR）共同资助。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。

Within the United States, there is a shortage of skilled semiconductor workforce across the board, from the very advanced integrated circuit (IC) design to mass production. The CHIPS for America Act calls for a $52 billion investment in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research, which will create 42,000 semiconductor jobs in 6 years. However, universities alone cannot meet this demand because many semiconductor jobs are more suitable for high school and community college students. This RET site addresses the semiconductor talent development challenge by introducing Stillwater and Tulsa area high school and community college teachers to a six-week open-source, cyber-secure chip design experience. These experiences will develop teachers' fundamental knowledge about semiconductors. Teachers will also translate their research into much-needed inquiry-based, culturally relevant semiconductor curricula in Grade 9-14 levels. With more students interested in semiconductors, our nation will have a sustainable talent pipeline to reclaim our technological leadership in semiconductors and semiconductor-enabled technologies, such as 5G/6G, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. The project also serves a region with a high minority student population. Higher participation in semiconductors would also improve the economic outlook of the area around Oklahoma, an EPSCoR state.This RET program will invite ten high school and community college teachers per year from Stillwater and Tulsa metropolitan area for three years for a six-week research experience on open-source, cyber-secure chip design at Oklahoma State University (OSU). Teachers will then translate their research experience into inquiry-based and culturally relevant semiconductor curricula in Grade 9-14. The objectives of the RET project are: 1) Develop teacher's knowledge in semiconductors, 2) Create innovative semiconductor curricula at grade 9-14 level, and 3) Build a long-term sustainable relationship between OSU, Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance (TRSA), participating school districts and community colleges to increase student interests and stimulate semiconductor education in Oklahoma. The intellectual merit includes increasing awareness of cybersecurity issues related to hardware and lowering teachers' burden in developing new courses through open-source tools. The broader impacts include rapid semiconductor talent pipeline development in response to the CHIPS for America Act by increasing the interest levels for semiconductors among non-college grads, including minorities and underrepresented groups. The project will also help fill the semiconductor curriculum gap at Grade 9-14 levels and democratize chip design for everyone through open-source tools. This project is jointly funded by the Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).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.