Bridging the Gap: US DOE Launches FACES Program to Enhance STEM Education and Promote Clean Energy Responsibility in Minority-Serving Institutions.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the launch of its first cohort of faculty members for the Faculty-Applied Clean Energy Sciences (FACES) Program. This innovative program aims to bridge the gap between DOE laboratories and the academic community, enhance STEM education, and promote clean energy responsibility in social and environmental sciences. The program is focused on providing hands-on research opportunities to faculty members from minority-serving institutions (MSI) across the country, including Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions (ANNHSIs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (AANAPISIs).

During the 10-week summer program, MSI faculty members will collaborate with scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Their main objective is to develop educational modules on various clean energy topics that can be easily scaled up for use in their home educational institutions’ curricula. These modules will be shared among MSIs to support teachers in developing resources that can help students pursue careers in clean energy. Terrence Mosley, senior advisor for diversity and STEM at DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), expressed excitement about the opportunity provided to MSI faculty members through FACES. According to him, by expanding their research networks and empowering them to educate students on cutting-edge clean energy science topics, the program aims to improve STEM education and promote diversity in the scientific workforce to create a sustainable future for America.