Educated and Equipped: Motivating Today’s Youth to Become Tomorrow’s Clean Energy Leaders

Ensuring students know the basics in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is one of the keys to moving our clean energy economy forward.

STEM-literate workers are the engineers who design solar panels, wind turbines, and improved advanced manufacturing techniques. Computer programmers develop software to solve problems and increase the energy efficiency of buildings and industrial plants. Statisticians can spot energy consumption trends and predict future peak demand, while chemists can create enhanced materials. And it all starts with teaching STEM topics to students.

However, despite the power that STEM-related workers can have in revolutionizing our clean energy economy, the United States is lagging behind other industrialized nations, ranking 25th in mathematics and 17th in science, according to the U.S. Department of Education.  

How can we as a nation encourage our students to get more involved in their STEM studies? The Energy Department (DOE) is doing our part to help solve this challenge through the programs, initiatives, and resources listed below:

• National Science Bowl – Hosted by DOE’s Office of Science, this annual competition tests middle and high school students on their math and science knowledge and problem-solving abilities.

• Student Competitions – The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) leads several student competitions at both the K-12 and post-secondary levels, engaging students in clean energy topics such as solar power, wind power, and hybrid vehicles.

• Explore Careers – EERE’s Education and Workforce Development website highlights information about the types of jobs, training, and future outlook of different clean energy sectors. View the Solar Career Map for examples of career pathways in the solar industry.

• Women @ Energy – This Energy.gov series showcases talented women who work at DOE and the National Laboratories, offering insights into what inspired them to pursue—and stick with—STEM careers.

• Minorities in Energy Initiative – This initiative led by the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity (ED) aims to connect diverse stakeholders in an effort to increase opportunities for minorities in the energy sector. Find more STEM opportunities on ED’s website.

• USA Science & Engineering Festival – Last month, DOE participated in one of the largest national STEM expos, including hands-on activities, demonstrations, speakers, and live student competitions. EERE and ED teamed up to exhibit and share energy-related resources with thousands of families, students, and teachers.

This month, DOE has taken another step toward bridging the STEM gap for the Hispanic community and the more than 37 million people in the U.S. who speak Spanish at home. Conocimiento de Energía, the Spanish version of our Energy Literacy Framework for energy educators, was publicly released today at the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) Career Academy STEM Fair. DOE’s Energy Savers Guide (Ahorre Energía) is also available in Spanish.

The nation’s youth form the foundation for tomorrow’s workforce. Our task is to inspire their passion in the STEM fields and guide our bright and increasingly diverse student base to pursue career paths that can improve our lives and preserve the environment.

Check out the Energy Education and Workforce Development website for more student competitions, internships, and other opportunities to get involved in energy. Teachers can also find energy-related lesson plans and activities.

 This post is part of our “Educated and Equipped” EERE Blog series. Stay tuned for our next post!