New ideas come from a diverse way of seeing things. Whether it’s getting more students involved in Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) programs or letting minority communities know the resources available to them, the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is at the forefront for generating these diverse relationships.

And no one knows this better than Othalene Lawrence.

The first African American environmental scientist at the Energy Department, Lawrence has spent 30 years helping students and people get involved in EERE’s mission, which is to create and sustain American leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy.  

“Directing people to a website or email is helpful, but presence and engagement are essential in developing relationships and demonstrating true interest and commitment,” she said.

Advancing STEM in the Classroom

Lawrence has worked directly with H.D. Woodson and McKinley Technology high school STEM programs.  In particular, she was instrumental in setting up H.D. Woodson's STEM program and receiving their certification through the District of Columbia Superintendent’s Office.

She believes everyone needs to make a more concerted effort to include more diverse communities and be creative in our efforts of communicating resources and opportunities available.

“The more diverse our outreach, the better,” she says. “Inclusion, responsiveness, presence, engagement, and follow through are key components of success.”

Minorities in STEM

Statistics show that these students go on to a STEM career. A recent National Science Foundation brief revealed that in the last decade, the number of minority U.S. citizens and permanent residents enrolled in graduate science and engineering (S&E) programs more than doubled. Increases in Hispanic, black, and Asian/Pacific Islander science and engineering graduate students were similar over this period, however, these gains almost tripled the number of Hispanic graduate students (approximately 190% growth) and more than doubled the number of blacks (approximately 155% growth).

For Nick Litombe, Orise Fellow in the Energy Department’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, these numbers are only the beginning.

Litombe says our best assets are the people working at the Energy Department because they are technically bright and already know how to implement impactful policy.

“We have an opportunity to tap into departmental expertise and goodwill,” he says. “We need a concerted and organized outreach so underrepresented communities would be spurred to pursue opportunities in the energy space.”

Sonia Kassambara, operations manager in EERE’s Office of Business Operations agrees.

Learning about these diverse communities and tapping into their way of thinking is the key, she believes, to success. She likens the experience to when she was a Peace Corps volunteer.

Peace Corps recruiters, she says, look for volunteers from all 50 states and territories in order to get a perspective of a whole nation. Kassambara feels that when you get to know someone, you think about a place, or a community, differently.

“I think of a friend from Hawaii, I have two friends from Washington and Kentucky,” she says. “To be fair, it’s a little bit like making a rainbow.”

But it is more than that that will make a difference.

Kassambara believes intentionally getting technology to early adopters, influencers, and most practical people, starts the signal for the greater population.

“We all need to be early adopters and influencers, says Kassambara, who has been with the Energy Department for more than three years. “What do we drive? Do we weatherize? Install solar panels? We need to talk to our relatives…because it starts with us.”