Building Energy Innovation and Minority Serving Institutions Partnerships

Lead Performer: MSI STEM Research & Development Consortium (MSRDC)

Project Objective

Despite recent increases in representation, minority groups including African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and women account for less than a third of the STEM workforce. Moreover, significant disparities remain when data account for salary and seniority. Increasing the representation, inclusion, and retention of diverse identities and perspectives will enable more equitable and impactful economy-wide decarbonization and further drive innovation.

The Building Technologies Office (BTO) is working with the Minority Serving Institution STEM Research & Development Consortium (MSRDC) to expand partnership and collaboration opportunities with minority serving institutions (MSI). Existing BTO programs and resources such as the Solar Decathlon Building Science Education Series, JUMP into STEM, and the Better Buildings Initiative can be leveraged by MSI to expand and drive innovation in the building science space and in the workforce. BTO seeks to develop a data-driven grassroots engagement strategy to increase the participation and representation of individuals currently underrepresented in the building technology ecosystem. Efforts will focus specifically on reaching MSI STEM faculty and staff, the future STEM workforce, and facility managers of MSI.

BTO is seeking participants from U.S. minority serving institutions representatives to participate in a series of webinars and workshops to learn about BTO opportunities and offer feedback on how BTO may enhance programmatic offerings to both increase participation and become more responsive to MSI needs.

Session descriptions are available at: Building Tech Equity 2023 (msrdconsortium.org)

MSRDC Overview

The MSRDC is a research development partner and strategic asset to more than 70 minority serving research institutions, industry, and government partners. MSRDC focuses its activities on advancing STEM equity through developing innovative solutions to eliminate structural barriers to MSI participation.