FACES Program Bridges Gap Between DOE and MSI Faculty, Promotes Clean Energy Responsibility in Underrepresented Communities

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recently launched its inaugural cohort of faculty for the innovative Faculty-Applied Clean Energy Sciences (FACES) Program. This program aims to bridge the gap between DOE laboratories and the academic community, improve STEM education, and promote clean energy responsibility in social and environmental sciences. By providing hands-on clean energy research opportunities, the FACES program has selected 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 goal is to develop educational modules on various clean energy-related topics that can be easily scaled. These modules will be incorporated into the curriculum at their home educational institutions and 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 given to MSI faculty members to engage directly with DOE and national laboratories through FACES. He stated that by expanding their research networks and empowering them to educate students on cutting-edge clean energy science topics, the program aims to enhance STEM education and promote diversity in the scientific workforce to create a sustainable future for America.

The FACES program is an essential step towards bridging the gap between academia and industry while promoting diversity in STEM fields. As Mosley said, “This program provides a unique opportunity for MSI faculty members to connect with DOE labs and national labs like NREL, which can lead to new research collaborations, partnerships, mentorship opportunities for students.” By fostering these connections, FACES hopes to inspire more students from underrepresented communities to pursue careers in clean energy science.

The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated as it aligns with President Biden’s vision of achieving a 100% clean energy economy by 2035. To achieve this goal, we need diverse teams working together on cutting-edge research that can address complex issues related to climate change.

In conclusion, the FACES program is an excellent example of how government agencies can work together with academic institutions to create opportunities for underrepresented communities. By investing in programs like FACES that promote diversity in STEM fields while providing hands-on research experiences for students from MSI’s across the country, we can build a more inclusive future that benefits everyone.