Collaborative Research: Developing a Diverse, Future-oriented Workforce for Renewable Energy Industries

合作研究：为可再生能源行业培养多元化、面向未来的劳动力

基本信息

批准号：
2043453
负责人：
John Solomon
金额：
$ 16.04万
依托单位：
Tuskegee University
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2021
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2021-07-01 至 2025-06-30
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2043453&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Collaborative Research Developing Diverse Future

项目摘要

This project aims to serve the national interest by studying ways to prepare a new generation of engineers to join the growing renewable energy workforce. A shift to increased reliance on renewable energy will require a skilled engineering workforce that can develop and promote energy sustainability practices. To help prepare this needed workforce, the project aims to develop engineering students’ environmental awareness across multiple levels, from knowledge acquisition to career decisions. Typically, a change in students’ environmental awareness alone does not translate into workforce development for renewable energy industries. This exploratory research intends to address this gap by offering interventions that target environmental awareness across a diverse group of undergraduate engineering students at Tuskegee University and Auburn University. This project seeks to advance understanding of the gap between environmental awareness and behavior, as well as determine the necessary technical competencies and soft skills that sustainable energy industries demand from new engineers. To do so, this project will: (1) examine the link between engineering students’ environmental awareness and their willingness and preparedness to pursue careers in renewable energy fields; (2) offer mechanistic educational design to maximize sustainability competencies and behaviors; and (3) create a paradigm for building a pipeline between academic institutions and renewable energy and related industries. This project from two institutions in Alabama features strong associations with relevant industries in the Southeast. Activities intended to support development of a diverse renewable energy engineering workforce include a renewable makerspace, horizontal integration of sustainability concepts in multiple courses, and enhanced university-industry engagement, such as student field trips to industrial sites and feedback from industry representatives regarding workforce needs. A mixed-methods research study will provide insight on the skills and competency levels associated with participation in each intervention. Four components of environmental awareness (knowledge, attitude, willingness, and perceived preparedness) will serve as indicators. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Institutional and Community Transformation track, the program supports efforts to transform and improve STEM education across institutions of higher education and disciplinary communities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该项目旨在通过研究如何培养新一代工程师加入不断增长的可再生能源劳动力队伍来服务于国家利益。向可再生能源的日益依赖的转变将需要能够开发和促进能源可持续性实践的熟练工程人员。为了帮助培养所需的劳动力，该项目旨在培养工程专业学生从知识获取到职业决策的多个层面的环境意识。通常，学生环境意识的改变并不能转化为可再生能源行业研究的劳动力发展。通过提供针对环境意识的干预措施来弥补这一差距该项目旨在加深对塔斯基吉大学和奥本大学工程本科生的了解，并确定可持续能源行业对新工程师所需的必要技术能力和软技能。为此，该项目将：（1）研究工程专业学生的环境意识与他们在可再生能源领域追求职业的意愿和准备之间的联系；（2）提供机械化的教育设计，以最大限度地提高可持续发展能力和行为； 3）创建一个范例来构建该项目由阿拉巴马州的两个机构负责，旨在支持多元化可再生能源工程劳动力的发展，包括可再生创客空间、可持续发展概念的横向整合。多门课程，以及加强大学与行业的参与，例如学生对工业现场的实地考察以及行业代表关于劳动力需求的反馈，混合方法研究将提供与参与每项干预措施相关的技能和能力水平的见解。环境意识的四个组成部分（知识、 NSF IUSE：EHR 计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生 STEM 教育的有效性。改善高等教育机构和学科界的 STEM 教育。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。