Texas Tech Student Outreach
Giving student outreach presentation covering the basic concepts of linear induction accelerators and how they are applied to the electrical engineering field.
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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NNSS Student Outreach Presentation
Student outreach presentation for recruitment at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Specific interest in recruiting pulsed power and mechanical engineers.
42 ENGINEERING↗
“Did you eat a MOLEcule today?” An Interactive Demonstration of Molecular Weight with Real-Time Breath Analysis Using Mass Spectrometry for All Ages
Although mass spectrometry is a widely used analytical tool, age-appropriate, interactive outreach activities for laboratory visitors, especially children, are lacking. Furthermore, the presented interactive demonstration, “Did you eat a MOLEcule today?”, introduces all ages to molecular weight concepts and mass spectrometry in a research laboratory, while connecting the concepts to real-world applications. Through real-time breath analysis, participants explore the concepts of molecular weight, electrostatic field manipulation of charged molecules, and analyte identification by mass analysis. This module is rapid and highly adaptable for outreach activities but also includes age- or classroom-appropriate variations to decrease or increase difficulty levels. The presented interactive demonstration has repeatedly been implemented, with over 2300 participants during six annual “Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day” and two corporate “Family Day” outreach activities, successfully engaging, exciting, and educating both kids and parents.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Energy efficiency for the growing South Carolina manufacturing industries. Final Report
The overall goals of the proposed project were to establish a DOE Industrial Assessment Center with Clemson University as the main center and to cement the Clemson IAC as the "go to" resource for energy efficiency expertise and assistance to manufacturing businesses in the state of South Carolina. The Clemson IAC included a satellite support center through partnership with the SCE&G Energy Innovation Center at the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI) in North Charleston, SC. The Clemson IAC was the first IAC based in the state with the goal to serve the entire state. The Clemson IAC provided SMEs with no-cost energy assessments, trained the next generation of energy-savvy engineers, and provided outreach to non-participating SMEs. Project objectives were structured into five 12-month Budget Periods. In the first Budget Period, the primary objective was to establish methods and materials for Clemson IAC assessments, training, and outreach. In the remaining Budget Periods, the primary objectives were to perform assessments, train students, and pursue outreach to hard-to-reach SMEs that did not participate in energy assessments. Expected outcomes in the first Budget Period included the development of standard procedures for performing energy assessments, including data acquisition, processing, and communication both within the team and in assessment reports prepared for SMEs. Outcomes related to student training in the first Budget Period included detailed curriculum and internship plans for students pursuing the DOE IAC Certificate and energy-related Clemson University certificates. Outcomes in the first Budget Period also included the development of outreach materials and plans for outreach events. In Budget Periods 2 through 5, major expected outcomes are trained students and completed energy assessments and reports for SMEs. Decision points and Go-No Go criteria for the end of each Budget Period, presented in more detail below, are based on the number of students in training and the number of energy assessments performed.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Investing in STEM Benefits Community, Company, and Industry - 20243
Like many organizations and groups, the Department of Energy Environmental Management program and the nuclear industry are facing an aging employee population and record numbers of employee retirements. This 'silver tsunami' of retirees means the industry as a whole is recruiting graduates at a fast pace. So, how do we ensure the nuclear industry has a robust pipeline of graduates with the necessary background? Fluor Idaho's investment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education programs helps promote the next generation of technical professionals, benefiting both the company and the industry. Through community outreach initiatives and student mentoring programs, Fluor Idaho promotes kids' interest in STEM. The programs are designed to spark STEM interest in grade school and then foster and grow that interest through high school and higher education. After igniting student excitement about STEM topics in school, Fluor Idaho focuses on providing work-specific opportunities including mentoring and intern programs. These programs give students a better look at real-world job opportunities while still stimulating their interest in STEM. These programs ultimately provide career opportunities for the students and a pipeline of workers. Fluor Idaho's strategy for its summer interns has been to place students in a wide variety of projects - from the commissioning of a first-of-a-kind nuclear processing facility, to operating nuclear waste management facilities, to developing computer programs and applications - and give them responsibilities that make them feel like valued contributors. This approach has created a positive and rewarding summer-intern program experience for the students. Fluor Idaho's investment in its future today is reducing the knowledge gap - or cliff - that many contractors in the nuclear industry are facing. It's a worthwhile investment that is readily visible within its many cleanup projects. The next generation of technical professionals is making an impact now - benefiting both the company and the nuclear industry. This paper will review Fluor Idaho's programs, including STEM community outreach and education and mentoring programs. It will also present statistics about the reach of those programs and their successes. (authors)
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
Community College Energy Code Training Program
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) funded a series of research and training programs under the Advanced Building Construction with Energy Efficient Technologies and Practices (ABC) initiative. The aim is to develop new training programs to support the development of a skilled workforce in the building energy efficiency industry. In response, the University of Illinois Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC), in collaboration with State Energy Offices in Illinois, Hawaii, and Nevada, developed the Community College Energy Code Training Program. The program is designed to prepare a new generation of energy-literate professionals that understand energy efficiency and its relation to energy codes for new construction and existing buildings through: a) the development of a curriculum and innovative pedagogical materials, b) dissemination through a national network of state energy offices: c) outreach targeting Community College students and instructors.
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
Radiation Simulation using Wi-Fi Signal Strength and Frequency
For routine radiological operations, lost radioactive sources, decommissioning and cleanup of nuclear facilities, and radiological terrorist events such as Radioactive Dispersive Devices (RDDs) or Radiological Exposure Devices (REDs), individuals are tasked with accurately locating both point and distributed sources of radiation. Radiation workers must often practice these tasks, whether part of initial training or periodically as part of formal or informal exercises or drills. In such circumstances, it is desirable to have an accurate recreation of a radioactive source, including a method of detecting it, which does not include dangerous amounts of radiation. The goal of this research was to develop a radiation simulation technology that uses IEEE 802.11x W-LAN protocol, i.e. Wi-Fi sources and detectors for these, as an inexpensive, precise and accurate method of replicating sources of gamma radiation. For this work, existing 802.11x sources were used. Software was developed for use with an Android smartphone to detect the presence of these sources. The measurements followed the expected behavior as a function of distance from the sources, mimicking that of gamma radiation, thus demonstrating the fundamental principle of operation. The ultimate system will be used in an outreach program to interest students in the radiation protection field.
07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
IPPOG: a global network for particle physics outreach and education
We present the International Particle Physics Outreach Group (IPPOG), a global network dedicated to connecting students, educators, and the general public with the world of particle physics. In this paper, we outline the need to bridge the existing gap between the particle physics community and the wider audience, and we present the solutions that IPPOG has implemented to overcome it through three pillar Activities: the International Masterclasses and the Global Cosmics hands-on activities network, which have engaged together over 200,000 high-school students to date, and the curation of an Outreach Resource Database and web portal.
Abreu, Pedro [University of Lisboa (Portugal); IPP↗
Geothermal Collegiate Competition: Evolution and Impact
In 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of its inaugural National Geothermal Student Competition. The competition was open to all colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions in the United States, and was labeled as the first-ever to address geothermal education. The GeoVision, published in 2019 by the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), stated that improving geothermal energy education and outreach is critical in reducing risks and costs of geothermal technology deployment. The key actions included improving public education and outreach about geothermal energy and providing resources intended to attract and inform a skilled geothermal workforce. Student competitions in particular have the ability to increase awareness of renewable energy fields by engaging multi-disciplinary students in compelling design challenges to prepare them for careers in renewable energy. GTO, in partnership with an administration team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), currently supports the Geothermal Collegiate Competition (GCC), with the main objective of advancing and cultivating collegiate student knowledge and career interest in geothermal energy. The administrating team works toward growing the number of students and collegiate institutions engaged, as well as diversifying the scope of the student design challenges. The main intentions of this publication are documenting the competition’s evolution, setting a baseline for future GCC impact analysis and serving as a guide to other students’ competition design committees looking for ideas to capture and increase the interest of students in collegiate competitions.
Geothermal Collegiate Competition↗
A Practical Guide to E-waste Education and Events in Schools
The Practical Guide to E-waste Education and Events in Schools is a comprehensive resource that equips educators and outreach professionals to deliver impactful lessons on electronic waste (e-waste), critical materials, and battery recycling, while launching effective school-based e-waste recycling programs. It offers step-by-step guidance for starting and managing outreach efforts, including tips on student engagement, selecting recycling partners, planning collection logistics, creating promotional materials, and overcoming common challenges. The guide also supports curriculum development and scaling initiatives across schools to foster lasting recycling habits.
school outreach↗
Software on Mars [Slides]
This community outreach presentation for high school students discusses instrumentation and software developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory for NASA's Perseverance rover that landed on Mars February 2021.
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
Improving Fission Products at CARIBU: Near Field Detection (Q2/FY22 Quarterly Progress Report)
We continued our work on preparation for the upcoming branching ratio measurements. The CARIBU facility has not been delivering radioactive beams since January this year due to an issue with the magnet that is used for mass separation. The parts needed to be replaced to fix the issue has been since ordered, shipped from Germany, and installed at CARIBU. The CARIBU is now operational and the first experiments that are ran will be those that had to be cancelled in January due to the facility complications, and we are in a position to schedule our next sample collection. In the meantime, we have been continuing work on data analysis of fission product mass measurements in the Canadian Penning Trap. This analysis is now complete. We continue our outreach to recruit a graduate student who would be interested in working with us on this project. In the past month, we have a conversation with a potential student at UC Berkeley and Texas A&M. There students are still to decide if they would accept the offer to these graduate schools.
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
Data generated during the 2018 LAPSE-RATE campaign: an introduction and overview
Unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) offer innovative capabilities for providing new perspectives on the atmosphere, and therefore atmospheric scientists are rapidly expanding their use, particularly for studying the planetary boundary layer. In support of this expansion, from 14 to 20 July 2018 the International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely piloted Aircraft (ISARRA) hosted a community flight week, dubbed the Lower Atmospheric Profiling Studies at Elevation – a Remotely-piloted Aircraft Team Experiment (LAPSE-RATE; de Boer et al., 2020a). This field campaign spanned a 1-week deployment to Colorado's San Luis Valley, involving over 100 students, scientists, engineers, pilots, and outreach coordinators. These groups conducted intensive field operations using unmanned aircraft and ground-based assets to develop comprehensive datasets spanning a variety of scientific objectives, including a total of nearly 1300 research flights totaling over 250 flight hours. This article introduces this campaign and lays the groundwork for a special issue on the LAPSE-RATE project. The remainder of the special issue provides detailed overviews of the datasets collected and the platforms used to collect them. All of the datasets covered by this special issue have been uploaded to a LAPSE-RATE community set up at the Zenodo data archive (https://zenodo.org/communities/lapse-rate/, last access: 3 December 2020).
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
Final Report on the 2023 LaserNetUS Annual Meeting
LaserNetUS is a network of advanced laser facilities created by the Department of Energy Fusion Energy Sciences to provide greatly improved access to the most powerful lasers in North America. It is dedicated to the development of the high energy density physics workforce, especially the training and advancement of early career scientists. The network is helping to build a larger, better skilled and more diverse scientific community. The result of the work of LaserNetUS towards these goals was on display at the 2023 LaserNetUS Annual Meeting, held at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland on June 27-29, 2023 (Figure 1). The meeting had 216 participants, the largest sponsor/exhibitor participation of any LaserNetUS annual meeting, wide ranging plenary, invited, and contributed talks, a vigorous poster session, outreach to a diverse range of students, and two awards sessions.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
The Hydropower Game: An Interactive Learning Tool for the Future Hydropower Workforce
This report documents a Seedling project supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), conducted by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). The Seedling and Sapling Program provides small grants over short duration to enable early-stage research at national laboratories. This funding mechanism is intended to cultivate innovative ideas and expand research road maps in hydropower and marine energy technologies. Under this Seedling award, the project team developed an educational outreach tool, or “serious game”, built in Python and powered by the Pygame library, aimed at teaching fundamental hydropower concepts through an engaging, interactive learning experience. The game features multiple lessons covering several hydropower topics while allowing for expansion and customization in the instance of future funding availability: • Hydropower Plant Types: Players explore and compare the mechanics and applications of run-of-river, dam hydropower, and pumped-storage hydropower. • Flow Dynamics and Power Generation: Interactive tasks demonstrate how release rate and hydraulic head combine to determine power output. • Grid Operations and Load Following: Simulations illustrate how hydropower facilities respond to fluctuating electricity demand to balance the grid. • Market Integration: Levels scaffold understanding of how hydropower interfaces with the broader energy market, including operational and economic considerations. The tool was showcased at several science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outreach events, where it was demoed to students, educators, and the general public. These events provided valuable opportunities to collect feedback on the gameplay, storyline, and educational objectives from a wide audience. The game was presented at STEMapalooza, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, STEMCON, and Clean Currents 2025. Insights gathered during these demonstrations informed refinements to the game’s user experience and strengthened its effectiveness as an educational tool for teaching hydropower concepts. This report outlines the game’s design philosophy, educational objectives, technical implementation, user experience insights, and potential for broader deployment within educational and workforce development contexts. It emphasizes how gamified learning can demystify complex hydropower science and inspire interest in water-power technologies. The project’s success demonstrates the value of Seedling funding in fostering creative, lowcost educational tools that support DOE’s mission to advance energy literacy and innovation. The report concludes with recommendations for expanding the tool by adding new levels, integrating assessment metrics, and exploring commercialization or deployment pathways through future Sapling funding. The official webpage of the Hydropower Game, which includes a link to the educational tool, can be accessed at www.anl.gov/hydropower/hydropower-game.
13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
RCSB Protein Data bank: Tools for visualizing and understanding biological macromolecules in 3D
Abstract Now in its 52nd year of continuous operations, the Protein Data Bank (PDB) is the premiere open‐access global archive housing three‐dimensional (3D) biomolecular structure data. It is jointly managed by the Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB) partnership. The Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank (RCSB PDB) is funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and US Department of Energy and serves as the US data center for the wwPDB. RCSB PDB is also responsible for the security of PDB data in its role as wwPDB‐designated Archive Keeper. Every year, RCSB PDB serves tens of thousands of depositors of 3D macromolecular structure data (coming from macromolecular crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and micro‐electron diffraction). The RCSB PDB research‐focused web portal ( RCSB.org ) makes PDB data available at no charge and without usage restrictions to many millions of PDB data consumers around the world. The RCSB PDB training, outreach, and education web portal ( PDB101.RCSB.org ) serves nearly 700 K educators, students, and members of the public worldwide. This invited Tools Issue contribution describes how RCSB PDB (i) is organized; (ii) works with wwPDB partners to process new depositions; (iii) serves as the wwPDB‐designated Archive Keeper; (iv) enables exploration and 3D visualization of PDB data via RCSB.org ; and (v) supports training, outreach, and education via PDB101.RCSB.org . New tools and features at RCSB.org are presented using examples drawn from high‐resolution structural studies of proteins relevant to treatment of human cancers by targeting immune checkpoints.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
Protein Data Bank: A Comprehensive Review of 3D Structure Holdings and Worldwide Utilization by Researchers, Educators, and Students
The Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank (RCSB PDB), funded by the United States National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Energy, supports structural biologists and Protein Data Bank (PDB) data users around the world. The RCSB PDB, a founding member of the Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB) partnership, serves as the US data center for the global PDB archive housing experimentally-determined three-dimensional (3D) structure data for biological macromolecules. As the wwPDB-designated Archive Keeper, RCSB PDB is also responsible for the security of PDB data and weekly update of the archive. RCSB PDB serves tens of thousands of data depositors (using macromolecular crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and micro-electron diffraction) annually working on all permanently inhabited continents. RCSB PDB makes PDB data available from its research-focused web portal at no charge and without usage restrictions to many millions of PDB data consumers around the globe. It also provides educators, students, and the general public with an introduction to the PDB and related training materials through its outreach and education-focused web portal. This review article describes growth of the PDB, examines evolution of experimental methods for structure determination viewed through the lens of the PDB archive, and provides a detailed accounting of PDB archival holdings and their utilization by researchers, educators, and students worldwide.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
Activities at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to Advance Nuclear Radiation Science among Underrepresented STEM Students
The Partnership for Radiation Studies (PaRS) consortium is a collaboration between two minority-serving institutions and two U.S. national laboratories. The five-year consortium is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and it aims enhance workforce of underrepresented students in STEM disciplines. PaRS’ long-term goal is to train students for their prospective hiring in DOE laboratories and sites. As one of the two integral national laboratory partners, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is playing an integral role in achieving this goal via pertinent lectures, seminars, hands-on trainings, and outreach activities. This paper summarizes PNNL’s key activities and initiatives to train the next generation of underrepresented students in STEM disciplines.
Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program,↗