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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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A presentation describing several geology outreach tools to assist with primary school education of fundamental geology topics. Includes two devices developed at NETL for hands-on outreach events.
The Center for Bioenergy Innovation Outreach and Workforce Development Bioproduct Activity Kits includes gackground, materials, and other information for 5 different hands-on activities that can be used in outreach events with the public to cultivate interest and knowledge in biomass- and bioproduct-related scientific concepts used in CBI. The main document includes suggestions for kit materials, talking points, documentation that can be displayed or printed; and supplementary files include the board game and cards that can be printed for use. The kits are designed for various age groups and can be adapted for different needs, audiences, and standards.
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.
The Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach Plan provides a comprehensive framework for engaging stakeholders of the Illinois Storage Corridor (ISC) project. The ISC project is a CarbonSAFE Phase III project designed to facilitate commercial deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in Illinois. The project aims to establish a multi-industry carbon storage corridor through development of storage sites near the One Earth Energy (OEE) ethanol production facility in north-central Illinois and the Prairie State Generating Company (PSGC) coal-fired power plant in south-central Illinois, with combined annual CO 2 capture ultimately exceeding 8.6 million tons per year. Stakeholder engagement is recognized as a critical component for successful CCUS deployment, alongside technical and economic considerations. As an emerging technology, CCUS may not be well understood by the general population, and lack of public awareness can lead to opposition that poses significant barriers to project development. This plan addresses this challenge through systematic stakeholder identification, analysis, planning, and implementation of engagement actions. The plan is structured around four main sections: Communication, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, and Environmental Justice. Activities will be conducted under Tasks 1 and 4 of the project's Statement of Project Objectives, with two key subtasks: (1) developing a stakeholder analysis and engagement plan through face-to-face meetings, facilitated discussions, and surveys; and (2) implementing stakeholder engagement and public outreach activities including meetings, open houses, and permit hearings. The Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) will manage engagement activities following DOE-NETL best practices, focusing on providing objective, fact-based information about CCUS and the ISC project. A comprehensive Communication Plan establishes protocols for media contacts, site visits, and crisis communications. The stakeholder analysis follows a structured workflow process divided into Pre-feasibility and Feasibility phases, incorporating contextual understanding, assessment, data collection, and analysis. Key stakeholder groups include government bodies, educational organizations, conservation and environmental groups, agricultural communities, and religious organizations. The plan addresses common stakeholder questions regarding project risks, benefits, safety, property values, liability, and environmental impacts. Recommendations emphasize developing clear messaging, creating informational materials, and preparing to address both project-specific and broader environmental concerns to ensure transparent communication and build stakeholder support throughout project implementation.
This paper outlines a replicable framework for assessing gaps, reach, and the impact of technical assistance (TA) programs, using the Energy to Communities (E2C) Gap Region Outreach Project as a case study. By applying qualitative social science methods, this framework provides tools for effectively engaging with underrepresented regions, identifying barriers to participation, and tailoring solutions to local needs. The study highlights the importance of leveraging stakeholder insights to address disparities in program engagement and participation, offering actionable recommendations to enhance program responsiveness and optimize resource allocation. This approach serves as a guide for practitioners seeking to expand the reach and effectiveness of federally funded TA programs while ensuring alignment with community priorities and capacity needs.
On March 24th, 2026, under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) staff hosted the Energy Storage Siting & Permitting Outreach Workshop at PNNL’s Grid Storage Launchpad (GSL) facility in Richland, Washington. The workshop convened a cohort of state and regional stakeholders from across the country to build a shared understanding of energy storage technologies, regulatory frameworks, and best practices for engaging in the permitting process. Participants left with a deeper understanding of energy storage technologies, grid uses and benefits, interconnection and regulatory processes, battery safety standards and risk management, and local engagement strategies and approaches. The workshop concluded with a guided tour of the GSL for hands-on exposure to energy storage research and development. The workshop had 17 external participants. The attendees represented a range of backgrounds, including state and local governments, nonprofits or other local organizations, project developers, and utility stakeholders.
Millions of Americans have experienced the benefits of transitioning to solar, such as money saved on electricity bills and reduced environmental impact. However, many households have been overlooked and left out of this energy transition due to limited funds, low credit scores, language barriers, or lack of solar adoption from neighbors and other community members. Leading organizations have recognized this gap in communications and have started to target more diverse audiences in their solar marketing campaigns. This project outlines three years of American-Made prize funding, recognizing solar industry communications campaigns that demonstrate excellence in strategic, effective, and meaningful communication to diverse audiences across digital, video, marketing, mobile, print, social media, and more.
Wave energy converters are a nascent energy generation technology that harnesses the power in ocean waves. To assist in communicating both fundamental and complex concepts of wave energy, a small-scale portable wave tank and wave energy converter have been developed. The system has been designed using commercial off-the-shelf components, and all design hardware and software are openly available for replication. This project builds on prior research conducted at Sandia National Laboratories, particularly in the areas of WEC device design and control systems. By showcasing the principles of causal feedback control and innovative device design, SIWEED not only serves as a practical demonstration tool but also enhances the educational experience for users. This paper presents the detailed system design of this tool. Furthermore, via testing and analysis, we demonstrate the basic functionality of the system.
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The Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program provides expertise and tools to local and regional governments, Tribes, community-based organizations, municipal utilities, and rural electric cooperatives to help them achieve their clean energy goals. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched C2C in 2022, following engagement with more than 150 stakeholders representing 95 communities in 40 states and 6 Tribes. The program offers three levels of support: expert match, peer-learning cohorts, and in-depth partnerships. In its first year, C2C worked with over 150 communities. To ensure broad participation, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) examined regional representation. This analysis revealed that four regions are under-represented in program participation: Gulf South, Appalachia, Midwest, and Northern Plains. To help address these gaps, NREL led an effort to identify barriers faced by potential C2C participants from these regions and develop strategies to facilitate participation. This document summarizes findings from this effort and provides recommendations for program changes.
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The report marks the team’s completion of all required tasks and milestones. Work completed for Task 1 (Technical and Economic Feasibility Assessment & Procurement Drafting) included development of analysis and design model; completion of technical, economic, and environmental assessments; and technical outreach and coalition design. Components for Task 2 (Outreach & Community Engagement) involved broad outreach and community-engagement efforts (including stakeholder meetings and a webinar as well as development of a formal engagement plan) and development of a web page and a case study. For Task 3 (Workforce Transition, Development, & Training Plan), the team undertook a formal statewide geothermal workforce needs assessment, developed corresponding recommendations for both the state as a whole and the Wallingford project, and held several workshops. For Task 4 (Project Management & Data Sharing), the team drafted a data-sharing plan.
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.
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.
This is the 2023 report for the Clean Cities and Communities (CC&C) partnership. It tracks the metrics that have been reported by individual coalitions and aggregated to the national level. It looks at the various outreach activities, grant activities, and implementation of clean transportation technologies. Such technologies include natural gas vehicles, electric vehicles, propane vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, biodiesel, ethanol, idle reduction technologies, fuel economy improvement technologies, vehicle-miles-traveled reduction technologies, and off-road technologies. The CC&C partnership had an energy use impact of over 1 billion gallons in 2023 and reduced emissions by nine million tons. Outreach, engagement, and training activities increased 18% from last year.
The Southwest Regional Partnership on Carbon Sequestration (SWP) is one of 7 regional partnerships formed in 2003 under the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs) initiative. The overall purpose of the initiative was to help determine and implement the technology, infrastructure, and regulations most appropriate to promote carbon storage in different regions of the country. Covering Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and parts of Texas, Wyoming, and Kansas, the SWP evaluated regional carbon storage and utilization potential and focused on technologies and sites that could complement the region’s strong position in energy production. The project progressed through three phases: • Phase I (2003–2005): Characterized regional geologic formations and CO 2 sources, assessed sequestration potential, and identified pilot test sites. • Phase II (2005–2013): Conducted small-scale field tests to validate sequestration methods, including geologic and terrestrial projects. • Phase III (2008–2022): Demonstrated large-scale CO 2 injection at a commercial oil field to test monitoring, verification, and long-term storage strategies. This report covers Phase III. The final project site, the Farnsworth Unit (FWU) in Texas, provided real-world testing of reservoir characterization, monitoring, and risk evaluation tools and processes that could be used in any commercial scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) project. Extensive data collection and analysis helped refine best practices for reservoir characterization, injection monitoring, and storage verification. The SWP contributed to national databases, DOE best practice manuals, and regional geological assessments to support future sequestration efforts. Key lessons learned include the importance of robust data management, strategic site selection, regulatory navigation, and effective industry collaboration. The project’s findings will inform ongoing and future carbon storage initiatives. Task 1 (Regional Characterization) • The SWP continued to participate in national outreach efforts and NATCARB. • The SWP evaluated multiple potential sites before selecting the FWU as the primary field test location. Task 2 (Public Outreach and Education) • The SWP contributed to national databases, DOE best practice manuals, and regional geological assessments to support future sequestration efforts. Task 3 (Permitting and Regulatory Compliance) • The SWP ensured compliance with federal and state regulations, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. • The SWP obtained all necessary permits for drilling, injection, and monitoring activities. Task 4 (Site Characterization and Planning) • The SWP developed work plans for four key activities: characterization, simulation, monitoring and verification, and risk evaluation. • The SWP collected and synthesized legacy data from multiple sources to build initial static geological models and dynamic reservoir models demonstrating project feasibility. • The SWP conducted an initial risk evaluation and developed mitigation plans. Task 5 (Field Operations and Data Collection) • The SWP drilled, logged, and cored three characterization wells to gather critical subsurface data. • The SWP conducted multiple geophysical surveys, including 3D seismic, crosswell seismic, and vertical seismic profiling, to improve reservoir characterization. Task 6 (Monitoring and Verification) • The SWP performed extensive geological characterization using data from characterization wells and seismic surveys. • The SWP established a surface monitoring network to track CO 2 flux in soil gas, groundwater chemistry, and near-surface atmospheric CO 2 levels. • The SWP built and refined reservoir models to study the effects of relative permeability on simulation behavior and improve calibration with experimental data. Task 7 (Risk Assessment and Model Refinement) • The SWP conducted multiple studies to evaluate reservoir integrity, predict CO 2 plume behavior and improve predictive modeling capabilities. • The SWP refined geological models and used them to enhance the accuracy of simulation models. • The SWP continued quantitative risk assessment of top-ranked risks and strengthened the link between qualitative and quantitative risk methodologies.
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.