In celebration of Earth Day 2022, NETL will join with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) other national laboratories for a daylong showcase of the department’s commitment to the planet and research being pursued to reach a sustainable energy future.

National Lab Earth Day will be a virtual “sunrise-to-sunset” event that will begin on the East Coast and conclude on the West Coast by highlighting all 17 DOE national laboratories through tours, activities, short talks and panels designed to provide engaging experiences and promote the laboratory complex.

NETL’s contribution to National Lab Earth Day will be a virtual tour across the Lab’s facilities in Albany, Oregon; Morgantown, West Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At these sites, award-winning scientists and engineers are striving to ensure affordable, abundant and reliable energy while developing technologies to manage carbon emissions and enable environmental sustainability.

Examples of the Lab’s work include research into carbon management, microwave chemical conversion, fuel cells, critical mineral and rare earth element sustainable sourcing and others. Alexandra Hakala, Ph.D., senior fellow for geologic and environmental systems at NETL, will represent the Lab in a Career Panel with colleagues from across DOE to share career experiences and information.

“With NETL’s goal of realizing the vision of a clean energy future with net-zero carbon emissions from the power sector by 2030 and a net-zero economy by 2050, Earth Day presents a splendid opportunity to showcase what our Lab is all about,” said NETL’s Ken Mechling, coordinator, STEM Education & Outreach Program. “This collective celebration of energy and environmental research across the national laboratory complex will demonstrate the commitment, excitement and importance of STEM with our local and national communities.” 

These educational presentations span from kindergarten to the 12th grade and beyond. All are invited. Sessions throughout the day will feature lab-specific presentations, such as a demonstration of wind energy production by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and at-home recycling techniques presented by Argonne National Laboratory, among others. Virtual presentations with a multi-lab focus include:

·       A Day in the Life: Researchers at National Labs — A moderated panel with national laboratory researchers. Learn about their career pathways and the work they do now.

·       Ask a Scientist with the National Labs — Have questions about the environment or research at the National Labs? Ask here!

The full agenda for National Lab Earth Day can be viewed here. For more information, visit energy.gov/EarthDay.

NETL is a DOE national laboratory that drives innovation and delivers technological solutions for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future. By leveraging its world-class talent and research facilities, NETL is ensuring affordable, abundant and reliable energy that drives a robust economy and national security, while developing technologies to manage carbon across the full life cycle, enabling environmental sustainability for all Americans.