Inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and other STEM professionals means showing children and youth how science and math form the foundation of the world around us. It means demonstrating to middle and high school students how these fields are fun and fascinating, and it means welcoming college and graduate students into the lab to advance their research skills and instill a passion for lifelong learning. NETL researchers are proud to share their expertise and STEM enthusiasm with students in our local areas. Here are few examples of how NETL scientists and engineers are making a difference in their communities.

Having Fun with Fluidization in Pennsylvania
NETL researcher Samuel Bayham, Ph.D., shared his work in chemical looping and what interested him in a STEM career with nearly 275 students at the Albert Gallatin Area School District Fifth Grade Career Fair held Nov. 20, 2018, near Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The event was designed to showcase career options in today’s workforce and featured a broad range of professions — from truck drivers, to potters, to nurses — including Bayham, a chemical engineer with NETL. At the event, Sam spoke with multiple groups of 20 students as they traveled through the various career stations. Bayham talked to the fifth graders about what he does in the lab and then illuminated the discussion with a working interactive demonstration. Using glass beads, a packed column and a shop vac, Bayham created a working fluidized bed and the children were able to drop marbles and coins into the bed to understand the concepts of density and fluidization.

Bayham said the event was rewarding from multiple perspectives.

“It was fun to interact with the students and see their reaction to the demonstrations. Many of the kids, and even the teachers, were amazed that you could turn a simple column of powdered solids into fluid. It was really rewarding to see the students get excited about science and the concepts click. The event reminded me that as a researcher I am privileged to have a career where I am constantly learning, building things, and making discoveries, and I’m glad I could share that with the students.”

Inspiring Future Scientists and Engineers in West Virginia 
In West Virginia, NETL researchers Dustin Crandall, Ph.D., of the Reservoir Engineering Team and Don Ferguson, Ph.D., of the Thermal Sciences Team took their expertise to the WV Makes Festival Oct. 5, 2018, at the Memorial Student Center of Marshall University in Huntington. WV Makes celebrates ingenuity and creativity and was held in conjunction with National Manufacturing Day. Ferguson and Crandall represented the Lab and showcased its strengths and capabilities to about 1,000 students, parents and teachers attending to learn about rewarding careers in manufacturing.

“We were glad to take part in this event,” Crandall said. “It was a great opportunity to show the community the work we’re doing at NETL while showing students what’s really cool about science and math. These are fields that are very important for the state’s economy and our future workforce, so inspiring West Virginia students to possibly pursue careers in STEM is valuable.”

Crandall and Ferguson brought hands-on experiments specific to the work they do in the lab, such as a virtual reality system that allowed visitors to “step inside” rock pores and a desktop wind tunnel for investigating aerodynamics related to advanced turbine systems. Other activities included a model of a rotating detonation engine — a more fuel-efficient combustion engine being researched at NETL, a 3-D scanner that illustrates how technology can be used to generate models of the real world, and a demonstration of energy transfer using a bicycle with an installed power meter.

Mentoring Next-Generation Scientists in Albany
NETL’s Circe Verba, Ph.D., helped STEM students reach the next level when she recently participated in Oregon State University’s (OSU) Science Pro event. As a professional research geologist, Verba was a valuable resource to students seeking to advance their career development. She shared the story of her professional journey along with advice on navigating career paths. She also spoke with students about NETL’s educational and career opportunities, including fellowships.

Verba explained that her own career benefitted from her experience as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) fellow.

“Being in the ORISE program illustrated for me the true impact a really good mentor can have on your passion for your work and your success in the field. This is really important for scientists starting out. I was very fortunate to have outstanding mentors, and I feel it’s my duty to carry on this valuable outreach. It helps the students, but it’s also critical to our profession and ensuring the next generation is well-trained to take on research challenges.” 

The OSU Science Pro event, which took place Jan. 14, 2019, connected students with alumni, professionals and community partners to increase exposure to career options, develop strategies for entering science fields of interest and cultivate their breadth of professional networks.

In another event with OSU, Verba worked with the College of Science on the first Mid-Williamette STEM Mentoring Café — a DOE role model training and speed-mentoring program aimed at inspiring historically underrepresented and underserved populations to consider STEM disciplines by engaging students in interactive demonstrations and show-and-tell chats with STEM role models about their careers.
Verba’s outreach with OSU is just one example of her efforts to engage the next generation. Since 2016, she has served as a STEM champion at more than 20 events, including lab tours, science nights, career fairs and science talks.

NETL STEM Ambassadors
The activities featured here are just a few examples of NETL scientists and engineers sowing the seeds of science in their communities. The Lab is also embarking on a new initiative to develop a team of STEM Ambassadors to talk to area students about working in STEM fields, participate in career discovery events, demonstrate hands-on exhibits, and spread the word about NETL’s undergraduate and graduate education programs to help tomorrow’s STEM professional gain a foothold in the field. The STEM Ambassadors will help inspire the next generation of scientists, researchers and engineers and amplify NETL’s efforts to benefit the surrounding communities.

NETL’s STEM outreach efforts aim to inspire and train the next generation of researchers, scientists and engineers who will seek technological solutions to America’s energy challenges. Learn more about NETL’s K-12 STEM Education and Outreach program here.