RENEW Pathway Summer School students from the Fermilab and Brookhaven National Laboratories Summer School Exchange Program in 2023 stand in front of the detector of the MINERvA experiment (Main Injector Neutrino ExpeRiment to study V-A interactions) at Fermilab. Courtesy of the Fermilab and Brookhaven Summer School Exchange Program
Editor’s note: The following funding announcement was issued by the U.S. Department of Energy. The DOE’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility and Brookhaven National Laboratory are partnering to host one of the five awarded projects. The Big Data Science and Applications Summer School at Brookhaven and Jefferson Labs offers students an immersive experience in the latest computational science tools, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence applications in big data analysis. Designed to increase access, participation and representation among underserved communities in STEM, the program will help participants develop a hands-on understanding of how research collaborations between different institutions work in a hybrid environment. For more information about Jefferson Lab’s role in the program, contact Michelle Alvarez, malvarez@jlab.org.
Students are from underrepresented and underserved groups
A total of 165 students will spend next summer learning, networking, and conducting scientific research at seven of the nation’s national laboratories via funding from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW) initiative.
All of the students are in high school, are recent high school graduates, or early undergraduate students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). They will be participating in the RENEW Pathways Summer School (PSS) program. The PSS program, sponsored by the Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) at the Office of Science, works to diversify the STEM talent pool via hands-on learning opportunities and inclusive mentorship at DOE national laboratories and user facilities.
“A diverse workforce now and into the future is absolutely essential if we are going to solve the huge scientific challenges we are facing,” said Harriet Kung, Acting Director of the DOE Office of Science. “These pathway summer schools are a wonderful and innovative way to bring talented young individuals into our nation’s scientific powerhouses, our national laboratories. The goal is that they will see the many different opportunities available and avenues to pursue a career in science.”
The awards will go to the following labs:
- Argonne National Laboratory: A Taste of Technical Roles: A Community College Pathway Summer School
- Brookhaven National Laboratory and Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility: Big Data Science and Applications Summer School at Brookhaven and Jefferson Labs
- Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory: Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship
- Los Alamos National Laboratory: BEAM: Bridging Education in Optics and Applied STEM
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory: NREL-SLAC Pathway Summer School: Exploring Chemistry, Transforming Communities
The new PSS groups will join a consortium of intentional, concerted, and continued efforts across the DOE national laboratories to explore, initiate, and sustain inclusive pathways for young students to enter the science and technology workforce in support of the DOE mission.
The Pathways Summer Schools leverage existing partnerships between the DOE national laboratories and local, regional, national organizations supporting underrepresented groups in STEM to recruit participants. A total of 12 national labs will be conducting 16 Pathways Summer Schools in the upcoming year (this cohort includes seven national labs running five summer schools). Students will participate in a range of activities to increase their knowledge and understanding of STEM and promote their STEM identity.
Examples include hands-on learning guided by a mentor or mentoring team, networking with mentors and other summer school participants, and professional development activities. The summer schools will take place during Summer of 2025.
Find out more about the many opportunities available to students, faculty, and researchers at the Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists website.
Watch a video of past Summer School students talking about their experiences: www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PczMXI0ss
Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time.