Energy Issues $40 Million to Provide STEM Training for Historically Underrepresented Groups
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm (C) speaks during a news conference marking six months since the signing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill with (L-R) Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on May 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Biden Administration cabinet members highlighted what they considered the successes of the infrastructure law. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
By
Frank Konkel
The funding comes from the Energy Department’s “Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce” initiative.
The Energy Department Wednesday announced $40 million in funding toward research opportunities to historically underrepresented groups in science, technology, education and math, or STEM, fields.
The funding will be used by historically black colleges and universities, minority-serving institutions and other select institutions in an effort to “diversify American leadership in the physical and climate sciences” through a variety of internships, training programs and mentorship opportunities, according to the Energy Department.
“Leveraging the full potential of American expertise to tackle our biggest challenges will require a diverse, equitable, and broad research community that includes the brilliant voices and minds of historically unrepresented groups,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. “This investment will provide hands-on experience to our nation’s future scientists to unlock the climate solutions that hold the key to a safer and cleaner future for all Americans.”
The RENEW initiative aims to provide hands-on training opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty at institutions underrepresented by the nation’s science and tech ecosystem. It makes use, in part, of the Energy Department’s national labs, user facilities and other research infrastructure. Energy expects the funding to improve the talent pool for a variety of mission-critical positions at the department, including those in physics, physical sciences, chemistry, materials science, computer science, applied mathematics and environmental science.
More information on individual funding opportunities is available here.