Friday 7 September 2012

US $1.09m fund to inspire careers in energy

Two US organisations have been awarded $1.08 million (£680,000) to inspire high school students towards a career in the cleantech industry.

The National Science Foundation provided the funding for a three-year pilot-program called GreenTECH to build students’ interest in renewable energy, sustainable design and the green economy.

Non-profit groups Solar One and MOUSE will work with the students at four different New York schools and teach them about making their school buildings more energy efficient and sustainable.

Students will be able to offer recommendations on specific changes that can be made to the buildings over the three-year course and work on “green” projects in their communities.

Chris Collins, Executive Director of Solar One said: “The goal of GreenTECH is to blend our new Green Design Lab curriculum, which teaches students about things like the science of energy or building performance, with the incredible empowerment and computer literacy MOUSE give to students. Students will learn they can solve the environmental issues in their schools and neighbourhoods and come to believe that science and technology is really cool, and say – hey, I’d like to do that, I’d like to become a scientist or engineer who improves the environment.”

The pilot programme is set to start next month.