The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Monday that it has approved nearly $25 million in grant funding to promote diversity and sustainability within the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workforce. Approved through the DOE Office of Environmental Management’s (EM) Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Partnership Program, the seven awardee institutions — which are spread throughout the country — will each partner with at least one additional university to advance DEI in STEM education and career opportunities.
Award recipients include the University of California Berkeley and Merced campuses, who will pair with California State University Fresno and Florida International University, respectively. The former group will use the funds to promote experiential learning opportunities and diverse recruitment to EM, while the latter pair will advance training and research in radioactive waste management.
Similarly, institutions in Florida, New Jersey, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas have also been recognized for their efforts in promoting diversity and innovation in environmental management. Projects range from geospatial-artificial intelligence curriculum development to soil and groundwater remediation.
By investing in MSIs and supporting initiatives that address environmental sustainability, EM aims to create a robust pipeline of talent from underrepresented groups. The hope is that this will help protect the environment into the future and foster the next generation of diverse leaders in the field. The awards will go into effect April 1 and extend for three years.
