Through several unique grant initiatives totaling nearly $25 million, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is promoting diversity in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) higher education and related industries by investing in MinorityServing Institutions (MSIs).
These efforts, which are funneled through the department’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) MSIs Partnership Program (MSIPP), provide direct funding to historically underserved institutions in order to establish pipelines of diverse talent for STEM studies and future careers.
The EM MSIPP is designed to provide students and graduates of MSIs with hands-on education and experience through collaborations between these institutions and DOE national laboratories. This includes seven recent MSIPP grants awarded to MSIs nationally that are partnering with other public universities. Each grant focuses on a unique aspect of environmental management education and workforce development.
For example, the University of California, Merced, in collaboration with California State University, Fresno, received $2.88 million to promote experiential learning and the recruitment of environmental science and engineering students into the environmental management field.
Additionally, the University of California, Berkeley, partnered with Florida International University to establish a center of excellence for research and training in radioactive waste management, supported by a $3.6 million grant.
Florida A&M University, working with Kentucky State University and Clark Atlanta University, was awarded nearly $4.8 million to develop a geospatial artificial intelligence-enhanced curriculum for MSIs, integrating advanced technologies into environmental science education and preparing students for the evolving demands of the workforce.
Rutgers University, Newark, and California State University, Long Beach, will use $3 million in MSIPP funding to work by focusing on soil and groundwater remediation. Similarly, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and California State University, Fresno, will develop a soil and groundwater remediation workforce with their grant of $2.1 million.
New Mexico State University, working with the University of Texas, El Paso, received $4.83 million to develop new materials and processes for radioactive tank waste processing and workforce development. Meanwhile, Texas State University and Prairie View A&M University were awarded $3.52 million to conduct multidisciplinary research and workforce development on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Shortly before the MSIPP grants were announced, a panel of program leaders at the 2024 Waste Management Symposia focused on advancing the effort and promoting a diverse STEM workforce. The event highlighted the importance of hands-on education and real-world experience through collaborations between MSIs and DOE national laboratories.
Key discussions centered on integrating advanced technologies into environmental science curricula, developing interdisciplinary research programs, and providing robust support systems for students. Participants emphasized the need for a highly trained, skilled workforce to achieve the DOE’s environmental management missions.
Panelist Dameone Ferguson, EM’s diversity manager, highlighted the importance of a supportive campus ecosystem and the value of connecting with DOE resources. “The ability to be able to connect in with scientists, engineers and or HR professionals who may be able to help you get into a role and to help your career trajectory — all of those things complement one another when talking about ensuring … that [those] represented in this room have access to opportunity,” Ferguson said at the symposia.
Workforce development resources, such as the DOE Scholars Program and Pathways Recent Graduates Program, were showcased as vital for enhancing job readiness. The symposia also stressed the importance of understanding the federal budget process and obtaining certifications to advance in environmental management careers. Overall, the event reinforced the DOE’s commitment to supporting MSIs in cultivating the next generation of scientists and engineers.●
