Energizing

STEM

N O V E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 21
Disclaimer

Any content or opinions expressed in this 

webinar are not that of the U.S. Department 

of Education nor an endorsement of any 

persons, products, programs, or policies 

mentioned herein.
www.ed.gov/STEM

• Grants

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U.S. Climate Goals

Reducing 

greenhouse gas 

pollution from 2005 

levels by 50-52% in 

2030 

1

Creating a carbon 

pollution-free power 

sector by 2035

2

Reaching net-zero 

emissions economywide by no later 

than 2050

3
Climate Science Series

Nov. 30 - Energizing STEM: U.S. Department of 

Energy (DOE)

Dec. 9 - Environmental Literacy: National Oceanic & 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Jan. 19 - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Dr. Arthur 

McMahan

Senior Associate Director

White House Initiative on Advancing 

Educational Equity, Excellence, and 

Economic Opportunity through 

Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities (HBCUs)
Secretary 

Jennifer M. 

Granholm

U . S . D EPA R T MEN T OF 

EN ER GY

Kerene N. Tayloe, Esq

Consultant

Office of Economic Impact and Diversity

U.S. Department of Energy
Inclusive Energy 

Innovation Prize

https://americanmadechallenges.org/inclusiveenergyinnovation/

https://www.herox.com/InclusiveEnergyInnovationPrize
11

Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize Summary 

• Enable an inclusive and just entrepreneurial 

innovation ecosystem in climate and energy 

technologies. 

• Phase One: Ten awards of $200,000 each to 

organizations for activities related to climate 

and clean energy that support, build trust, 

and strengthen relationships and 

partnerships with disadvantaged 

communities. Submissions close February 

25, 2022 

• Phase Two: Combined pool of $500,000 

awarded to 2-3 Phase One winners based on 

performance during Phase One.

American Made Challenge | Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize
12

Prize Goals

Enable clean energy and climate innovation, and entrepreneurship

programming and capabilities at colleges and universities that serve large 

populations of students underrepresented in STEM, Minority Serving 

Institutions (MSIs), community colleges, and undergraduate institutions.

Create or increase participation in clean energy and climate-smart job 

training and job placement/hiring, including programs that target 

participation from disadvantaged communities, including formerly 

incarcerated individuals and youth transitioning out of foster care. Workforce 

training could cover identifying energy efficiencies and greenhouse gas 

inventories, renewable energy manufacturing, and deployment.

American Made Challenge | Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize
13

Prize Goals Continued ...

Foster grassroots innovationrelated to just and equitable clean energy deployment 

through activities focusing on community-centric networks and bottom-up solutions 

for sustainable development, based on the needs of the communities involved. 

Identify and fund activities that will help disadvantaged communities become aware 

of, apply into, or otherwise secure DOE funding or other federal, state, local 

government or private (for-profit or nonprofit) funding, in support of the 

government’s Justice40 goals.

Enable the development of replicable clean energy transitions that deliver just and 

equitable benefits to disadvantaged communities in support of the government’s 

Justice40 goals. 

American Made Challenge | Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize
14

How to Enter

• Prize will be scored based on:

• 3-minute Video Pitch

• 5000-word Impact Plan

• There are four criteria that need to be addressed in the three-minute 

video pitch and the impact plan: 

• Criterion 1: Experience in Engaging and Supporting Disadvantaged Communities 

• Criterion 2: Proposed Activities During Phase One of the Prize 

• Criterion 3: Resources and Capabilities to Execute Prize Goals 

• Criterion 4: Vision and Anticipated Long-Term Impacts 

• Details in the rules document: 

https://americanmadechallenges.org/inclusiveenergyinnovation/docs/r

ules/Inclusive_Energy_Innovation_Prize_Official_Rules.pdf

American Made Challenge | Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize
David Canty

Program Manager

Minority Serving Institutions 

Partnership Program

National Nuclear Security 

Administration

U.S. Department of Energy
Alexander GodinezRobinson

Program Manager

Minority Serving Institutions Internship Program

National Nuclear Security Administration

U.S. Department of Energy
INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

Minority Serving 

Institutions Partnership 

Program
INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

MSIPP Mission

Mission: Create and foster a 

sustainable STEM-pipeline that 

prepares a diverse workforce of 

world class talent through strategic 

partnerships between Minority 

Serving Institutions and the 

Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). MSIPP

Consortia

Student 

Internships

Strengthen and 

expand MSI STEM 

educational and 

research capacity 

in NSE mission 

areas.

Target 

collaborations 

between MSIs and 

the NSE that that 

provide MSIs direct 

access to NSE 

STEM resources.

Grow the number 

of 

underrepresented 

minority (MSIPP) 

students who 

graduate with 

STEM degrees.

Grow the number 

of 

underrepresented 

minority (MSIPP) 

graduates and 

post-doctoral 

students hired into 

the NSE workforce.

18
INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

MSIPP Partners 

24 

Consortia 46 MSIs

13 

Lab/Plant 

Partners

Over 240 

Interns

277 

MSIPP 

courses

92 K-12 

Activities

8 New 

Degree 

Programs

19
INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

MSIPP Student Pipeline Experiences 

MSIPP Student Spotlight- Alta C. Bailey

Kansas City National Security Campus 

Years at KCNSC: September 2018-Present 

Years at ORNL: February 2017-June 2017, May 2016-August 2016 

Degree: MA, BS, Chemical Engineering (2018, 2013) 

Years in MSIPP: 2016-2018, North Carolina A&T State University

“In my two short years at KCNSC, I can say 

that I’ve not only been stretched beyond 

my degree’s traditional boundaries, but 

also I’ve been challenged to build my skill 

set in multiple areas where I had no prior 

experience. Coming in I knew, through 

candid conversations had with KCNSC 

employees supporting MSIPP, that this was 

a place where I was going to be technically 

challenged, professionally developed, and 

supported to become my best self. Through 

MSIPP I’ve been fortunate to work at the 

KCNSC.”

NNSA Graduate Fellowship Program 

cultivates partnerships with MSIPP 

Institutions

2019

• 6

2020

• 9

2021

• 4

20
INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

NNSA Minority Serving 

Institutions Internship 

Program (NNSA-MSIIP)
INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

Overview

NNSA Minority Serving Institutions Internship Program (NNSA-MSIIP)

MSIIP supports a mission priority of the National Nuclear Security 

Administration (NNSA) to strengthen key science, technology, and 

engineering capabilities, and enhance its career and leadership pipeline. 

MSIIP offers talented undergraduate and graduate students internship 

positions within the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). Interns may be 

assigned projects related to research, technical or policy, business and 

government relations. 

Internships include student stipends, housing and commuting stipend 

supplements, and inbound/outbound transportation allowance. 

22
INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

Major Program Enhancements FY2022

23

• Short – 12 weeks (full-time participation expected)

• Long – One year (full-time during summer and full 

or part-time during academic year)

Internship Duration

• In person, hybrid, and virtual positions based on 

site guidance Flexibility

Needs Assessment • Tailored to projects and organizational need

• Open to undergraduate and graduate students 

currently enrolled at a Minority Serving Institution

• Open to all academic backgrounds

Eligibility

• Possible for long-term interns ONLY, on a caseby-case basis, and if necessary Clearances
INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

Program Benefits

Stipends In-Person/Hybrid Interns Virtual Interns

Full-time, based on 40-hour 

work week:

• Undergraduate students: 

$750 p/w

• Graduate Students: $950 p/w

• Inbound/Outbound Travel 

Allowance: Up to $1,000

• Housing Paid

• Commuting Stipend 

Supplement: $30/week

(Relocating more than 50-

miles, during the summer only)

Remote Participation 

Stipend Supplement: 

$150/week (during 

summer only)

24
INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

Program Timeline 

Needs 

Assessment 

Closes 

December 8, 

2021

Application 

Period Opens

December 15, 

2021

Application 

Period 

Closes

February 1, 

2022

Notification 

of Selections

March 11, 

2022

Students 

Submit 

Confirmation of 

Acceptance to 

Appointment 

March 15, 2022

Appointment 

Schedules 

and Housing 

Confirmed; 

Onboarding

April 2022

Internships 

Begin

June 6, 

2022
INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

Application

All applications are received and processed via the Zintellect online application system.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Have a minimum undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

• Be a US citizen.

• Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited Minority 

Serving Institutions (MSI). Applicants must provide proof of enrollment at the time of 

application.

• Be able to commit to the duration of their internship program: Short-term (12 weeks, fulltime, during summer); Long-term (12-months, full-time during summer, part-time during 

the academic year)

26
INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

POCs and Contact Information

• David Canty, MSIPP Program Manager, 

David.Canty@nnsa.doe.gov

• Alexander Godinez-Robinson, NNSA MSIIP Program Manager, 

msiip@nnsa.doe.gov

27
Amanda 

Joyce 

Office of Cybersecurity, Energy 

Security and Emergency Response

Argonne National Laboratory

U.S. Department of Education
CYBERFORCE 

COMPETITION

HTTPS://CYBERFORCECOMPETITION.COM

er ht jht yhy

AMANDA JOYCE

Group Lead - Cyber Research 

amanda@anl.gov

November 30, 2021
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

▪ Argonne National Laboratory's work was supported by the U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of Science, under contract DE-AC02-06CH11357 and the Office of 

Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response.

30
CYBERFORCE COMPETITION® OVERVIEW

Overview

▪ The CyberForce Competition is a daylong scenario-based competition that 

requires students to defend simulated 

cyber-physical infrastructure against 

professional red-team attackers with 

realistic anomalies and constraints. 

▪ Team Structure

– Blue Team (defenders)

– Red Team (attackers)

– White Team (administrators)

– Green Team (users)

– Orange Team (C-suite)

31
CYBERFORCE COMPETITION GOALS

Goals

▪ Provide a workforce development 

platform not only for students, but 

also for industry and government 

professionals

▪ Increase awareness into the critical 

infrastructure and cyber security 

nexus

▪ Increase government/industry 

engagement

▪ Provide recruiting opportunities for 

top tier cyber talent

32
2016

33
2017

34
APRIL 2018

35
DECEMBER 2018

36
2019

37
2020

38
2021

39
COMPETITION OVER TIME

40
NIST NICE FRAMEWORK

▪ The entire competition is mapped to the NIST NICE Framework competency 

areas.

▪ Students are provided report cards at the end of their proficiencies. 

41
CONTACT INFORMATION

Amanda Joyce

▪ CyberForce® Program Director

▪ amanda@anl.gov

42
Holly Jamesen Carr 

Director 

Solar Decathlon

Building Technologies Office

U.S. Department of Energy 

45

Solar Decathlon® is 

a collegiate competition

that prepares the next 

generation

of building professionals 

to design and construct

high-performance, low-

carbon buildings 

powered by renewables.
46
47

Expanding Across the Globe

international 

competitions

6

50,000+

participating

students
48

Solar Decathlon Impact Fast Facts

272

Collegiate Institutions

35

Countries

25,000+ 

Collegiate 

Participants

657 

Collegiate Teams

46

U.S. States

12 

International Solar 

Decathlon events

20

Years of Impact!
49

Build Challenge Houses

Waterloo CU Boulder Weber

State

Netherlands Las Vegas Chile

Kansas State Illinois U of Denver
50

Onsite Measurements
51

Presentations to Juries

115 student team presentations to juries
52

Solar Decathlon Virtual Village
53

2020 Build Challenge Overall Winners

2nd Place

Warrior Home

University of Waterloo

1st Place

SPARC House

University of Colorado, 

Boulder

3rd Place

Mojave Bloom

University of Nevada, 

Las Vegas
54
55

2020-2023 Solar Decathlon Timeline (U.S.)
56

2022-23 Solar Decathlon Teams

Quick Stats

2019/2020 Solar 

Decathlon 

Program

2022/2023 Solar 

Decathlon 

Program

Teams 90 133

Institutions 75 107

New Institutions 17 38

Returning Institutions 58 69

Countries 17 20

US States 27 29

Minority-Serving Institutions 10 21

Community Colleges 2 4

Institutions Transitioned from Design Challenge 1 12

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2019/2020 2022/2023

Total Teams in Program

Design Challenge Build Challenge
57

Thank you!

Holly Carr

holly.carr@ee.doe.gov

solardecathlon@nrel.gov

www.solardecathlon.gov

#solardecathlon

#sdlivingthedream
Melinda 

Higgins

Nuclear Energy Tribal STEM Advisor 

CNI, LLC

Office of Nuclear Energy

U.S. Department of Energy
Energizing STEM

U.S. Department of Education Webinar

November 30 , 2021

Melinda Higgins

Tribal STEM Advisor

CNI LLC./Office of Nuclear Energy

U.S. Department of Energy
60 energy.gov/ne

Tribal Perspectives

Rex Buck, 

Wanapum People

• The Wanapum People were most directly impacted by the Manhattan Project and 

the establishment of the Hanford Nuclear Site. 

• In this interview, Rex Buck (an elder and leader of the Wanapum) recounts the 

long history of Wanapum ties to the land (present-day Hanford, WA) and the 

impacts of having to relocate in 1943, and subsequent activities since. 
61 energy.gov/ne

DOE-NE Mission and Tribal Working Groups

DOE-NE Mission

The Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) mission is to advance nuclear power to meet the nation’s energy, 

environmental, and national security needs.

Tribal Working Groups and Office Lead

• State and Tribal Working Group (STGWG)/Office of Environmental Management

• Indian Country Energy and Infrastructure Working Group (ICEIWG)/Office of Indian Energy

• Nuclear Energy Tribal Working Group (NETWG)/ Office of Nuclear Energy
62 energy.gov/ne

Nuclear Energy Tribal Working Group (NETWG)

Office of Nuclear Energy 

o Build close government-to-government relationships with Tribal Nations

o Focus on consulting, collaborating, and communicating with Tribal leaders 

and Tribal representatives who are technical and cultural subject matter 

experts (SMEs)

NETWG

o DOE-chartered working group

o Engage federally-recognized 

tribal governments in DOE-NE 

activities

o STEM white paper
63 energy.gov/ne

NETWG STEM white paper

• Identified gaps for STEM opportunities

o Coordination on nuclear activities and 

utilization of subject matter expertise

o Facilitation of STEM opportunities for 

youth in Tribes to generate interest 

in nuclear energy

o National labs interactions with and response to Tribal 

communities and their concerns

• White Paper Priorities

o Recommendations for increasing STEM education

in Indian Country

o Tribal STEM subcommittee

o STEM white paper
64 energy.gov/ne

Tribal STEM Subcommittee

• The need for this subcommittee grew out of an expressed interest from 

all three DOE Tribal Working Groups to increase STEM opportunities 

for youth and the workforce in Indian Country. 

• The focus is on improving access to STEM education and workforce 

development opportunities, while increasing site-specific tribal 

engagement. 

• This collaborative effort will allow tribal working group members to 

identify and evaluate best practices to determine methods that suit 

individual tribal needs.
65 energy.gov/ne

Questions from Survey:

• Today STEM is thought of as science, technology, engineering and math. These four technical disciplines are 

often rooted in tribal traditional and cultural activities. Which of the following activities do members of your 

Tribe participate in?

• In your tribal community, what are the key factors and preferred methods for transferring traditional knowledge 

(TK) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to tribal youth?

• STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is a broad term used to group and integrate several 

academic disciplines. How important is it to you that the tribe provide STEM programming/projects for K-12 

students?

• Do you think most tribal youth in your community have adequate access to STEM education?

Tribal Survey on STEM
66 energy.gov/ne

Navigating Nuclear STEM Resources 

Middle 

High School Resources:

• Digital Lesson Plans

• STEM Project Starters

• Virtual Field Trip of Idaho National Laboratory

Middle School Resources:

• Digital Lesson Plans

• STEM Project Starters

• Career Profiles

Elementary Resources

DOE has partnered with American Nuclear Society (ANS) and Discovery 

Education (DE) to support High School Resources (2019-2020) 

and Elementary School Resources (2020-2021)
67 energy.gov/ne

Nuclear Energy and Microscope Activity

SINGLE LENS—MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES: 

VIEWING NUCLEAR ENERGY IN A NEW LIGHT

Essential Question: How can we view things in our world in a different way?
Supporting STEM Education in Tribal 

Communities

@TribalSTEM

Wendy Hancock

ASTC

Kathy Hoppe 

STEMisEd

Melinda Higgins

CNI/DOE

Talia Martin 

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Regina Schofield 

Battelle

Sheryl Sotelo 

STEMovations

Melissa Thibault 

PBS North Carolina

Jeff Schmidt

Ignited Education

Marie de Krieger 

California Science Center
69 energy.gov/ne

Questions?

melinda.higgins@nuclear.energy.gov
Christy L. 

Jackiewicz 

Chief

Minority Educational Institution 

Division

Office of Economic Impact and 

Diversity

U.S. Department of Energy
Additional Internship Programs

Minority Educational Institution Student Partnership Program (MEISPP) 

James.Hendrix@hq.doe.gov

https://www.energy.gov/diversity/minority-educational-institution-studentpartnership-program-meispp-internships

Agencywide Job Opportunities

Omni Alliance Internship Program

Christina.Addison@science.doe.gov

Website Being Developed

Cyber and Information Tech Focused Opportunities

71

Q & A
Environmental Literacy

December 9, 2021 3:30 – 5:00 PM ET

Register at www.ed.gov/stem