U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management team is reaching out to the community near a decommissioned nuclear production complex in Washington to let them know about STEM opportunities.
In a virtual session of this year's "Building the Region's Clean Energy Workforce," Regulatory, Intergovernmental and Stakeholder Engagement Director Kristen Ellis described how the Hanford Site in Benton County, Wash., is reaching out to the next generation, according to a Nov. 22 news release.
"Hanford created a professional development course designed to help teachers share Hanford information and career opportunities with students," Ellis said in the release. "They've also served as STEM ambassadors at various events, hosted students at the HAMMER Federal Training Center and are going into classrooms with students."
DOE's STEM ambassadors have reached out to the Hanford site-area's students of different backgrounds, as well as other members of the local community, to share how the Hanford Site can build on its nuclear expertise to create STEM opportunities. The effort lines up with goals of President Joe Biden's administration, Ellis said, according to the release.
"The administration is looking to reach out to communities that have been left behind in the federal decision process," Ellis said in the release. "We are working with Tribes to get more of a cultural perspective within our processes. Northwest Indian College just received a grant that will help involve students who haven't had such opportunities in the past."
The STEM ambassadors also have reached out to parents of Hanford-area students, the release reported.
"We need to work with moms and dads to demystify science and engineering jobs," Ellis said, according to the release.
"We are at a unique time for the nuclear industry and the potential of nuclear power in our climate goals is a key point to mention," Ellis said in the release. "We can do a better job of communicating about the work we do and how it's different from the Cold War. That's the key to being successful."
