Environmental scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are working with minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities to enhance the knowledge and expertise of student scientists and provide fresh perspectives.

The partnerships are backed by programs at the Department of Energy, such as the Research Development and Partnership Pilot projects within the Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research Program, Reaching New Energy Sciences Workforce projects within the Office of Science and the Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program within the DOE Office of Environmental Management, in addition to other internship opportunities, the agency said in a March 2 news release.

“Addressing environmental challenges in an equitable manner requires a broad pool of talent and perspectives," Eric Pierce, director of the ORNL Environmental Sciences Division, said in the release. "These collaborations give us an opportunity to connect with students from historically marginalized communities and enables their access to the unique capabilities and expertise available at the national laboratories. The result is beneficial to ORNL’s science mission, our staff members and to the students’ professional development."

“As a minority-serving institution and a department without a [doctoral] program, we play a key role in training the next generation of scientists, as we have a focused commitment on masters-level education,” Sarah Ledford, assistant professor and principal investigator for the partnership at Georgia State University, said in the release.

“I’m excited to bring a renewed focus on training [graduate] level students and to think about the role such graduates could play as future employees at ORNL," Ledford added, according to the release. "In addition, I’m excited for the potential of expanded research with ORNL in urban areas, especially on urban watersheds in the Southeast with a focus on research that addresses environmental justice.”

Marie Kurz, hydrogeochemist and ORNL’s lead for the project, said the program provides “an excellent opportunity to increase the visibility of ORNL and DOE with underrepresented students who otherwise have limited exposure to what DOE does and the national labs as a career option," the release reported.

Kurz added these opportunities help support students collaborate with ORNL scientists from the Watershed Dynamics and Evolution Science Focus Area and other programs, according to the release. This allows them to strengthen connections with the GSU faculty and "leverage their unique expertise and perspectives in urban watershed science, an area of growing interest for DOE."

“As an early career scientist, I look forward to watching these highly motivated students become environmental stewards, philanthropists, scientists and teachers; to building partnerships with world-class scientists at the University of Missouri and ORNL; and to nurturing their personal growth through teaching and professional development that the program offers,” Lincoln University of Missouri Assistant Professor of Forest Hydrology and Watershed Management Sean Zeiger said in the release.

Zieger added he is happy to share his expertise with students at a new and exciting level, according to the release. He noted how grateful he is for partnerships with University of Missouri and Jeffrey Wood at MOFLUX, and ORNL scientists Maggie Davis, Lianhong Gu, Melanie Mayes, Benjamin Sulman and Anthony Walker.

“As a first-generation college student from rural Missouri, I am so happy to share my experiences at ORNL with Lincoln students," Melanie Mayes, leader of ORNL’s Biogeochemical Dynamics group, said in the release. "They will tour some of our wonderful facilities and meet with diverse groups of technicians, postdocs and research scientists. This opportunity will help them envision themselves in their future science careers.”