The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has proudly announced the launch of the inaugural Faculty-Applied Clean Energy Sciences (FACES) Program, selecting its first-ever cohort from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) nationwide. This groundbreaking initiative is designed to bridge the gap between DOE laboratories and academia, enhance STEM education, and promote clean energy responsibility across social and environmental sciences.

Empowering Minority-Serving Institutions

The FACES Program focuses on providing faculty from MSIs—including Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions (ANNHSIs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs)—with real-world clean energy research opportunities. Over the course of a 10-week summer program, these faculty members will collaborate with scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Their mission: to develop scalable education modules on various clean energy-related topics, which will be integrated into their home institutions' curricula and shared across MSIs.

"We're thrilled to offer MSI faculty the opportunity to engage directly with DOE and its national laboratories through FACES," said Terrence Mosley, Senior Advisor for Diversity and STEM in DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). "This program will expand their research networks and empower them to educate their students on cutting-edge topics in clean energy science. Through robust STEM education and diverse representation in the scientific workforce, America will be better equipped to build a lasting sustainable future."

Transformative Impact on STEM Education

The FACES Program aims to significantly enhance STEM education by equipping faculty with advanced knowledge and resources. These efforts will not only benefit the faculty and their students but also help cultivate a new generation of clean energy leaders. The education modules developed during the program will serve as valuable teaching resources, helping students pursue careers in the burgeoning clean energy sector.

Christy Jackiewicz, Chief of the Minority Educational Institutions Division for DOE's Office of Energy Justice and Equity, emphasized the program's importance: "We are excited to partner with EERE and NREL to improve the future of STEM, not only through the faculty of minority-serving institutions but also through the students who will benefit from their knowledge and understanding, both in the classroom and as they enter the workforce of the future."

Collaboration and Future Prospects

The FACES Program is a collaborative effort involving DOE’s NREL, the Office of Energy Justice and Equity, and EERE. By fostering partnerships between these entities, the program aims to create a sustainable and inclusive clean energy future.

For more information about the FACES Program and to learn about the participating institutions, visit the [DOE FACES Program website](https://www.energy.gov/eere/faces-program).