Still time to apply for Purdue's Energy Academy

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The deadline to register for this summer’s Energy Academy at Purdue has been extended to Feb. 15 for interested secondary school teachers and current high school sophomores and juniors in Indiana.

Purdue’s Energy Center is working with electric utility company Duke Energy Indiana to expand the Energy Academy, which will run from June 16 to June 22.

Participation is free for students and teachers chosen. Teachers will also get a $400 stipend for participating. Primary sponsors are the Duke Energy Foundation, KidWind Project and Nokero.

Energy Center Managing Director Pankaj Sharma says teachers can work on energy curricula to enhance their classroom offerings. Grants could also be available to assist participating teachers in preparing a lesson plan on energy and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

"We also hope the event will inspire students and teachers to launch energy clubs in their school," Sharma said.

Interested students and teachers must fill out an application form, which includes a 300-word essay "Why would you like to be a part of the Energy Academy and what are your expectations?" To apply online, head to Purdue’s Energy Academy website.

This year, students and teachers will be assigned to teams for daily activities, using STEM principles to formulate energy-related projects and hands-on research activities. They also will tour facilities and labs on campus and in the region, and engage in a policy debate on energy issues.

On the final day, each team will present results of its energy project to a panel of judges comprising professors and industrial sponsors. In turn, the judges will award certificates based on merit.

Participants will stay in campus residence halls and eat at on-campus dining halls. During the noon and evening meals, guest speakers will address energy-related topics of interest.

Students and teachers will dine with professors and industry and government representatives, participating in open discussions about energy development issues and current events.

To request sponsorship information or more details about the academy, contact Jill Wable of the Purdue Energy Center, 765-494-1610, or email her at jwable@purdue.edu.

The Energy Academy is organized by Purdue's Energy Center, a center in Discovery Park focused on advancing research and learning in pursuit of alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. The inaugural event last summer drew 20 students and 16 teachers from across the state.

The Energy Center is part of the university's Global Sustainability Institute, which was launched in Discovery Park to coordinate Purdue's research efforts in sustainability challenges such as climate change, energy, food security, the environment and water.

The institute also includes the Center for the Environment, the Purdue Water Community, the Purdue Climate Change Research Center and the Purdue Center for Global Food Security.