U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Making STEM More Accessible: Explore How National Labs Are Integrating Water Power in Local Learning

It doesn't take a catchy theme song, a magic school bus, or even Bill Nye to get people excited about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. When it comes to breaking down barriers, a little creative thinking and a lot of personality can go a long way.

Today (Nov 8), on National STEM Day, we're celebrating the innovative and impactful work of six national laboratories that have used funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office to develop community-centered programs focused on STEM outreach for learners of all ages.

From hands-on activities and interactive games, to exchanging oral traditions and formal mentoring, these laboratories worked with schools, museums, and Tribal nations to lower structural hurdles and find meaningful ways to engage their local communities in STEM pathways and water power careers. 

Learn more about each of their projects and spark your imagination with these water power STEM resources!

Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne)

Determined to make outreach events even more accessible, Argonne worked with community partners to bridge the gaps between K-12 families from the south side of Chicago and their interest in STEM research and careers.

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry attracts roughly 9,000 daily visitors, and for the Science Works Expo in October 2023, organizers provided 13 schools with funding for buses, allowing an additional 550 youth and families from grades 5-10 to attend. 

Researchers from the hydropower team joined more than 35 companies and hosted three hydropower activity booths to whet visitors' appetites for renewable energy. Using a model water turbine, kids took turns swapping out the design of the blades to see whether circular, triangular, or square blades spun more quickly. Another demonstration showed how pumped storage hydropower can store energy and provide clean power to the grid when other sources aren't available.

Argonne's STEM Education Outreach team took the new hands-on model water turbine activity on the road throughout the year, going to more than 30 STEM fests and engaging over 10,000 youth and families in Chicago and the surrounding areas. 

In November 2023, 40 Chicago-area 10^th and 11^th grade students came to tour the lab for a See Yourself in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) event, which was organized by three of Argonne's employee resource groups. Hydropower and clean energy researchers served as the "T" for technology helping broaden students' perspectives of career pathways and providing opportunities to experiment with physical models of scientists' devices. 

In April 2024, Argonne hosted a hydropower career booth at Argonne's Science Careers in Search of Women Expo

(SCSW) to talk about their career paths and demonstrate a working hydropower plant model to over 350 female high school students from 35+ Chicago area schools as part of a day of tours, lectures, career booths and mentor shadowing experiences. 

This past summer, the hydropower team provided one-on-one mentorship for four high school interns. Over the course of eight weeks, the students partnered on case studies, examining topics such as how to optimize water withdrawal from a dam to support the ecological health of the river system. They presented their final research to fellow interns, lab researchers, and their families at Argonne's High School Bridge Into Internship showcase (funded by Office of Science, Workforce Development for Teachers and Students). 

In August, Argonne also hosted the first annual South Side STEM Showcase, providing a place for students who participated in summer programs at any out-of-school organization to highlight their work. Argonne's hydropower high school summer interns demonstrated the hydropower plant model and taught families how hydropower plants work. The event brought together more than 200 youth and families from over 20 different STEM training programs to present their projects, connect with the community, and cultivate pride in growing a local, diverse STEM leadership and workforce.

For their dedicated and driven outreach, the Argonne Hydropower Team was recognized across the lab with a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Impact Award.

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