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INVESTIGATOR: Pendse, S.; Leahy, JE, E..; Li, LI, .; Pendse, HE, .

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
ORONO, MAINE 04469

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY LEADERS OF THE FUTURE (SELF) RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR RURAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: This proposal builds on our successful four-year program (SELF 1.0) supported by USDA NIFA WAMS over 2013-2017, and which still continues (2018-2020) with support from the College of Engineering "Girls Engineer Maine (GEM)" program. The original program focused on renewable energy (Solar, wind & Bioenergy) as a theme, but since that time the University of Maine has embarked on UMaine Medicine & Rural Health Grand Challenge Pilot and UMaine Artificial Intelligence (AI) Initiative. Furthermore, Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI) has added two state-of-the-art facilities, including the Biomass into Bioproducts Pilot Plant (B2P2), and the Synthetic Crude Oil Pilot Plant (SynCOPP), at its Technology Research Center (TRC). This proposed project will enable us to take that next step to revamp and enhance the old SELF program, by incorporating these new assets and initiatives.Forest communities in rural Maine continue to suffer because of challenges faced by pulp mills and biomass power plants. A federal Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT) initiative to help the Maine Forest Economy, which was declared as a disaster area in mid-2016, has culminated in a Forest Opportunity Roadmap for Maine (FOR/Maine), a unique cross-sector collaboration between industry, communities, government, education, and non-profits. The FOR/Maine coalition was created with support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (US-EDA) and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA). This project addresses FOR/Maine goals to help prepare workforce for the future prosperity of Maine Forest communities, especially those in rural Maine, including those affected by pulp mill and biomass power plant closures. FOR/Maine is also working closely with leadership in forest communities, including the six towns in Maine that have had mills close in recent years. The coalition is actively involved in efforts to diversify economic opportunities for these communities, supporting efforts to redevelop mill sites, provide more resources for brownfield cleanup and improve broadband access in rural areas.The SELF philosophy is to reach rural high school girls (age 14 to 17) and nurture their passion by giving them exposure to college campus living, working with women engineering students and women engineering faculty everywhere every day. It's much easier for girls to imagine a career if they see men and women treated equally at work, and see women engineers going about their work with ease.

OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of the University of Maine's Sustainable Energy Leaders of the Future (SELF) program is to engage, mentor and prepare female high school students from rural forest communities in cutting-edge Forest Bioproducts research programs and Rural Health, Remote Sensing & Artificial Intelligence initiatives at the University of Maine. The program targets approximately ten high school sophomore girls each year from Maine's predominantly rural school districts. Participants spend 3½ days on campus learning about the future of the forest economy and rural development in Maine, and how STEM careers can open new opportunities for them.The project has a goal of encouraging girls to get into engineering by showing them what is around them and how they could contribute to Maine's economy. Our goal is to build a pipeline for female engineering workforce development in Maine's forestry based economy.