Los Alamos National Laboratory has recently expanded its collaboration with Navajo Technical University (NTU), focusing on the development of a workforce proficient in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for a future characterized by advanced technology and clean energy. The partnership aims to enhance education in fuel cell technology and additive manufacturing to prepare students for careers and higher education in materials science and engineering.
The Department of Energy's establishment of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technology Office (HFTO) Native American Fellowship has further solidified this collaboration. According to the official statement from Los Alamos National Laboratory, this groundbreaking pilot program provides internships at the Laboratory for NTU students. It facilitates first-hand research experiences while supporting the acquisition of sophisticated scientific equipment intended for installation at the tribal university. Beyond providing internships, the HFTO initiative boosts NTU's electrochemistry capabilities by financing the procurement and setup of electrochemical equipment. This move enables manufacturing, characterization, and testing of materials.
Tommy Rockward, a materials scientist at Los Alamos and the principal investigator for the new pilot program was quoted in a press release by Los Alamos National Laboratory as saying, "What makes great science is the development of people." He added that their collaborations with Navajo Tech place students at the vanguard of avant-garde research where their contributions are enormous. This gives them a sense of belonging and success so that when they join Lab or start their industry career they are already familiar with what research entails.
NTU's roots trace back to its foundation as the Navajo Skill Center in 1979. As noted on NTU’s ‘About’ webpage, it originated from a vision born in the 1960s aimed at empowering tribes towards self-determination by establishing their own institutions of higher learning.
Emphasizing on sourcing talent widely,Rockward highlighted: "In order for Los Alamos to continue to be the best science laboratory possible, we need to look for talent everywhere. We need to diversify, and Navajo Technical University is a local institution that has untapped resources."
