A faculty member from the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Engineering is participating in the inaugural Faculty-Applied Clean Energy Sciences (FACES) program, funded by the Department of Energy. Tito Busani, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, will represent UNM in this 10-week summer program. He joins approximately 60 faculty members nationwide who will travel to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, to collaborate with scientists and other cohort members on developing scalable education modules related to clean energy.
The FACES program aims to provide real-world clean energy research opportunities at minority-serving institutions across the country. It also seeks to bridge the gap between Department of Energy laboratories and academia, enhance STEM education, and promote clean energy responsibility in social and environmental sciences.
Busani expressed his enthusiasm for integrating knowledge gained from the program into his course on photovoltaics at UNM and his current research. “This project has three pillars: UNM/NREL interaction, peer-to-peer interaction, and UNM/community interaction, which means research, community, and education — the core UNM missions,” he said. “UNM should be seen as a leader in US for clean energy.”
Collaboration is a crucial component of this initiative. “We will be leveraging the expertise of the Department of Energy labs and other universities to create customized learning solutions for classrooms and communities,” Busani stated.
The developed education modules will be incorporated into curricula at each faculty member’s home institutions and shared across minority-serving institutions to support teachers' resource development and assist students in pursuing careers in clean energy.
Busani plans to work with high school teachers around New Mexico to disseminate knowledge about clean energy technologies among their students. Additionally, he aims to engage communities by integrating place-based knowledge to create a sustainable career pipeline that helps communities adopt clean energy technology.
“We’re interested in how to put together PV [photovoltaic] partnerships that include design, hands-on training about solar panel installation as well as maintenance for a sustainable ecosystem,” Busani explained.
He is collaborating with a graduate student and a high school teacher from Zuni Pueblo who plan to join him at NREL as part of the project. Moreover, he intends for NREL scientists to visit UNM courses.
Busani believes that participation in the FACES cohort and partnership with NREL can position UNM as a community leader in energy efforts. “We will be creating a STEM community that focuses on research, education, and community engagement in New Mexico,” he said.
The program runs from May 28 through August 9.
Other universities involved in the FACES cohort include Alabama State University; City University of New York; Brooklyn College; Florida International University; Hawaii Pacific University; Howard University; Metropolitan State University of Denver; Northern Arizona University; North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; Northwest Indian College; University of Hawaii at Hilo; University of Hawaii at Manoa; University of Houston; University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus; University of Texas at Arlington; and University of Texas at El Paso.
FACES is a collaborative effort between the Department of Energy’s NREL, Office of Energy Justice and Equity, and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
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