ERC Launches Electric Vehicle-Focused Summer Engineering Program for High School Students

Outcome/Accomplishment

The NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE), headquartered at Utah State University, has launched a summer research and mentoring program for high school students.

Impact/Benefits

ASPIRE aims to prepare communities for a future with an electrified transportation grid, and to prepare students for the jobs that will accompany this vision for the future. Students in the program get experience conducting research and presenting their findings while interacting with mentors affiliated with the ERC. 

Explanation/Background

Six high school students and one teacher from Purdue Polytechnic High School attended the first ASPIRE Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) program, called Youth Engineers in the Sustainability of Electric Vehicles (YES-EV). Their summer research project involved electric go-karts and dirt bikes. Students presented their work at the Purdue University Office of Undergraduate Research Symposium.  Students also attended college readiness sessions. An expansion of the program for the following year is underway.

The six students in the Youth Engineers in the Sustainability of Electric Vehicles (YES-EV) program attend a conference with Brandon Allen (right), research assistant professor at Purdue University and ASPIRE Diversity and Culture of Inclusion (DCI) co-director.
Credit:
ASPIRE

Location

Logan, Utah

e-mail

website

http://aspire.usu.edu

Start Year

Energy and Sustainability

Energy and Sustainability Icon
Energy and Sustainability Icon

Energy, Sustainability, and Infrastructure

Lead Institution

Utah State University

Core Partners

Purdue University, University of Colorado, University of Texas at El Paso

Fact Sheet

ASPIRE Fact Sheet.pdf
The six students in the Youth Engineers in the Sustainability of Electric Vehicles (YES-EV) program attend a conference with Brandon Allen (right), research assistant professor at Purdue University and ASPIRE Diversity and Culture of Inclusion (DCI) co-director.
Credit:
ASPIRE

Outcome/Accomplishment

The NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE), headquartered at Utah State University, has launched a summer research and mentoring program for high school students.

Location

Logan, Utah

e-mail

website

http://aspire.usu.edu

Start Year

Energy and Sustainability

Energy and Sustainability Icon
Energy and Sustainability Icon

Energy, Sustainability, and Infrastructure

Lead Institution

Utah State University

Core Partners

Purdue University, University of Colorado, University of Texas at El Paso

Fact Sheet

ASPIRE Fact Sheet.pdf

Impact/benefits

ASPIRE aims to prepare communities for a future with an electrified transportation grid, and to prepare students for the jobs that will accompany this vision for the future. Students in the program get experience conducting research and presenting their findings while interacting with mentors affiliated with the ERC. 

Explanation/Background

Six high school students and one teacher from Purdue Polytechnic High School attended the first ASPIRE Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) program, called Youth Engineers in the Sustainability of Electric Vehicles (YES-EV). Their summer research project involved electric go-karts and dirt bikes. Students presented their work at the Purdue University Office of Undergraduate Research Symposium.  Students also attended college readiness sessions. An expansion of the program for the following year is underway.