Wanda E. Ward, Ph.D.Senior Advisor to the DirectorNational Science Foundation

September 13, 2010

Enabling Women in Green Jobs:The NSF Role

Long-Standing Interest at NSF

NSB’s call for integrated approaches that “increase U.S. energy independence, enhance environmental stewardship and reduce energy and carbon intensity, and generate continued economic growth.”

SOURCE: FY 2011 NSF Budget Request to Congress

Why are Green Jobs Important?

The two-way interaction of human activity with environmental processes now defines the challenges to human survival and wellbeing.

Innovative research and education will advance our capability and capacity to understand and predict changes to Earth’s natural and human-dominated systems, to assess the vulnerability and resilience of these systems to change, and to foster workforce development and scientific literacy in these areas.

SOURCES: NSF-Wide Investment SEES Website at http://www.nsf.gov/geo/sees/& NSF Dear Colleague Letter: Climate, Energy, and Sustainability (March 2010)

NSF Strategic Plan

NSF’s Core Mission: To be “Broadly Inclusive”Seeking and accommodating contributions from all sources while

reaching out especially to groups that have been underrepresented; serving scientists, engineers, educators, students and the public

across the nation; and exploring every opportunity for partnerships, both nationally and internationally.

SOURCE: Investing in America’s Future: NSF Strategic Plan, FY 2006-2011

NSF is making investment priorities to foster research that improves our ability to live sustainably on Earth. To strengthen our understanding of the links between human behavior and natural processes, research may range from investigations of deep oceans to urban centers and from basic energy science to climate science.

Inspiring and Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders and Change

Agents:KEY ACTIVITIES…

The NSB report outlined a range of research investments in the area of sustainable energy, such as:

Novel energy storage schemas.Ecosystem impacts of energy technologies.Improving the efficiency and yield of established

sustainable energy systems.Energy-intelligent computational performance in

computer and network systems.The use of information technology in smart sensing

systems that have promise to save energy.Energy efficiency in manufacturing and materials.

SOURCE: FY 2011 NSF Budget Request to Congress

Employed Scientists and Engineers in Sustainability Disciplines: 2006

Biological/LifeSciences

SocialSciences

EngineeringComputer/IT Sciences

Mathematics PhysicalSciences

National Science Foundation, 2009

Major Reasons for Unemployment for Scientists

and Engineers

Illness/Permanent Disability

Retired Family Responsibility

-0.2%

+34.2%

-37.4%

% S

cie

nti

sts

an

d E

ng

ine

ers

National Science Foundation, 2009

How Has the NSF Been Involved in Clean Energy?

Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES)The goal of SEES is to generate the discoveries and

capabilities in climate and energy science and engineering needed to inform societal actions that lead to environmental and economic sustainability

Climate Research InvestmentsA subset of the SEES portfolio that focuses on climate

change.

SOURCE: FY 2011 NSF Budget Request to Congress

http://www.nsf.gov/geo/sees/

Sustainability: NSF Contributions NSF-Wide Investment: Science, Engineering and Education for

Sustainability Portfolio Involves 7 NSF directorates and 2 offices for synergistic effort toward

expanding research and education associated with climate, energy and sustainability

New cross-directorate initiatives/solicitations in various areas of sustainability:Water Sustainability and ClimateOcean AcidificationClimate Change EducationDimensions of BiodiversityDecadal and Regional Climate Prediction Using Earth System

Models Includes efforts to also develop workforce (including women and

underrepresented minority groups) needs required for sustainability

Sustainability: NSF Focus on Inclusion

Several workshops conducted to motivate women and underrepresented minorities (nationally and internationally) into Engineering energy and green jobs in:Wind energySustainable green buildingWIRES: Women in International Research Engineering

SummitMENA: Middle East and North Africa Workshop

Several disciplinary solicitations contain special broadening participation focus on increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities

NSF ADVANCE Program focuses on increasing the number of women in academic STEM disciplines, including sustainability-related disciplines

The Role of ADVANCE

Work-Life Support Strategies:

Flexible career policies that address the needs of women scientists and engineers.

Career and life transition support programs.Establishment of dual-career hiring programs tailored to

the organization/institution and region.Organizational/institutional flexibility and support for

dependent-care responsibilities.Creation of organizational/institutional climates that

encourage women to take advantage of work-life programs and ensure that there are no negative impacts on career advancement as a result of participating in these programs.

Hunter College, CUNY

U. Colorado, Boulder

Georgia Institute of Technology

U. Michigan

New Mexico St. U.

U. California, Irvine

U. Wisconsin, Madison

U. Washington

U. Puerto Rico, Humacao

Cohort 1: 2001

Columbia U.

CWRU

U. Montana

U. Rhode Island

U. Alabama, Birmingham

Kansas St. U.

U. Texas, El Paso

Utah St. U.

U. Maryland, Baltimore County

Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Cohort 2: 2003William Marshall Rice U.

Brown U.

California St. Polytechnic U., Pomona

Cornell U.

Iowa St. U.

RPI

U. Arizona

U. Illinois,Chicago

U. North Carolina, Charlotte

Cohort 3: 2006

Cohort 4: 2008

Northeastern U.

Purdue

U. Nebraska,Lincoln

North Dakota St. U.

Wright St.

MichiganSt. U.

OSU

Rutgers

Washington St.

Hunter College, CUNY

U. Colorado, Boulder

Georgia Institute of Technology

U. Michigan

New Mexico St. U.

U. California, Irvine

U. Wisconsin, Madison

U. Washington

U. Puerto Rico, Humacao

Cohort 1: 2001

Columbia U.

CWRU

U. Montana

U. Rhode Island

U. Alabama, Birmingham

Kansas St. U.

U. Texas, El Paso

Utah St. U.

U. Maryland, Baltimore County

Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Cohort 2: 2003William Marshall Rice U.

Brown U.

California St. Polytechnic U., Pomona

Cornell U.

Iowa St. U.

RPI

U. Arizona

U. Illinois,Chicago

U. North Carolina, Charlotte

Cohort 3: 2006

Cohort 4: 2008

Northeastern U.

Purdue

U. Nebraska,Lincoln

North Dakota St. U.

Wright St.

MichiganSt. U.

OSU

Rutgers

Washington St.

ADVANCE IT Institutions: 2001-2008

ADVANCE Family Friendly Policy Outcomes

Recruitment Family friendly policies resulted in percentage of women tenure track faculty exceeding the percentage of women in potential applicant pool for first time in institution’s history.

Dual Career Hiring Over 20 dual career hires made for one ADVANCE institution in a single 5-year funding cycle.

Promotion and Tenure

All ADVANCE fellows were promoted in rank and noted for participating in securing approximately $21 million in external funding during the entire funding cycle. 0% attrition of women faculty.

Job Satisfaction Significant increases in job satisfaction expressed by women faculty over a 5 year funding period.

Solutions for the Future

We will have to turn to our education system for an answer and a solution to maintain our environmental health.

Graphics from WomenOfWindEnergy.com & Susty.com

Examples: Workforce Development Projects

K-12Connecting Youth with Science through Mentored

Experiences in Nature•This collaborative project between Colorado State University (CSU)

and the National Council for Science and Environment (NCSE) is providing rich STEM activities and research experiences for high school students through the EnvironMentors (EM) program. This program prepares underrepresented students for college degree programs and careers in STEM disciplines related to environmental science and the emerging green workforce. (DRL: #0929109 & #0929421)

Promoting Underrepresented Girls Involvement in Research, Science, and Energy (PURSE)• This program allows high school girls to participate in project-based out-of-school activities, and is designed to advance the knowledge and understanding of key mathematical and scientific concepts in areas of energy such as batteries and fuel cells, nuclear energy and alternative energy sources. (DRL: #0929728)

Image from Dapcep.org

HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE

Creating An Energy Systems Technology Technician Workforce in Florida

This project is developing an Alternative Energy Systems Technology (AEST) specialization at Brevard Community College to meet the increasing demand for skilled energy system technicians in Florida. Outreach via summer camps engages middle and high school students in the field of renewable energy and especially provides an opportunity to connect with females and underrepresented minorities. (DUE: #01003674)

Image f

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Examples: Workforce Development Projects

Examples: Workforce Development Projects

UNDERGRADUATE & COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Planning Grant for a Midwest Center of Excellence in Wind Energy & Biofuel Technician Education

The Northern Illinois University Midwest Center of Excellence for Technician Education is likely to undertake a wide range of technician education activities associated with wind turbines and biofuel plants. This includes outreach efforts to help recruit underrepresented students to green energy careers. (DUE: #0903266)

Growing a New Generation of Energy Technicians and Professionals

Laramie County Community College (LCCC) is seeking to create unique and effective renewable/wind technology programs to serve as national models. Objects are to increase academic rigor and relevance, grow career pathways, and enhance and broaden recruitment, retention, and placement efforts with an emphasis on underrepresented populations. (DUE: #01003452)

Examples: Workforce Development Projects

GRADUATE

Nanotechnology for Clean EnergyThis Rutgers University project focuses on scientific,

technical, and policy issues related to sustainable and affordable clean energy technologies, emphasizing innovations in nanotechnology. This project will help promote the development of a diverse, globally aware, and scientifically capable workforce. (DGE: #0903661)

Image from www.City-Data.com

Examples: Workforce Development Projects

HIGH SCHOOL, COMMUNITY COLLEGE, & 4-YEAR

UNIVERSITIESA 2+2+2 Model for an Environmental Science and Technology Program Focused on Sustainability and Alternative Energy

Los Angeles Southwest College is developing a model for its new Associate of Science program in Environmental Science and Technology that is focused on sustainability and alternative energy. The project has several objectives, including developing a Community Outreach Plan that increases the participation of high school students and adults, particularly from underrepresented groups, in STEM and the field of Environmental Science and Technology. (DUE: #01003563)

Images from www.CampusExplorer.co

m

Working Together for an Improved Economy and a Better Environment

Images from www.ivalley.org and Susty.com