Assessment of the DOE/NREL Historically Black College and University Photovoltaic Research Associates Program

    Research output: NRELTechnical Report

    Abstract

    This report details the DOE/NREL Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Photovoltaic Research Associates Program, a small but remarkable program that directly affected dozens of minority undergraduate students in ways that changed many of their lives. The progress and accomplishments of undergraduates within the nine participating universities were monitored and assessed through theirpresentations at an annual NREL-sponsored HBCU conference. Although the funding was small, typically $400,000 per year, the money made a significant impact. The best students sometimes went on to the nation's top graduate schools (e.g., MIT) or important management positions in large companies. Other students had opportunities to learn how renewable energy could positively affect their lives andtheir neighbors' lives. A few were lucky enough to install photovoltaic lighting and water-pumping systems in Africa, and to see and feel firsthand the technical and emotional benefits of this technology for families and villages. Two of the schools, Texas Southern University and Central State University, were particularly successful in leveraging their DOE/NREL funding to obtain additionalfunding for expanded programs.
    Original languageAmerican English
    Number of pages90
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2002

    NREL Publication Number

    • NREL/TP-820-32169

    Keywords

    • colleges
    • minority
    • photovoltaics (PV)
    • PV
    • research
    • students
    • undergraduates
    • universities

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