Power Systems Education in the Context of the Engineering Research Centers Program

Theresa A., Maldonado, Ph.D., P.E.Division Director

Engineering Education & CentersDirectorate for Engineering

“Transforming Cyber-Physical Systems Educationwith Emphasis on the Power Grid”

WorkshopWestin Arlington Gateway Hotel

July 26-27, 2014

Engineering Education & Centers:An Integrative Role

ALL disciplines

ENGINEERING-wide roles (annual solicitations and program descriptions):

o Engineering Education Researcho Broadening Participation in Engineeringo Research Experiences for Undergraduateso Research Experiences for Teachers

Program clusters◦ Centers & Networks◦ Engineering Education Research◦ Engineering Workforce Development

• Focus on fields to strengthen US competitiveness

• Increase engineering faculty committed to cross-disciplinary teams

• Focus on engineered systems

• Prepare creative, innovative engineers to influence

US productivity

• Include industrial engineers as partners to stimulate

technology transfer

History: 1985 National Academies charged federal agencies to…

NSF Response: Create the Engineering Research Centers program with the GOAL… to “further the development of fundamental

knowledge in engineering fields that will

• Enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. and

• Prepare engineers to contribute through better engineering practice.”

New ERC competition is underway…

Interdisciplinary Research

Innovation Ecosystem

Education

Engineered Systems Vision

Infrastructure

• 188 pre-proposals received

• 18 invited for full proposals

• Deadline: June 2014

• Awards in FY15

What will the future of the programlook like? What role will it serve?

ERC Key Features

Education

Strategic Planning

Infrastructure

Facilities

PeopleLeadership

Management

Interdisciplinary Research

Fundamental Research

Engineered Systems

Enabling Technology

Innovation Ecosystem

Engineered Systems Vision

7

QoLT 3-plane chart

Barriers

Enabling Technologies Technology Base

Barriers

Fundamental Knowledge Knowledge Base

Systems Technology Integration

Requirements

Stakeholders

Barriers

Technology Elements

Fundamental Insights

Technology Elements

Products & Outcomes

ERC (Research) Strategic Framework:

Sys

tem

Req

uir

emen

ts

Testbed(s)Systems Research

Systems Research

Testbeds

Enabling Technology Research

Enabling Technology Research

Fundamental Research Fundamental Research

Fundamental Research Fundamental Research

Fundamental Research Fundamental Research

Testbed(s)

Testbed(s)

Testbeds

Testbeds

INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM& VALLEY OF DEATH

Professional Formation of Engineers*

Freshman

“The Core”Junior

Sophomore

MS Degree

Senior

Industry

CommunityColleges

Licensure

* Y. A. Alexeichenko, “The Professional Formation of a Contemporary Engineer: Between Paradigms of Technocracy and Democracy, University of Warwick, 1995.

Internships

Other EmploymentSectors

PhD Degree

MakerSpaces

Public Values

Faculty Development

Research-to-Practice

K-12

ERC Education Goals Develop engineers ready for the workforce Move ERC knowledge into the classroom Develop creativity, entrepreneurship,

global experiences in students Address the entire pipeline Encourage talent from all sources Assess effectiveness of programs

Graphic Credit: Center for Biorenewable Chemicals, CBiRC, Iowa State University

University Level Elements

Interdisciplinary environment with systems-level goals

Interactions with industry Educational experiences with

entrepreneurship Course development based on

ERC research results Research Experiences for

Undergraduates Student Leadership Council

Smart Grid and ERCs

Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management

Energy Router

Plug & Play Interface

• “Energy Internet” concept to enable every citizen to participate in energy production, conservation and utilization

• Develop plug-and-play infrastructure to enable the use of distributed renewable energy resources

Established 2008

Exemplar FREEDM Programs

ERC Graduate Student Portfolio Program Master of Science in Electric Power Systems Engineering

Program Expert Classroom Visitor Program ERC Undergraduate Research Scholars Program Innovation Bootcamp/Roundtables Education Working Group Renewable Energy camp for Middle School

Master of Science in Electric Power Systems Engineering Program

Developed under ARRA Workforce Training Grant with DOE/OE

Comprehensive power curriculum for Smart Grid Access to FREEDM Labs and industry partners Seven courses plus capstone project Professional Skills component

Undergraduate Research Scholars Program

Year long ERC research and education experience

Monthly meetings, develop writing and presentation skills

Industry involvement

◦ Mentorship, summer internships Outreach First cohort of 15 students-Spring

2012 Second cohort 11 students 2013

Innovation Training

Innovation Bootcamp ◦ Basic entrepreneurship ◦ Technology transfer process◦ How to present IP to industry

Innovation Roundtables: Industry lead discussion◦ Focus on market challenges◦ Audience discusses issues to

understand core market needs

1-17

RTORegional Transmission Organization

Monitoring and SensingCommunication

Control and Actuation Computation

Slide 1 - Vision

credit: NPR & UTKProposal 1041877

Established 2011Co-funded NSF/DOE

Exemplar CURENT Programs

Graduate Student IMPACT Undergraduate Retention Ambassador program Outreach

◦ Parents nights◦ Summer camps

Power and Energy Systems certificate programs

CURENT team-taught course

18

Graduate IMPACT Program

Strategy to develop skill sets in students to be◦Creative, adaptive and innovative engineers ◦Ready for industrial practice

The IMPACT program stands for InnovationMentorshipProfessionalismAdaptationCreativityTechnology

1-19

Undergraduate Retention

Mentorship

Social Support

Industry Connectivity

Professional Development

Engineering Knowledge

External Factors or Demographics

Interest

Self-EfficacyAttitudes

Persistence in Engineering

Career Choice

ENG Broadening Participation Broadening Participation Program: May 1 NSF Community

◦ NSF employees◦ Panelists

PI Community◦ Education◦ Building Relationships

ERC◦ Formal review for education,

diversity and outreach Implicit Bias

Dr. Bev Watfordhttp://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504870&org=EEC&from=home

IGERT

Sustainable Grid

Integration of Distributed &

Renewable Resources

Smart Grid Complex Systems

I/UCRC

I/UCRC

In Summary: ERC Education

A multi-disciplinary, systems-oriented experience within a diverse community supported by a partnership of academia, government and industry