CISTAR Forges Closer Relationship with NSBE SEEK

Outcome/Accomplishment

Academic researchers forged a closer relationship with a national group that supports Black engineers and encourages more African Americans to consider STEM careers through a summer program at the Center for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources (CISTAR), a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) based at Purdue University.

Impact/Benefits

The in-person attendance at NSF CISTAR’s 2023 summer program by leaders of the Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK) program of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) signaled an expansion of the relationship between NSF CISTAR and NSBE SEEK. Immediate results include inviting teachers to the Center’s summer program in 2024 and SEEK may add a CISTAR-inspired energy learning module to future camps.

Explanation/Background

NSF CISTAR and NSBE SEEK have worked together to ensure the success of the Center’s Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) program since 2019. Talented and highly motivated students across engineering and science disciplines spend six weeks doing cutting-edge research at NSF CISTAR and then four weeks mentoring kids.

The camp in 2023 welcomed SEEK leaders to the Purdue campus for the first time since 2019. The SEEK visitors met with CISTAR leadership and helped greet the new cohort of 11 REM students. The NSBE visitors also toured Purdue’s Black Cultural Center and saw the plaque showing how NSBE started at Purdue almost 50 years ago.

NSBE Leadership got to see the NSBE plaque at Purdue’s Black Cultural Center commemorating its beginning at Purdue. Standing in the group photo, the NSBE leaders also met with the 2023 cohort of REM students.
Credit:
CISTAR

Location

West Lafayette, Indiana

e-mail

cistar@purdue.edu

website

https://cistar.us/

Start Year

Energy and Sustainability

Energy and Sustainability Icon
Energy and Sustainability Icon

Energy, Sustainability, and Infrastructure

Lead Institution

Purdue University

Core Partners

University of New Mexico, Northwestern University, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Austin

Fact Sheet

CISTAR Fact Sheet.pdf
NSBE Leadership got to see the NSBE plaque at Purdue’s Black Cultural Center commemorating its beginning at Purdue. Standing in the group photo, the NSBE leaders also met with the 2023 cohort of REM students.
Credit:
CISTAR

Outcome/Accomplishment

Academic researchers forged a closer relationship with a national group that supports Black engineers and encourages more African Americans to consider STEM careers through a summer program at the Center for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources (CISTAR), a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) based at Purdue University.

Location

West Lafayette, Indiana

e-mail

cistar@purdue.edu

website

https://cistar.us/

Start Year

Energy and Sustainability

Energy and Sustainability Icon
Energy and Sustainability Icon

Energy, Sustainability, and Infrastructure

Lead Institution

Purdue University

Core Partners

University of New Mexico, Northwestern University, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Austin

Fact Sheet

CISTAR Fact Sheet.pdf

Impact/benefits

The in-person attendance at NSF CISTAR’s 2023 summer program by leaders of the Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK) program of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) signaled an expansion of the relationship between NSF CISTAR and NSBE SEEK. Immediate results include inviting teachers to the Center’s summer program in 2024 and SEEK may add a CISTAR-inspired energy learning module to future camps.

Explanation/Background

NSF CISTAR and NSBE SEEK have worked together to ensure the success of the Center’s Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) program since 2019. Talented and highly motivated students across engineering and science disciplines spend six weeks doing cutting-edge research at NSF CISTAR and then four weeks mentoring kids.

The camp in 2023 welcomed SEEK leaders to the Purdue campus for the first time since 2019. The SEEK visitors met with CISTAR leadership and helped greet the new cohort of 11 REM students. The NSBE visitors also toured Purdue’s Black Cultural Center and saw the plaque showing how NSBE started at Purdue almost 50 years ago.