Programs for Educators
Plans to construct new nuclear-powered electrical plants across
the nation and world - six new plants in Texas alone - will mean an
increased need for well-educated and skilled workers in the nuclear
industry. Before these nuclear plants can be started, we need
trained people to operate and maintain them. We will need nuclear
technicians with two-year degrees and engineers in all disciplines
with four-year technical degrees. These are good-paying jobs with a
future: once a nuclear reactor is in operation, it should operate
for around 60 years.
All jobs in the nuclear industry from technicians to graduate
engineers require math and science. High school teachers
can show their students that math and science do matter and will
make a difference in their lives. NPI helps teachers deliver that
message!
NPI has learned that school counselors want and need more
information about careers in nuclear power as well as a better
understanding of which educational tracks students need to follow
if they hope to enter nuclear and other technical careers. To meet
that need, NPI has expanded its teacher program efforts with a
parallel program that supports school counselors and provides them
the essential knowledge that will enable them to assist students
with their education and career choices.
The EUREKA program is a unique professional development
experience for science and math teachers offered at Texas A&M
University (TAMU) in partnership with the Nuclear Power Institute
(NPI). EUREKA educators participate in a variety of activities
including: curriculum enrichment development, collaboration with
university professors and fellow Texas STEM teachers, tours and
research opportunities.
Outreach and recruiting are core initiatives of NPI. NPI
developed an aggressive outreach and recruiting program for middle
and high schools to keep students interested in the academic tracks
that can lead to a career in the nuclear industry. Elements of the
outreach and recruiting program include visits from NPI academic
and industry partners to classrooms at intermediate and high
schools, attendance by partners at career days, and
institutionalizing initiatives at high schools that encourage
students to remain interested in STEM careers.
NPI sponsors teachers chosen to attend the Teacher Research
Academy (TRA) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
in Livermore, California. The Teacher Research Academy is designed
as a unique professional development experience where educators
meet scientists, learn to use science equipment and processes, and
experience science through direct involvement.
To help alleviate the shortage of young people choosing STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) careers, Texas A&M
University's Colleges of Engineering and Science hold an annual
teacher summit. The summit provides teachers from all over the
state of Texas with cutting edge content and applications to
inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists.
Working with the Dwight Look College of Engineering and the
Texas Engineering Experiment Station in partnership with the
National Science Foundation, NPI offers secondary school science
and math teachers and pre-service teachers (base criteria is
algebra or IPC teacher) a four-week summer residential engineering
research experience at Texas A&M University in College Station,
Texas. The overall mission of the E3 RET (Research Experiences for
Teachers) program is to excite, empower, and educate teachers
about engineering so they in turn will excite, empower, and educate
students they come in contact with each day.
E3 teachers become powerful ambassadors for nuclear power -
taking their new knowledge back to the classroom, and communicating
opportunities in the nuclear industry to students.
For more information about programs for educators
contact:
Valerie Segovia
Director of Outreach and Development
