Engaging a Diverse Workforce in the Building Sciences Through the JUMP Into STEM Program: Impact Study; Preprint

Conference · Wed Sep 14 04:00:00 EDT 2022

OSTI ID:1888237

Rippy, Kerry; Joseph, Westly; Ustuner, Emre; Haile, Selam; Votava, Jacob; Trenbath, Kim

Ensuring inclusivity in building science professions requires engaging people from underrepresented demographics; unfortunately, many races, ethnicities, and genders continue to be underrepresented. The JUMP into STEM program works to rectify this, encouraging creative ideation and highlighting the unique perspectives of a diverse array of students. The top students are awarded internships that provide opportunities to work in building science research with close supervision from mentors in the field. In the research presented here, we investigate the impact of participation in JUMP into STEM on students' careers, including the impact on students from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, we research students' awareness of career opportunities in building science, students' perception of their ability to meaningfully contribute to this field, and the career building opportunities that JUMP into STEM provides for students. Through participant interviews and data analysis, we measure program diversity, inclusion, and effectiveness at achieving goals. We find that among the hundreds of students who have participated in this program, more than 25 different majors and/or educational degree programs are represented and more than 45% of students attend minority serving institutions or historically black colleges and universities. The JUMP into STEM experience had a significant effect on career choices or career development for more than 80% of participants. Our results also indicate that the JUMP into STEM program is effective at promoting diversity in the building sciences and is successfully contributing to the larger effort within the building science industry to promote and ensure equity in technological progress and innovation.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Building Technologies Office (EE-5B)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1888237
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-5500-83274; MainId:84047; UUID:6365220c-ceb6-4182-b96f-749d797c1bdb; MainAdminID:65444
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

DEI
ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION,ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
STEM education
building energy science
diversity
energy workforce
equity
inclusion