Science teachers from across North Carolina will explore the future of electricity and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power at a professional development workshop this week at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Science teachers from across North Carolina will explore the future of electricity and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power at a professional development workshop this week at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
With funding from the Progress Energy Foundation, the UNC Institute for the Environment will provide a learning opportunity for 24 middle and high school science teachers July 14-15. Experts at Carolina will address the energy realities of the 21st century and provide hands-on learning strategies to promote energy literacy in classrooms.
Teachers will tour the UNC co-generation plant, the new platinum-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified Education Center at the North Carolina Botanical Garden and the laboratories of scientists involved in the UNC-based Energy Frontier Research Center. The interdisciplinary center was established last year under a $17.5 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to develop solar fuels from next-generation photovoltaic technology.
Progress Energy supports various programs offered by the institute’s Center for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economic Development, including K-12 teacher and public outreach, graduate and faculty fellowships and an upcoming Energy Challenges Symposium.
Workshop activities will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members of the media interested in attending can obtain a detailed schedule of events by contacting the institute.
UNC Institute for the Environment contact: Josh Meyer, (919) 962-0965, josh_meyer@unc.edu