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
