American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE)
American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE)
Powering the Future: The American Museum of Science & Energy Foundation Brings Solar Energy to Light Through Education
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has been at the heart of America’s energy story for decades and promises to play a vital role in its future. A once-rural area of Eastern Tennessee was developed into Oak Ridge, a secret city for the Manhattan Project in 1942 to support the development of the world’s first nuclear weapons. Today, it’s a hub for science and innovation, and home to the American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE). The AMSE Foundation seeks to add to that rich legacy by illuminating the future of energy through a comprehensive project showcasing the power and potential of solar energy.
Motivated by the need to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and literacy in the U.S., the Foundation aims to enhance student and community knowledge of solar energy production, storage, and use while fostering interest in solar industry careers.
A grant from All Points North Foundation will support all aspects of the multifaceted project. A permanent interactive exhibit at the museum will showcase the solar energy process from start to finish. The exhibit will include hands-on features such as a living hemisphere that sends light to a solar panel, which visitors can maneuver to harness and transform light into energy that can power everything from fans to cars to robots.
The grant also supports solar education learning tools, resources and activities to engage K-12 students in East Tennessee and beyond via local and virtual classrooms. Workforce development will include exposing high school students to careers through solar field visits and meetings with solar researchers, engineers and technicians. Benches with solar power charging stations for electronic devices will be installed at four public parks in the region. Each bench will include a panel depicting how the solar energy process makes it work. The goal is to give people real-world experience and help them understand how solar energy enriches their lives.
PBS East Tennessee will bring this project to life by documenting it from start to finish, magnifying its educational impact. By sharing engaging content across all its platforms, PBS East Tennessee will help viewers understand the importance of STEM education and the power, benefits and career opportunities of solar energy.
For more information, www.amse.org
Photo credit: American Museum of Science and Energy
All Points North Foundation provides grants for U.S.-based projects and initiatives that support our priorities: improving public middle school education and teacher training, and implementing effective solar programs and/or projects.
Have a U.S.-based project you’d like to discuss?