Teacher application deadline extended for 2017 Duke Energy Academy at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The registration deadline has been extended to Feb. 19 for teachers interested in applying to the sixth annual Duke Energy Academy at Purdue, a program that inspires high school students and teachers to STEM career, learning and teaching opportunities in the growing field of energy.

The event, led by the Purdue Energy Center in Discovery Park and Duke Energy Corp., runs June 18-24 on the Purdue campus. Teachers interested in applying can visit http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/energy/energyacademy for more information, said Pankaj Sharma, managing director of the Purdue Energy Center.

Each year, up to 42 students and 42 teachers are selected to participate in the weeklong academy focused on the energy sciences and engineering. Participation is free of charge, and teachers will receive a $400 stipend and continuing education units upon program completion.

During the program, students and teachers can further explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) topics through a variety of activities. Guest speakers, including Purdue professors and graduate students as well as industry and government representatives, offer interactive lectures on current energy topics.

Participants will tour local and regional energy facilities, such as a solar farm and a coal plant. They also participate in hands-on activities and collaborative research projects in subject areas from fuel cells to rechargeable batteries.

Academy participants receive the full Purdue experience by staying in residential halls and eating meals together in campus dining facilities. Throughout the week, teachers work on STEM-based lesson plans for their classrooms.

The Duke Energy Academy at Purdue is primarily funded by a substantial grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, which covers participation fees for all attendees. This year's co-sponsors are Bowen Engineering, Tipmont REMC, and CMS Energy.

The academy is organized by the Purdue Energy Center, a research center within Discovery Park that focuses on advancing energy sciences and engineering for sustainable energy solutions. 

Writer: Phillip Fiorini. 765-496-3133, pfiorini@purdue.edu

Source: Pankaj Sharma, 765-496-7452, sharma@purdue.edu