Fusion Energy Science (FES) Grant: Developing a Diverse Workforce in Energy Sciences

Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW) aims to build foundations for Office of Science (SC) research and training at institutions historically underrepresented in the SC research portfolio. RENEW leverages SC’s unique national laboratories, user facilities, and other research infrastructures to provide undergraduate and graduate training opportunities for students and academic institutions not currently well represented in the U.S. science and technology (S&T) ecosystem. The hands-on experiences gained through RENEW will open new career avenues for participants, forming a nucleus for a future pool of talented young scientists, engineers, and technicians with the critical skills and expertise needed for the full breadth of SC research activities. Principal Investigators (PIs), key personnel, and students and postdocs of RENEW awards will be invited to participate in fusion and plasma science and technology meetings and/or SC-wide professional development and collaborator events.

The goal of the FES-RENEW program is to increase participation of underrepresented groups in FES’s fusion and plasma science and technology research portfolio. FES is fully committed to advancing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive research community, which is key to providing the scientific and technical expertise for U.S. scientific leadership. Critical to this initiative are institutional efforts for recruiting diverse participation and creating and maintaining positive, inclusive, and professional research and learning environments, including but not limited to providing mentoring and professional development resources to students and early career researchers and fostering a sense of belonging among all research personnel.