Development and Implementation of Project-based Learning and Novel Trainings in Robotics, Radiation Science, and Python to Strengthen Next-generation of Talented Minority Students

Manish Kumar Sharma ^1* Sagar S Poudel ² Adrian Garza ¹ Dewayne Maye ^1,3 Cheslan Simpson ¹

• ¹ Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (DOE), Richland, United States
• ² South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, United States
• ³ Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Huntsville, Alabama, United States

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has a track record in collaborating with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), supported by the US Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA's) Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program (MSIPP) 1 . Currently, PNNL participates in three active MSIPP consortia, two of which are the focus of this work. A potential need of enhancing faculty/staff awareness about ongoing NNSA projects and elevating technical skillset of MSI students was identified early in the consortia. To address this need, the PNNL scientists developed/delivered novel trainings and seminars in both on-site and virtual capacity. While the seminars were typically didactic, the trainings implemented via project-based learning, following a blend of collaborative and inquiry-based pedagogical approaches. Several surveys were also conducted to gauge students' learning progress and effectiveness of activities. The results highlight that the students recognized strong impact of their projects and the career development events, with an average score 4.4 out of 5.0. Furthermore, the mentorship effectiveness, in supporting their personal and professional growth, was rated outstanding (4.8 out of 5.0). With an increase in underrepresented groups attaining science and engineering degrees, the activities proposed in this paper could encourage their further participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, potentially minimizing technical gaps and combating higher dropout rates. The study, therefore, aims to serve as a reference document for prospective STEM education improvement within PNNL and at other national laboratories and MSIs.