United States

The Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (CEES) was established in October 2010 with $5M in funding from NSF. CEES Phase II award from NSF started on October 1, 2019. CEES personnel include eight faculty members, 1 program coordinator, and 4 research staff members. CEES is addressing the challenging interdisciplinary problems and is paving the way for scientific and technological breakthroughs in energy engineering to meet short- and long-term national needs. The Center’s research mission is accomplished through 3 distinct research thrust areas and strong education and outreach programs. The research areas include Bio-Energy (Energy crop cultivation and gasoline/diesel-like hydrocarbon fuel production from energy crops), Offshore Wind Energy (Massive offshore power generation and risk analysis with big data), and Environmental Sustainability (Produced water treatment and environmental impact evaluation with life cycle assessment). The Center’s education and outreach activities are carried through the Energy Engineering and Research Learning Initiative (EERLI), which includes a myriad of activities that engage K-12 students through graduate students. The researchers, including our students, have published 1 book, 185 peer-reviewed publications and have given more than 220 presentations at regional, national, and international conferences. CEES faculty and staff are also supported by other leveraged funding of about $12.82 M from NSF, USDA, Tran-SET, and industrial partners. CEES has supported more than 220 students, including 73 graduate, and 145 undergraduate students. The Center also established state-of-the-art research laboratories with high-quality equipment using leveraged funds.

15th Conference on Understanding Interventions 2023 

Center for Energy &amp; Environmental Sustainability (CEES)

Center for Energy & Environmental Sustainability (CEES)

poster

### Welcome to the 2023 Understanding Interventions/NSF CREST Annual Conference
Welcome to our annual conference, a gathering where the knowledge of our scientific communities share what they have researched since we last met. If it is your first time attending, then thank you for stepping into our world! If you are a returning guest, then thank you for coming back! Whether you are attending for the first or the fourteenth, we treasure your trust in what we have to offer. We promise to make it worth your while.

As in years past, we have put together an energetic collection of seminars, deeper dives, speeches, posters, and workshops to whet your appetite for learning. 

We are delighted that you have chosen to attend the 2023 Annual Understanding Interventions (UI) Conference, in partnership with the NSF Centers for Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) Program. 

### About the Conference 
This conference was established to facilitate dissemination and exchange of hypothesis-based research on interventions and initiatives that broaden participation in science and engineering research careers. The conference is designed to create a dialogue among behavioral/social science and education researchers, evaluators, and faculty in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields who participate in intervention programs. Workshops, sessions, and posters will communicate effective strategies from successful STEM intervention programs, present results from empirical research studies, and synthesize the translation of research findings into practice on STEM learning, undergraduate research, graduate education, and student retention.

Thank you again, and welcome! 
**[Download Program Agenda](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rTKTrWC2DOqnIF06po5xo4buAL3mPTqZ/view?usp=sharing)**

This conference was established to facilitate dissemination and exchange of hypothesis-based research on interventions and initiatives that broaden participation in science and engineering research careers. The conference is designed to create a dialogue among behavioral/social science and education researchers, evaluators, and faculty in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields who participate in intervention programs.

Center for Sustainable Lightweight Advanced Materials (C-SLAM) was established at Tuskegee University (TU) with the funding from NSF for a period of five years starting October 2018. Collaborators from within the USA include Auburn University (AU), Cornell University (CU) and several industry and national laboratories. International collaboration is built upon the existing relationships with researchers from Brazil and India. The research focus areas of the proposed center include three synergistic subprojects: I). Nanobiomaterials Extraction, II). Biopolymers Design and Synthesis, and III). Advanced Green Composites. Activities in Subproject I include synthesis of a variety of nanomaterials from waste resources like rice husk, bone ash, fish scales etc., extraction of cellulose in various forms and lignin from plants, and production of nanofibers. Activities in Subproject II include synthesis of biopolymers from lignocellulosic biomass, development of resins with excellent thermal and mechanical properties from agricultural and food processing wastes. Subproject III activities will focus on development of advanced green composites through use of plant fibers, fibers from liquid crystalline and bacterial cellulose. In addition, durability and toughening characteristics of advanced composites will be enhanced through development of autonomously self-healing polymers and composites, toughened fibers and resins. Partnership from within the USA and abroad, personnel from industry and national laboratories will ensure addressing basic science questions while solving global problems. 
Funder Acknowledgement: NSF Award: HRD NSF Crest #1735971

CREST: Center for Sustainable Lightweight Advanced Materials (C-SLAM)

This session will provide information about the NSF INCLUDES Program and the Workplace Equity for Persons with Disabilities in STEM and STEM Education solicitation. The NSF INCLUDES Program seeks to improve collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing the preparation, participation, and contributions of groups that have been historically excluded and/or under-served in the STEM enterprise. The Workplace Equity for Persons with Disabilities in STEM and STEM Education solicitation supports fundamental, applied, and translational research that advances knowledge and practice about diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible STEM and STEM education workplaces and postsecondary training environments for persons with disabilities.

NSF INCLUDES and Workplace Equity for People with Disabilities in STEM and STEM Education (30 mins.)

This session will provide information about the NSF EPSCoR, which enhances the research competitiveness of targeted jurisdictions by strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) capacity and capability through a diverse portfolio of investments from talent development to local infrastructure.

NSF EPSCoR

Professional Development Strategies to Unleash the Highest Potential of Faculty, Postdoctoral Scholars, and Graduate Students in the MSI Environment

In this session, the PD will provide an overall description of the EEC NSF division and present some of the funding opportunities in Engineering Education, Broadening Participation, Engineering Workforce Development, and Engineering Research.

Engineering Education

Is it working? Strategies to assess trainee and programmatic success

New Attendee Orientation: What’s UI All About?

Recognizing Data Needs, Identifying Data Sources and Implementing Program Evaluation and Training Evaluation for Federally-Funded Graduate Bioscience Training Programs

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