BRIDGES and NABT partnered to bridge today’s problem solvers to tomorrow’s clean energy future!
The Bioenergy Research and Education Bridge Program (BRIDGES) partnered with the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) to host the BRIDGES Bioenergy 101 Virtual Workshop on Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. Educators were introduced to bioenergy national laboratory research that can be integrated into classrooms.
Created by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory, BRIDGES is a bioenergy education curriculum that includes four case studies covering sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), upcycling plastics, bioenergy feedstocks, and waste-to-energy potential. These case studies are designed to introduce students to exciting careers in the bioenergy industry, and can be taught in diverse settings, including high schools, technical and community colleges, and universities.
This BRIDGES workshop focused on the Regional Feedstocks: Are They the Answer to Achieving a Net Zero Future? case study, which evaluates regional biomass and waste resources for conversion to transportation biofuels. Educators discovered how BRIDGES case studies can provide opportunities to understand culturally responsive agriculture and energy practices, while increasing awareness about environmental and community impacts.
During the workshop, panelists from DOE and the national laboratories:
- Provided an overview of the BRIDGES program.
- Explained how to access the BRIDGES National Laboratory Case Study Toolkits.
- Participated in and break-out sessions to review the Regional Feedstocks Case Study.
- Empowered Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) educators to facilitate learning with knowledge-building bioenergy curriculum.
- Demonstrated how BRIDGES can provide an opportunity for students to develop and strengthen skills in problem solving, complex decision-making, and research and development dynamics.
In case you missed the workshop, download the presentation and listen to the recording. If you were able to participate, take a minute to listen again, and if you have any questions, sign up for our next BRIDGES office hours on November 21st from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET. For more information, email [email protected].