Workforce Development Initiatives

In early 2024, CIEES designed and hosted a ten-visit Transmission Awareness Program for Eastern Suffolk BOCES’ 140 trade electrical students. Rotating in groups of 20, the students each made two visits to the CIEES microgrid lab and Spellman High Voltage DC Lab to learn how increased electrification will alter traditional electrician-focused careers. Sponsored by the New York Power Authority (NYPA), students were provided lunch at each visit and instructors from NYPA conducted additional lessons at BOCES centers for hands-on mapping of transmission lines. Upon completion, the 140 students were issued digital badges in Transmission Awareness with both Stony Brook and NYPA logos.

CIEES took part in Advanced Energy Center-hosted monthly tours of K-12 schools. While at the AERTC, schools visit the CIEES lab to interact with researchers and graduate students about power electronics. The CIEES lab is one of four energy focused labs the students see, before visiting CEWIT for advanced technology demos, and concludes with industry-provided lunch and workforce conversations. Tours have been sponsored by the following indutry partners:

In Spring 2024 CIEES was one of the participating labs that hosted the New York State Master Teachers for an evening event on K-12 energy content. 20 teachers visited the CIEES lab and interacted with the graduate students on what subjects they previously studied in electrical and computer engineering to embark upon a career modeling utilities.

In Spring 2024 40 seventh graders from Middle Country Central School District visited the R&D Park to present their Offshore Wind Mini-Capstone projects to industry, academia, and researchers. Vineyard Offshore sponsored lunch and provided feedback to the students on their projects that asked “What is Offshore Wind,” and was then followed by individual research projects including levelized cost of energy, effects of offshore wind on electricity prices, environmental factors, and how power moves onshore.

CIEES was awarded a grant from the Offshore Wind Training Institute (OWTI), in the amount of $297,000. The project includes HVDC Transmission docking stations from Festo Systems and a partnership with Farmingdale State College and Suffolk County Community College for development and delivery of a 30-hour workforce training program. The program focuses on modeling and simulation of offshore wind energy transmission and integration throughout the grid and is designed for community college graduates from related electrical engineering and energy systems courses. CIEES provided a required 30% cost-match in the amount of $83,820. The stations and program will reside in a new lab to be created for hands-on HVDC.

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