The National Academies "Rising Above the Gathering Storm" Report

1. The National Academies"Rising Above the Gathering Storm" Report One of many steps in the process of transforming STEM education in America. Jeff Muhs Director, Strategic Planning Engineering Science & Technology Division Oak Ridge National Laboratory May 31, 2007

2. My innovations are merely the fruits of your labor.

3. America’s prosperity…. • due primarily to technical innovation • flows directly from quality education • tightly-coupled to big issues of today • Competition for knowledge-intensive jobs • Foreign oil addiction • at risk because kids are not interested in careers involving STEM • continues only if we stretch our imagination, confront conventional wisdom, take risks, and try new things

4. My story of a few big dreamers • who used their: • - experience • - knowledge • - influence • and moved the • ball forward

5. My story of a few big dreamers • who used their: • - experience • - knowledge • - influence • moved the ball • forward My personal goal: Put America on a path to energy self-sufficiency.

6. My two assignments • Energy Policy Act of 2005 • Background information • Meetings • Hearings • Floor debate • House/Senate Conference • Competitiveness strategy development

7. My two assignments • Energy Policy Act of 2005 • Background information • Meetings • Hearings • Floor debate • House/Senate Conference • Competitiveness strategy development “Jeff, you don’t have to become an expert on the issue, you just have to find out who the experts are.”

8. The pivotal speech The National Academies • He asked the experts: “What are the top 10 things we should do – in priority order - to successfully compete, prosper, and be secure in the 21st century?” Steve Chu Craig Barrett Norm Augustine

10. Key challenges coupled to scientific and engineering prowess: • Creating high-quality jobs for Americans • Responding to the nation’s need for clean, affordable, and reliable energy • Significant drain on economy • Apollo-like program needed • Method of bolstering research in physical sciences

11. Structured ideas into four areas: • K-12 Education • Research • Higher Education • Economic Policy

12. My personal saga continued…. • commutes were terrible • sleep deprivation set in • attempt to relocate family failed

13. Post Energy Policy Act of 2005 events • Hurricane Katrina • Energy supply disruptions • Gasoline price shocks • Growing oil imports • Wealth transfer to unstable nations My assessment: America’s foreign, economic, and environmental policies were still being held somewhat hostage to a energy policy adrift. My personal goal hadn’t been met.

14. Progress on competitiveness quickened after the report issued • Energy Committee hearing • Elevated to full committee • Senator Alexander began to dream big

15. Progress on competitiveness quickened after the report issued • Energy Committee hearing • Elevated to full committee • Senator Alexander began to dream big • Science and Technology Caucus event “The single most important thing that America must do is keep its competitive edge in science and technology. The single most important problem for science and technology to solve is creating an affordable and reliable supply of clean energy.” Senator Bingaman Senator Domenici Steve Chu

16. The Convergence of Policies: Then

17. The Convergence of Policies: Then and Now

18. Excerpts from EPAct of 2005 “There is hereby established the United State Commission on North American Energy Freedom.” “The purpose …..is to establish a United States commission to make recommendations for a coordinated and comprehensive North American energy policy that will achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2025....” “Within 12 months after the effective date of this act, the Commission shall submit to Congress and the President a final report of its findings regarding North American energy freedom.”

19. One page summary

20. The Oval Office Visit Dec. 15, 2005

23. Translational Energy R&D • Addresses known energy system needs and problems with new scientific knowledge, materials and processes. Examples:

24. Thinking Transformationally • Look beyond today's known needs and requirements by envisioning what future energy systems might consist of and pursue opportunities for bringing entirely new core capabilities to energy systems. • Create New Paradigms & R&D Market Space – If we’re already doing it, it’s likely not transformational • Fill, (not necessarily bridge) the gap between fundamental discoveries in science and existing energy technologies. • Accelerate development and lower technical risk until ideas either prove their promise or do not gain traction and are eliminated.

25. Translation & Transformation can occur at many different levels Three Examples Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Buildings Lighting Lamps Solar Energy Photovoltaics Thin Film PVs Transport Vehicles Engines Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational

26. Most initiatives are at the lower levels Three Examples Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Buildings Lighting Lamps Solar Energy Photovoltaics Thin Film PVs Transport Vehicles Engines Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Observation: Most transformational energy R&D is happening at the component or material level today rather than at the systems-level. Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Incremental Translational Transformational Solid state devices Nanostructured materials Hydrogen fuel cells

27. Presidential Initiatives in Energy R&D ORNL 2006-G01095 EFG

29. An example of insider thinking: “All routes for solar energy utilization require the functional steps of capture, conversion, and storage.”

30. Hidden risks to insiders grow as new ideas move from materials R&D to systems R&D High Societal,Socio-Technical, Political, Organizational, Institutional, Personal, Programmatic Risk Low ORNL 2006-G01095 EFG

31. New paradigms are possible

32. One idea for moving forward • Understand paradigms at each level • Challenge the paradigms with new ideas - form crossfunctional teams populated by creative people - be disruptive - confront conventional wisdom - take risks - dream big • Use your knowledge, experience, and influence to move the ball forward

33. Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder

34. My experience this spring • > 250 hours spent on baseball • < 10 hours spent on STEM education High School Baseball Game

35. Is it possible to replicate the features of other competitive sports in STEM competitions? • Head-to-head competition • Dynamic decision-making • Time-limited • Real-time participation • Visually stimulating • Entertaining • Suspenseful

36. If so, the outcomes could be dramatic.

37. Objective Idea # 2 • Deploy a hybrid solar lighting system in at least one middle school in all 95 Tennessee counties. • Simultaneously provide: • experiential, hands-on learning tool for physical and biological science exploration, • visual and interactive energy-efficiency and renewable energy demonstration, and • documented method of improving student learning and reducing absenteeism through extensive and well-designed use of natural light in classrooms.

38. A storm is gathering • the stakes are high but: • we can influence the outcome • addressing the problem will require transformation rather than reformation

39. A storm is gathering • the stakes are high but: • we can influence the outcome • addressing the problem will require transformation rather than reformation “What are the top five things we should do – in priority order – at the federal, state, and local level to inspire kids to pursue careers in STEM and engage parents, communities, and the nation in the process?”