ESTEP Projects for student veterans - CSUSM
Abstract
ABSTRACT This proposal recommends partnership between the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) to coordinate on going national initiatives to engage veterans—especially “wounded warriors”—in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) careers in government and emerging industries. It will create the opportunity for student veterans majoring in STEM disciplines to engage in research within ONR’s Energy Systems Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP) projects by providing internships to pique their interest in emerging technologies that reduce energy consumption and to better prepare them for STEM careers. This model has proven successful in the past by complementing and enhancing student veterans’ academic development and progression toward degrees in STEM. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR), the Naval Post Graduate School, and Naval Facilities Engineering Command conduct ESTEP projects throughout California and elsewhere in the country. ESTEP projects provide student veterans with hands-on experience through which the interns have the opportunity to apply scientific principles and practice evaluating technology to improve energy efficiency and sustainability. The ESTEP projects immerse the students in a real world laboratory that supplements and builds on the theory and education the students receive in their coursework. Each veteran has the opportunity to spend valuable time with mentors within the host organizations who take on the responsibility of developing and educating the student veterans. The veterans are exposed to the lives and work of scientists and engineers working within the federal government. They learn about project management and the decision-making process involved in conducting research. In addition, the military experience and qualities the veterans exhibit have benefited the ONR ESTEP projects since students bring their understanding of Navy and Marine Corps systems and infrastructure to the projects. In 2009, the National Science Foundation sponsored a workshop to explore the post 9/11 GI Bill benefit and examine the population it serves. The workshop participants concluded that a unique and important national contribution to the future of both military veterans and the United States STEM workforce would be the creation of an education/career development program focused on stimulating post-9/11 veterans to use their educational benefits in programs that will lead them to careers in STEM. The ESTEP Program supports this goal and is built on the foundations of California’s strong commitment to supporting veterans in education. The proposed project period is three years at $300,000 per year. The goal is to engage 15 student veterans per year as interns in the ESTEP projects. CSUSM will coordinate the recruitment, training, and administrative support of student veterans. Veterans enrolled at any accredited university are eligible to take part in this program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512525
Entities
People
- Patricia Reily
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy