2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Our MSI has a well-established record of providing a wide array of quality college and pre-college programs in every academic discipline in the Maryland School Systems (MSS). We present our development and implementation activities designed to increase the number of traditionally underserved and underrepresented minority students interested especially in nuclear science and STEM programs in general. The impact of this approach in addressing these challenges and opportunities together with the skills (funds of knowledge in action) in the Experiment-Centric Pedagogy (ECP) framework has led us to an awareness of the effect of the challenges and realization of innovative and practical solutions. Our initial activities include direct experiential learning and research, using advanced nuclear technology, exposure to professionals working in the nuclear energy industry and provision of skills to K-12 teachers, parents and adult family members to work with and encourage their children in STEM activities and nuclear science programs. This in turn has resulted in a deeper, sustained student engagement and understanding of some mitigating factors that our students are dealing with and need to be addressed to enhance a nuclear workforce pipeline at an MSI.