2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Decarbonization Education for K-12: A Pilot Study on Transforming Student Perceptions and Career Trajectories in Clean Energy

Presented at Integrating Environmental Justice and Sustainability in K-12 Engineering Education

This paper presents a pilot study of an immersive, one-week summer camp aimed at fostering interest in clean energy careers among high school and middle school students from underserved minority backgrounds. Conducted at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in collaboration with the Stanford Building Decarbonization Learning Accelerator (BDLA), the camp engaged students in a range of hands-on activities focused on building decarbonization, renewable energy technologies, and robotics. Participants, primarily from Title I schools, were introduced to clean energy concepts through a combination of lectures, lab sessions, and interactive projects. The camp’s curriculum emphasized practical applications, including the use of solar panels, robotic assembly, and strategies for energy efficiency in buildings. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to assess shifts in student interest, understanding, and career aspirations in the fields of renewable energy and STEM more broadly. Preliminary results show a significant increase in both interest and understanding of clean energy concepts, with the percentage of students expressing a strong interest in renewable energy careers rising from 44% to 78%. Furthermore, the hands-on activities were found to be the most effective in maintaining engagement and promoting deeper learning. The study highlights the importance of experiential learning in enhancing STEM education for underrepresented communities and provides a framework for future iterations of the camp, with a focus on scaling the program and incorporating additional industry partnerships. This paper contributes to the body of knowledge on STEM education outreach, offering valuable insights into the design and implementation of programs that aim to diversify the clean energy workforce and address equity gaps in education.

Authors

Mohamed Khalafalla http://orcid.org/https://my-orcid?orcid=0000-0001-9621-4940 Florida A&M University - Florida State University [biography]

Dr. Mohamed Khalafalla is an Assistant Professor of Construction Engineering at Florida A&M University's School of Architecture and Engineering Technology. His research expertise includes risk analysis, cost estimating, and concrete materials research. Dr. Khalafalla has contributed extensively to projects sponsored by the Department of Energy and the Tennessee Department of Transportation, conducting studies in sustainability, risk analysis, cost estimation, and concrete performance. He also has significant expertise in STEM education and research, particularly in innovative teaching methodologies and curriculum development aimed at enhancing student engagement in STEM fields. Dr. Khalafalla has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and technical reports. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Auburn University, an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, an MBA from the University of Khartoum, and a Master of Science in Law (MSL) from Northwestern University.
Dr. Tejal Mulay http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3097-3888 Florida A&M University - Florida State University [biography]

Dr. Tejal Mulay is a Visiting Assistant Professor in Electronic Engineering Technology in the Division of Engineering Technology under the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology (SAET) at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). Dr. Mulay’s primary research area is speech signal processing, including but not limited to acoustic emotion recognition, digital signal processing, autonomous vehicles, and blockchain technology and its applications. She also has authored and co-authored articles in various technical journals and conferences in these areas of education in the engineering field.

Dr. Mulay has been working with minority students in the STEM fields since her graduate school days. She has been assistant director for the REAP summer camps funded by NSF, which aimed towards increasing the participation of minority students in STEM research. She has also been part of the FAMU STEM Day team, assisting with the demonstration and experiment portion of this annual event. She has assisted many undergraduate students in getting internships and scholarships through various programs.

Dr. Mulay received her master's of science degree and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Florida State University and her Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in India.
Dr. Doreen Kobelo Regalado http://orcid.org/https://0009-0008-9020-6227 Florida A&M University - Florida State University [biography]

Dr. Doreen Kobelo Regalado is an Associate Professor and Director of the Construction Engineering Technology Program at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), within the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology. Her research expertise spans transportation engineering, focusing on traffic operations and safety, vehicle automation, intelligent transportation systems, and commercial and heavy construction management. Dr. Kobelo has successfully secured research funding from state, federal, and private entities, contributing significantly to advancements in these areas. She has authored and co-authored numerous articles for technical journals and conferences, particularly in traffic safety, operations, and engineering education.
Dr. Kobelo is committed to promoting STEM opportunities for minority students. She has hosted the National Summer Transportation Institute, a program funded by the Federal Highway Administration that introduces high school students to transportation-related STEM fields. Additionally, she has played an active role in FAMU's annual STEM Day, organizing hands-on demonstrations and experiments. As FAMU’s representative to the Transportation Research Board, Dr. Kobelo has also helped graduate and undergraduate students secure Dwight David Eisenhower Fellowships through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Dr. Kobelo serves as a member of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Occupant Protection Coalition, which aims to address key occupant protection issues and develop initiatives to reduce crashes involving unrestrained occupants.
She earned her Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from Florida State University, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Kyle Spence University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Dr. Behnam Shadravan http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7643-7098 Florida A&M University [biography]

Education
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, Major: Structure, Minor: Geotechnical, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada(2010)
M.S. Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Hydraulic Structures, Construction, Sharif Univ. of Technology, Tehran, Iran (1996)
B.S. Civil Engineering, Shari

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025

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