2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Bridging Academia and Industry Through Project-Based Learning: Insights from a High School Renewable Energy Engineering Summer Camp

Presented at Design in Engineering Education Division (DEED) - Embedding Industry in Design Education

Abstract

The 2024 Exploring Renewable Energy Engineering Summer Camp at George Mason University offered high school students an immersive introduction to renewable energy engineering. This innovative program utilized project-based learning, featuring interactive labs, group projects, and virtual reality (VR) sessions to tackle real-world challenges. Central to the camp was its strong academia-industry collaboration, highlighted by an industry panel with representatives from AES Corporation, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Dominion Energy, Hispanic in Energy (HIE), MPR Associates, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC), and Solar Hands-on Instructional Network of Excellence (SHINE). These interactions provided students with valuable insights into career pathways in the energy sector. By combining hands-on projects, collaborative problem-solving, and direct engagement with industry leaders, the camp equipped students with technical skills and professional awareness, preparing them to address future challenges in sustainable energy. This paper outlines the program's framework, implementation, and outcomes, illustrating the integration of industry expertise in an academic setting to inspire the next generation of engineers.

Authors

Dr. Liling Huang George Mason University [biography]

Liling Huang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at George Mason University and the Dominion Energy Faculty Fellow in Power and Energy Systems. She also serves as a Consulting Principal Engineer at Dominion Energy. Huang earned her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and is a Senior Member of IEEE, as well as a certified Professional Electrical Engineer in Taiwan.
Before transitioning to academia, Huang worked for the Taiwan Government, where she was responsible for designing and procuring electrical, mechanical, and HVAC systems for large-scale commercial, industrial, residential, and high-rise buildings. She also conducted research on Smart Buildings and Energy Management Systems.
Huang established the Power Engineering Program and actively supports renewable energy-related projects at George Mason University. Her research interests include power systems protection and stability, microgrids, energy management, and smart building technology.
Kursten Szabos George Mason University [biography]

Kursten A. Szabos is a current PhD student in the Power and Energy Engineering concentration of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of George Mason University. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. She holds a B.S in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech and a M.S in Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech.
As a Systems Engineer, Kursten helped charter the Single Integrated Air Picture (SIAP) Joint Program Office (JPO) and develop the architecture framework for the program by coordinating the efforts of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. She led the Engineering Process Group (EPG) for the SIAP JPO and developed process documentation strategies and guidebooks in accordance with the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) process in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University - Software Engineering Institute (CMU-SEI). Kursten co-authored two documents regarding Process Documentation Strategies with the CMU-SEI. She was previously a software development lead and test lead for a large-scale government project.
Allyson Eastman Google [biography]

Allyson Eastman is a social impact and workforce development leader with extensive experience designing and implementing inclusive talent strategies across the technology and infrastructure sectors. Currently, she is a Google Data Centers Community Development and Engagement Regional Lead, leading initiatives to strengthen local talent pipelines and support community-focused innovation. Prior to Google, she managed economic and workforce development programs at Amazon Web Services, including the launch of the global Amazon Welcome Door refugee hiring program. Her work emphasizes social impact, strategic partnerships, and sustainable growth in emerging and underserved communities.

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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For those interested in:

Academia-Industry Connections
Broadening Participation in Engineering and Engineering Technology
engineering
Pre-College