ORNL’s summer programs also extend research experiences to educators. During the Teacher Summer Institute, educators spend four weeks conducting research alongside laboratory staff while exploring emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, nuclear science and quantum science. Participants return to their classrooms with authentic research experiences, new lesson plans and practical examples that help inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
ORNL also hosted a regional cohort of Quantum, Computing, Math, and Physics for Educators, known as QCaMP, a national initiative led by Sandia National Laboratories and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Through virtual instruction, hands-on learning and interactions with ORNL scientists, K-12 educators explored foundational quantum concepts and gained resources to bring quantum science into their classrooms. ORNL partnered with the Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative to expand access to the program for educators across East Tennessee.
Although each program serves a different audience, together they form a continuum of opportunities that supports learners at every stage, from middle school students discovering STEM for the first time to educators expanding their expertise and students preparing for college and future careers.
Malone is one of several students who returned to ORNL this summer after participating in an earlier education program. Their continued involvement illustrates how sustained STEM experiences can help students build skills, develop professional connections and explore potential education and career paths. By creating opportunities for learners at every stage, ORNL is investing in the scientific and technical talent needed to strengthen American leadership in science and technology. For Malone, that investment began with a single summer camp. This fall, she will attend the University of Tennessee, carrying with her the skills, confidence and inspiration she gained through her experiences at ORNL. Her story demonstrates how one opportunity can spark a lifelong interest in STEM and help launch the scientists and engineers of tomorrow.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. DOE’s Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit energy.gov/science .