Starting as a pilot program in 2012 with just 38 participants, The Duke Energy Academy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, has quickly grown to become one of the state’s most talked-about summer learning programs for high school juniors and seniors, as well as teachers.

The intensive week-long program has a two-fold purpose: inspire students to enter the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines and consider energy-related career fields; and inspire teachers while providing resources for them to communicate the importance of STEM disciplines to their students.

In a competitive application process, 27 teachers and 53 students were selected for the June 2014 academy from a pool of over 280 applicants. (For 2015, 400 applications have been received – interest in the program keeps growing!) A grant from the Duke Energy Foundation allowed participants to attend the academy at no cost to them; teachers also received a small cash stipend.

Through lectures, tours, hands-on projects and creative fun, the academy’s participants engaged in a wide range of energy-related learning opportunities. They designed wind turbine blades and solar farms; simulated smart grid supply and demand dynamics; and performed experiments related to photovoltaic thin film, batteries, biofuels, fuel cells, waste heat power generation and nuclear fuel. One big highlight – a tour of the company’s Cayuga coal-fired generating station.

Teachers also collaborated with Purdue faculty to create 18 lesson plans on energy topics, which are available online at no charge at purdue.edu/discoverypark/energy/energyacademy/.

Said one teacher: “I feel like I have a better understanding of the behind-the-scenes workings of … coal power plants and wind farms.”

And from a student: “(The academy) was the best week of my life, making new friends and learning so much … my expectations were blown away.”