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Project Profile

Project Title:

Hydrogen Technology Learning Centers for California, Florida, and New York

Contractor:

University of Central Florida
Office of Research
12443 Research Parkway Suite 207
Orlando, FL 32826-3252
Attn.: Mary B. Stanley
Email: mstanley@mail.ucf.edu

Program Area:

Hydrogen

Partners:

California Energy Commission (CEC)
NY State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Project Description:

Create four Hydrogen Technology Learning Centers, called H2USA Centers,” to educate students, government officials, industry members, the general public and others on the hydrogen economy, technology, and applications. The strategic location of the proposers (California, Florida and New York) covers the northeast, southeast, and western United States with a coordinated and integrated program to educate a wide variety of audiences on hydrogen and its applications.

The unique nature of STAC requires that projects be supported by multiple State entities, and to the extent necessary any other entity. As indicated in the STAC Agreement, it is the Contractor’s responsibility to coordinate the execution of work under the Contract, incorporated by reference hereto. Contractor, in conjunction with the other State entities, and to the extent necessary any other entity, shall conduct the project in accordance with the Management Plan (approach) described below.

Management Plan (Approach):

Florida will serve as the team leader and single point of contact with NASEO regarding this contract and the conduct, direction, and management of this collaborative effort. for this project. The work will be shared equally by all three major participants. The project will be managed by a Steering Committee comprised of three representatives from California, two from Florida, and two from New York. Each participating institution will appoint its representatives. The Steering Committee will assure that there is close ongoing cooperation among the participants and that the centers benefit from the expertise and skills of each of the partners. The project Steering Committee will meet immediately after the contract is awarded. At this time, the exact responsibilities for each of the tasks will be assigned. This project consists of the following three tasks:

Task 1: Develop Education Media

Each participating state will be part of the development of a variety of educational media to include interactive, hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, and general and technical information. An inventory will be conducted of all existing hydrogen and fuel cell educational materials currently available. The partners are familiar with many organizations across the U.S. and with the educational exhibits that they have developed (including the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the National Hydrogen Association, Hydrogen 2000, General Motors, Ford, and BMW). Another important aspect of the development of education media will be the creation of a web site operated with input by all four of the centers. The site will provide a virtual center online and will include educational materials, general interest publications, technical documents, and other information updated on an ongoing basis. The web site will serve as a clearinghouse for educators.

Task 2: Develop Education Programs

A detailed survey will be conducted of the community college and university hydrogen courses and degree program now being offered within the U.S. The survey will be used as the base to build the educational programs developed in this task. Also, as in the previous task, existing material will be used whenever possible. This task builds upon the educational materials produced in Task I and develops educational programs and classes that are intended to be offered to community college and university students and faculty, safety officials and other government officials, potential end-users, technicians, commercial groups, and the interested public. The programs will emphasize the use of internet-based education to maximize transfer of the program material. A series of continuing education programs will also be developed and offered at the centers.

Task 3: Conduct Education Programs

The material developed in Tasks 1 and 2 will be used to deliver the educational program to the specific audiences ( regulators, legislators, city officials, NGO’s; K-12; college and graduate students; and the public). The audiences will play a very important part in the offerings of the educational programs. There will be a strong relationship to workforce development, for new technicians to develop the infrastructure, and for workers to deliver the related goods and services. These programs will be designed for ease of replication in other states. In addition, a number of continuing education courses for educators, utilities, industry, the general public, and other specialized audiences will be held at each of the centers on an ongoing basis. In the area of community college and university course development, the participants will identify potential courses and degree programs and develop materials to bring these courses into the curriculums. Another important aspect of this task will be the use of feedback from the students who take the courses to modify and change the curriculum.

Project Tasks, Status, and Deliverables

Last Updated: 03/14/11