During the week of July 11-15, 2016, CURENT Engineering Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) hosted approximately 20 high school students from across the country to learn about how the electric grid is being adapted to incorporate renewable sources such as solar arrays and wind turbine farms. The students were part of a one week summer enrichment program called Smart Grid Summer. They worked with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute faculty, graduate students and visiting undergraduate researchers doing hands-on activities. A few of the programs taught were Introduction to Circuits, Solar Irradiance Measuement Project and the Power Grid Game. RPI also provided tours to industry partners such as GE Energy to see first-hand their Wind Turbine Control Center and the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) that operates competitive wholesale markets to manage the flow of electricity across New York. Dr. Joe Chow, RPI campus director, says" It is important for future students to see and gain appreciation for the complexities of a stable and secure electrical system, such as America has, that continues to grow and move into an independent infrastructure made up of alternative energies."
Above: Jason Paisley of Tuskeegee University teaches the Smart Grid Summer Program at RPI
Frederick Dowuona-Hammond (Tuskeegee University), Joseph Garcia-Diaz (University of Puerto Rico) and Jason Pasley (Tuskeegee University) taught two modules during the week long Smart Gird program: Introduction to Circuits and the Solar Irradiance Measurement Project.
Above: Joseph Garcia-Diaz (University of Puerto Rico) instructs students during the Smart Grid program.
Above: RPI Camp Tour - high school students, graduate students and REUs visit NYISO.
