{"683550":{"#nid":"683550","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Energy Unplugged: A Georgia Tech Summer Camp Sparks Passion for Energy Innovation Among High Schoolers","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThis summer, the Strategic Energy Institute (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003ESEI\u003C\/a\u003E) and the Energy Policy and Innovation Center (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u003C\/a\u003E) hosted Energy Unplugged, an education and outreach program focused on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM). The annual summer camp is organized through the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\/about\u0022\u003ECenter for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC)\u003C\/a\u003E, a unit of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lifetimelearning.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECollege of Lifetime Learning\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;at Georgia Tech. As one of Tech\u2019s most sought-after programs for high school students, the weeklong summer camp continues to spark interest in energy innovation and develop foundational skills in science.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEnergy Unplugged introduces high school students to Georgia Tech\u2019s vibrant innovation ecosystem, engaging young minds in shaping a more forward-thinking energy future,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/christine-conwell\u0022\u003EChristine Conwell\u003C\/a\u003E, interim executive director of SEI.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/richard-simmons\u0022\u003ERich Simmons\u003C\/a\u003E, SEI\u2019s director of Research and Studies and a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E faculty instructor, has led the camp\u2019s curriculum since 2019. Under his leadership, students engage in applied learning experiences that introduce energy efficiency principles, foster creative thinking, and encourage real-world decision-making.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEnergy Unplugged features interactive activities and field trips which provide students tangible exposure to working energy facilities and STEM careers,\u201d Simmons said. \u201cAs an integral part of our education and outreach efforts, the camp continues to inspire the next generation to think critically about energy and its impact on their communities and the world.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCollaborating with SEI on Energy Unplugged allows us to amplify CEISMC\u2019s mission of expanding access to high-quality STEM experiences,\u201d said Sirocus Barnes, director of Expanded Learning Programs at CEISMC. \u201cBy connecting students with real-world energy challenges and Georgia Tech\u2019s research ecosystem, we\u2019re helping them envision themselves as future innovators and problem-solvers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe week began with a hands-on workshop where students constructed mousetrap-powered cars, applying core physics concepts and the mechanics of energy conversion. In another activity, students raced remote-controlled cars to highlight the importance of swift decision-making while accounting for external variables. These experiments offered students a dynamic understanding of the relationship between energy and physics. Camp participants also explored electricity use in everyday life by experimenting with solar charging setups, learning how devices like cellphones can be powered through solar energy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne participant, a rising high school senior, noted the program\u0027s differentiation from the typical classroom model: \u201cWe had a lot of experiences that aren\u2019t typically offered in high school, which gave me a greater understanding of physics.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe camp also featured site visits, including a tour of The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/livingbuilding.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EKendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design\u003C\/a\u003E \u2014 the first building in the Southeast to meet the standards of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/livingbuilding.gatech.edu\/living-building-challenge\u0022\u003ELiving Building Challenge\u003C\/a\u003E. Students explored the building\u2019s facilities, including its rooftop garden and photovoltaic canopy. Additional field trips included tours of Oglethorpe\u2019s Georgia System Operations plant and the Morgan Falls hydroelectric power plant, which offered students firsthand exposure to how energy is generated and managed across the state.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo conclude the week, students collaborated in teams on a mini design challenge: devising a sustainable taco business. They were tasked with cooking beans efficiently using either a slow cooker or a pressure cooker and learning how to balance time, energy use, and customer satisfaction. This final project reinforced lessons in energy trade-offs and problem-solving. Teams presented their findings to an audience of parents, faculty, and staff \u2014 a memorable opportunity that allowed them to develop public speaking and technical presentation skills as well.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe presentation on the last day of camp encourages students to use their creativity in different ways to form new solutions and ideas,\u201d said Jake Churchill, graduate student and former camp counselor, \u201cwhich provides great exposure to an open-minded, nonlinear approach to engineering \u2014 and a great teacher, Rich Simmons.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EContributed by: Katie Strickland\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThis summer, the Strategic Energy Institute (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003ESEI\u003C\/a\u003E) and the Energy Policy and Innovation Center (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u003C\/a\u003E) hosted Energy Unplugged, an education and outreach program focused on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM). The annual summer camp is organized through the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\/about\u0022\u003ECenter for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC)\u003C\/a\u003E, a unit of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lifetimelearning.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECollege of Lifetime Learning\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;at Georgia Tech. As one of Tech\u2019s most sought-after programs for high school students, the weeklong summer camp continues to spark interest in energy innovation and develop foundational skills in science.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"As one of Tech\u2019s most sought-after programs for high school students, the Energy Unplugged camp continues to spark interest in energy innovation and develop foundational skills in science."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2025-08-05 19:04:35","changed_gmt":"2025-08-08 01:37:24","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677587":{"id":"677587","type":"image","title":"1000048711--Energy-Unplugged-Final-Day-Presentations.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERich Simmons and the Energy Unplugged participants during the final day presentations\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1754421093","gmt_created":"2025-08-05 19:11:33","changed":"1754421093","gmt_changed":"2025-08-05 19:11:33","alt":"2025EnergyUnplugged-SummerCamp-FinalDayPresentation","file":{"fid":"261500","name":"1000048711--Energy-Unplugged-Final-Day-Presentations.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/1000048711--Energy-Unplugged-Final-Day-Presentations.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/1000048711--Energy-Unplugged-Final-Day-Presentations.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":565305,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/05\/1000048711--Energy-Unplugged-Final-Day-Presentations.jpg?itok=eGgfXwSZ"}},"677588":{"id":"677588","type":"image","title":"IMG_8369-RemoteCarActivity-EnergyUnplugged2025.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergy Unplugged camper testing a remote car at Georgia Tech Green\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1754421219","gmt_created":"2025-08-05 19:13:39","changed":"1754421219","gmt_changed":"2025-08-05 19:13:39","alt":"Energy Unplugged camper testing a remote car at Georgia Tech Green ","file":{"fid":"261501","name":"IMG_8369-RemoteCarActivity-EnergyUnplugged2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/IMG_8369-RemoteCarActivity-EnergyUnplugged2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/IMG_8369-RemoteCarActivity-EnergyUnplugged2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":549567,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/05\/IMG_8369-RemoteCarActivity-EnergyUnplugged2025.jpg?itok=z3OBC76v"}},"677589":{"id":"677589","type":"image","title":"IMG_1907.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergy Unplugged camp visit to the Morgan Falls hydroelectric plant\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1754421640","gmt_created":"2025-08-05 19:20:40","changed":"1754421640","gmt_changed":"2025-08-05 19:20:40","alt":"Energy Unplugged camp visit to the Morgan Falls hydroelectric plant","file":{"fid":"261502","name":"IMG_1907.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/IMG_1907.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/IMG_1907.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":494643,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/05\/IMG_1907.jpg?itok=EB8ur_9j"}}},"media_ids":["677587","677588","677589"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPriya Devarajan || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}