Newest Blog about the National Energy Education Summit

http://energy.gov/eere/articles/national-energy-education-summit-electrify-dc National Energy

Joshua Sneideman Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow KEY FACTS

The National Energy Education Summit will be held on January 26 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. Register here. •Energy literacy is an understanding of the nature and role of energy in the world and in daily lives, accompanied by the ability to apply this understanding to answer questions and solve problems. Did you know that the United Nations named 2015 the international year of light? Last year’s Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for the invention of improved light-emitting diodes, better known as LED lamps. Yet, many people switch on the lights without knowing where the electricity comes from, how it is made, or the impacts of their energy-use decisions. On January 26, energy educators from across the country will convene in Washington, D.C., to address the need for nationwide energy literacy. Join us for the National Energy Education Summit, hosted by the Council of Energy Research and Education Leaders. You still have time to register and join the conversation about how to teach and collaborate on energy. The event will bring together energy and climate education thought leaders to discuss new strategies for increasing public understanding of energy. Improved energy literacy can help citizens make informed energy use decisions and educate the next generation of policy makers and technology innovators. In addition, the new energy economy will need a workforce with improved skills and knowledge. The conference will feature presenters, posters, symposia, and workshops on a variety of energy education topics (see full list), including these two sessions co-organized by the Energy Department: •Energizing Energy and Climate Education: This symposium will focus on actions to achieve the goals of improving energy and climate literacy, enhancing access to existing resources, and incorporating social media in our strategies. •Energy in Higher Education: Increasing Opportunities for Energy Studies and Capacity-Building: This workshop will feature two successive sessions on creating opportunities and resources for capacity-building for post-secondary energy education. Session 1: Charting a course for the future of energy education in post-secondary higher education. Session 2: Designing a platform and mechanism for energy education content and knowledge sharing. Register and find more information about the summit. Join the conversation on social media using #energyliteracy and #energyedsummit to tell us what you think are the critical challenges in energy education. Learn more about the Energy Department’s Energy Literacy Initiative, which includes a course framework (also available in Spanish) for all grade levels and a series of videos to help educators think about the interdisciplinary nature of energy. Post-secondary energy educators can also get involved in the Energy 101 Initiative, which seeks to increase student opportunities to enter the energy workforce.