The fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) have lacked diversity for decades. According to the Pew Research Center, Black workers make up only 9% of STEM professionals despite making up 11% of the total U.S. workforce. Hispanic workers make up only 7% of STEM professionals while representing 16% of the country’s total workforce. Recently, the U.S. government announced plans to reverse this trend.
The DOE will grant $17.3 million worth of college internships and research opportunities in STEM for students and educators. Among the institutions that will receive funding are Historically Black Colleges and Universities, known as HBCUs, and other institutions that serve minorities. Additionally, recipients will get to use the DOE’s national labs.
So far, the DOE has selected more than 800 undergraduates and 90 community college students, 20 percent of which are from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), who will work with National Laboratory scientists and engineers this summer.
The investments are part of President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan, a $40 billion initiative that aims to modernize laboratories throughout the U.S. It includes $20 billion to boost STEM programs at HBCUs and MSIs, including the creation of a new HBCU-affiliated National Lab that will center on climate. The plan will invest $10 billion in research and development at these institutions and $15 billion to build as many as 200 centers of excellence for research at HBCUs.
The DOE said the funding is part of its commitment to bring greater diversity to American research institutions.
“And that starts with supporting STEM at HBCUs and other Minority Serving Institutions, so they can nurture the diverse clean energy workforce we need,” the DOE announced.