Student Engagement
CREL is committed to engaging students and educators across California to strengthen energy education and expand pathways to clean energy careers.
- K-14 STEM and Energy Academies: Educate K–14 students through interactive workshops, classroom visits, engaging presentations, and summer academies, bringing renewable energy concepts to life and highlighting future career opportunities in the clean energy sector.
- CREL Ambassadors: Empower community college students to lead climate and sustainability initiatives on their campuses, support outreach events, and promote renewable energy development within their communities.
- Applied Research Opportunities: Facilitate focused, ten-week research experience that pairs students with national laboratories, universities, and industry experts, providing hands-on opportunities to explore cutting-edge renewable energy research.
Empowering Students Through Climate and Energy Education
Building Tomorrow’s Leaders: CREL/MESA at Del Oro High
CREL, in collaboration with Bakersfield College’s MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) program, supported an afterschool club at Del Oro High School by providing activities and resources to support college readiness and inspire interest in the energy sector. The club focused on strengthening students' math skills while introducing them to real-world applications in renewable energy and carbon management. Through engaging, hands-on activities, students explored emerging technologies and learned about career pathways in clean energy and STEM fields. One activity included the use of PurpleAir sensors and mapping tools that informed students on levels of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) in the area. The mapping tool was used to study and understand how variables like weather, population density, and local pollutants impact air quality.
The year-long program culminated in an exciting educational field trip to UCLA, where
students gained exposure to college-level STEM environments and met with students
in the field. Supported by CREL's CRC Carbon Management Institute, the club created
a bridge between high school education and future academic and career opportunities
in California’s growing energy economy.
Project Partners:
Student-Led Research Projects
Applied research projects are a key way CREL is working to integrate academic research at the community college level. Each semester, a cohort of community college student researchers are recruited to complete a renewable energy research project working alongside faculty, industry experts, and scientists from national labs, such as NREL.
Students gain invaluable practice in research methods, data analytics, and communication skills, culminating in a final presentation given to local industry experts. These research projects are just one way CREL demonstrates its commitment to developing a strong energy-focused workforce.
Our research projects included:
Carbon Technologies: Conducted a life cycle assessment to evaluate the potential environmental footprint of carbon capture and storage facilities within various carbon-intensive sectors across California.
Microgrid Data Visualization: Partnered with UC Riverside to design data visualization tools showcasing energy and cost savings from the Weill Institute Microgrid.
EV & Renewable Charging Infrastructure Assessment: Assessed infrastructure needs for campus-wide EV charging at Bakersfield College in collaboration with NREL and industry partners.
Microgrid Design & Feasibility: Assisted in designing CREL’s microgrid at KCCD’s Weill Institute by analyzing solar and battery storage potential using NREL’s REopt tool.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Carbon Capture: Evaluated carbon capture technologies in Kern County, assessing costs, feasibility, safety, and permitting to determine local viability.
Project Partners:
CREL's Traveling Academy
CREL’s Traveling Academy brings hands-on clean energy learning directly to students across Kern County. Designed for 6th–10th graders, the program offers engaging STEM-focused activities such as solar car races, wind turbine building, and career exploration around renewable energy and sustainability.
By removing barriers such as cost and travel, the Academy ensures students from diverse
backgrounds can access high-quality STEM experiences and engaging, project-based learning.
Traveling Academy aims to expand its impact by working with junior high and high school
teachers across Kern County, equipping the next generation with the skills and inspiration
to drive California’s clean energy future.
Project Partners:
CREL Summer Academy - STEM Summer Camp at Bakersfield College
The best part of summer camp was the teachers Mersedes and Harmeet. The hardest part
of camp was making the solar cars. My favorite activity for each rotation was the
water wheel, wind turbine and the solar cars. My least favorite activity from each
rotation was the plant thing. It was messy.