| Abstract |
Global energy demands are increasing while the number of students interested in power engineering is decreasing. The introduction of alternative energy education stimulates new students’ interest in the field and heightens concerns for the environment and future energy supply. Student competitions in alternative energy create publicity and attract students while presenting a real-world engineering problem. Improving consumer alternative energy education will promote an increase in sales in the alternative energy industry, causing an increase in demand for alternative energy educated engineers. The focus of this paper is not on the advantages or disadvantages of alternative energy as a technology, but rather on the role it plays within education and the role education plays within alternative energy. A recent look at student power engineering trends involving an NSF funded center is presented. Power engineering undergraduate student enrollment data is shown for a university over the past ten years. The foundation of this paper suggests the importance of student competitions in gaining momentum for both student participation and community approval regarding alternative energy. The paper specifically details a student competition involving fourteen U.S. higher learning institutions on a common goal of lowering the costs associated with power electronics in domestic alternative energy supplied from fuel cells. Additionally, other related educational opportunities are discussed. |
