The overarching goal of the proposed research explores potentially transformative investigative research of climatic factors that affect solar module performance, and develops a framework for an…

The overarching goal of the proposed research explores potentially transformative investigative research of climatic factors that affect solar module performance, and develops a framework for an evaluation tool used to compare different solar energy systems. This project will be implemented in collaboration with argonne national laboratory (ANL), which has recently installed a state-of-the-art solar energy comparative research facility, the first of its kind in the midwest. Other partners include NASA, university of wisconsin milwaukee (UWM), national council for science and environment (ncse), and university of wisconsin platteville (UWP). This research embraces the intentions of the NASA nice-t program which aims include: (1) increase the level of climate literacy (proposal objectives 1,2,3), (2) create a diverse and highly skilled climate-related workforce (proposal objectives 1,2,3), and (3) advanced understanding for teaching global climate change concepts (proposal objectives 3). Intellectual merit: the results from this research are important in advancing knowledge and understanding within the field of solar energy short-term and long-term performance. Practically speaking, this research is important for consumers to make educated choices about solar module return on investment for residential and commercial energy. The objectives of this research include: 1. Provide an experiential learning opportunity for 4-6 stem students to construct a user friendly solar energy system evaluation tool, incorporating the real-world performance of different solar modules at argonne national laboratory, NASA weather and solar irradiation data, and detailed cost analysis and investment payback period. 2. Establish innovative teaching curricula that fuse stem concepts with climate change literacy, resulting in combined social science and physical science courses that would have wide appeal to many students. CMN s stem-based course on introduction to statistics will be modified to include climate change literacy in the curriculum through case studies analyzing climate change data. CMN s course on global implications of climate change will be modified to infuse science and math concepts into the curriculum through institution of a stem-based lab module. 3. Develop an educational train-the-trainer model as a training outlet for tribal college and university (TCU) faculty and local middle school teachers to learn how to implement climate change into the classroom through the previously mentioned solar energy research and classroom experiences, with keen efforts taken to contextualize the training particularly to experiences of the native american community. The program will focus on incorporating NASA s weather and solar irradiation data into the science curriculum. Broader impacts: the proposed research and objectives is aimed to advance discovery and understanding of climate-related research, while promoting teaching, training, and learning of stem principles. The project is planned to broaden participation in the climaterelated and stem disciplines with special attention to involve underrepresented minority groups, in particular, the native american population. This project aligns well with CMN s commitment to sustainability and renewable energies, and contributes to goals of the tribal college scholarship, in particular considering the natural connection between native american culture and renewable energy. Results of the project will be disseminated through the climate, adaptation, mitigation, e-learning website, a free online educational platform, providing access to comprehensive inter-disciplinary resources particular to the tribal communities. Dissemination will also be through presentation at CMN, national conferences, and research and educational publications.