This $208,801 National Science Foundation project grant supports the Great Lakes Wind Energy Challenges Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site program. Administered under the NSF Engineering Directorate's Engineering Education and Centers program, the award provides authentic wind energy research training and professional development opportunities for 10 undergraduate students over 10 weeks.
Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University will co-host the REU program, leveraging the Icebreaker Offshore Wind Farm in Lake Erie as a testbed. Students will participate in ongoing wind energy research, receive weekly seminars on research frontiers and career skills, and tour a utility-scale onshore wind turbine facility. The program emphasizes recruiting women, underrepresented minorities, and community college students to broaden participation in science and engineering fields. Outputs include research dissemination in workshops and conferences.