KY EPSCoR: FY24: KY Space Grant MG-23-019: 3M Mars STEM Outreach and Community Engagement in Energy Conversion, Renewable Energy, and Powering Robotic Rovers. Match for 3200003095

2023 NASA KY EMG Philip Lee/Doo young Kim Proposal Running Title: STEM outreach and community engagement in energy conversion, renewable energy, and powering Mars robotic rovers. 1Dr. Philip Lee (P.I.) 2Dr. Doo Young Kim (Co-P.I.) 1Department of Engineering Technology, College of Engineering, University of Kentucky 2Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Science, University of Kentucky Summary In support of the NASA mission directorate initiatives, this effort proposes creating experiential STEM outreach and community engagement to build a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) summer immersion program. The program will provide hands-on STEM experiences of i) energy conversion from abundant CO2 gas in the atmosphere of Mars, ii) on- site renewable energy generation, and iii) their utilization to Mars rovers for elementary and middle school (K-8) students in Fayette County, KY, guided by high school and college students. The significance is three-fold. First, improving STEM awareness for the future generation and skilled workforce development can meet growing demands in on-site energy generation, such as energy conversion, renewable solar energy, and robotic rovers, emulating the environments of Mars. Second, providing leadership experiences to young adults, such as high school and college students, will provide leadership experiences and professional STEM opportunities in the areas. Two faculty members, Philip Lee (P.I.) and Doo Young Kim (Co-P.I.), two graduate and several undergraduate students in the College of Engineering and College of Arts and Science in the UK, and a group of high-achieving high school students will participate in the proposal for the 12 months beginning from July 2023 to June 2024. Beyond the period of the pilot program supported by NASA KY, we will seek to establish a self-sustained program.