Schools

Project Infinite Green Goes to Washington

Seventh-and eighth-grade students from the Lemont-based program will present green business plans this week to a caucus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

Students participating in Project Infinite Green—the Lemont-based after-school program designed to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education—traveled to Washington D.C. on Wednesday to present have been invited to present their green business plans to the STEM Education Caucus in Washington, D.C this week.

Seventh- and eighth-grade student members of Project Infinite Green created business plans with a focus on reliability, sustainability and affordability after study and research conducted througout the 2011-12 school year. 

The Project Infinite Green presentation will be held on Thursday, May 17, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2253, Independence Avenue and South Capitol Street, Washington, D.C.. The event is open to media and the public. 

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The plans to be presented to the caucus focus on hydroelectric, nuclear and solar energy use. These plans include oscillating water columns designed to harness wave power in states bordered by oceans; solar islands to assist solar generation in states that cannot use traditional solar farms; and a mobile Windows®-based app designed to increase nuclear awareness.

Project Infinite Green was launched in October 2011 as a joint effort by community residents and teachers, government officials and corporate partners, to offer students in suburban Lemont, Ill., the opportunity to learn about the science and business of both non-renewable and renewable energy sources. Industry experts from government and private sector entities—including the U.S. Department of Energy, Navigant, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, Exelon Nuclear, the Clean Energy Trust, Edison Mission Energy and Argonne National Laboratory—have participated in mentoring modules from the curriculum.

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“Part of Argonne’s mission is to inspire and educate our nation's future scientists and engineers, and working with organizations like Project Infinite Green helps us do just that,” said Matt Howard, director of Argonne’s Communication, Education and Public Affairs division. “These young students have done a tremendous job learning about clean energy technologies and how they can be applied in the real world." 

“The education of our children should be of paramount concern for all of us, and Project Infinite Green not only provides students with opportunities for serious analytical thought, it also encourages our children to work collaboratively for the greater good of our community and our world,” said Peter Colarelli, Government and Public Affairs Manager, CITGO Lemont Refinery.

“Development of programs such as Project Infinite Green are the building blocks for students’ awareness of global issues,” said William Stoffels, Director of Installations, Exelon Nuclear. “We have been humbled to see the enthusiasm of the students as they’ve learned about energy sources.”

The bipartisan STEM ED Caucus was founded in 2005 to provide a forum for Congress and the science, education and business communities to discuss challenges, problems, and solutions related to STEM education. U.S. Congressmen Daniel Lipinski (R-Ill.) and Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) currently serve as co-chairs.

“We are honored that our students have this opportunity to present their energy-based business plans to members of Congress,” said Catherine Greenspon, a Lemont community member and co-founder of Project Infinite Green. “We hope their presentations will spark innovative ideas on how to implement new energy technologies in our nation, and that it will help grow national interest in STEM education."

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