DOE & HBCUs Collaborate on Laborotory Projects

The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities encourages collaboration between government agencies, educational associations, philanthropic organizations, the private sector and others to increase the capacity of HBCUs to provide high-quality education to a greater number of students.



The Department of Energy (DOE) has partnered with HBCUs on a variety of projects. Secretary of the Department of Energy Stephen Chu has met with Dr. William Harvey, Chairman of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and President of Hampton University, as well as Langston University President JoAnn Haysbert and Morgan State University President David Wilson. They discussed how the Department can better engage HBCUs in science and laboratory projects, and what lessons can be learned from the many ongoing and successful partnerships we have in place.

Hampton University has a working relationship with the DOE's Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory. At Jefferson Lab, Hampton students have supported work conducted in the nuclear physics program. Now, Hampton is building on that partnership by working with Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Morgan State is a member of the Department’s Energy Innovation Hub team that is developing ways to make buildings more efficient. Specifically, the school is working on ways to adopt technology developed by the Hub so it can be used in urban centers like Baltimore.

Langston University has a partnership with the DOE, the Oklahoma Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association, and others to explore the market for and the benefits of developing and purchasing wind generated power. Particularly, Langston is focused on developing wind energy as an alternative energy source that can promote rural economic development -- supporting farmers and other HBCUs.

The Department has awarded more than $31 million to HBCUs since 2009, including $22 million for research and development programs. These research dollars support initiatives at institutions including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College to build the capacity to develop clean energy technologies on campus and to conduct studies on energy usage. DOE has also provided internships, grants and scholarships to students at a number of Historically Black institutions.

More information about the Department’s work with HBCUs. (DOE Blog, 1/13/2011)