This NSF ExLENT Experiential Learning Program is a four-week, face-to-face summer training hosted by the University of Houston, designed for high school and community college students. The program provides foundational and applied knowledge in critical mineral exploration, processing, and sustainability—fields essential to national energy security, advanced manufacturing, and defense. Led by faculty from the University of Houston in collaboration with industry partners, this program combines classroom instruction, laboratory training, field experiences, AI-assisted learning, and industry mentorship to prepare students for STEM career pathways in the critical minerals sector. Over the four-week program, participants engage in structured learning modules covering geoscience principles, mineral identification and mapping, battery materials and recycling, electrochemical recovery of rare earth elements (REEs), and the use of artificial intelligence tools for data analysis and problem-solving. Students also participate in industry site experiences and a MineralDathon event focused on real-world challenges in sustainable mineral development. Through cohort-based learning and close mentorship from university faculty and industry professionals, participants gain technical skills, professional development support, and career guidance to pursue further education and employment in geoscience, materials science, energy technology, and sustainability-related fields. Participants who successfully complete the full four-week program will receive a stipend.
Critical Mineral, AI, Computer Information Science, Material Science
· (Must-have) Applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. · (Must-have) Eligible participants include community college students and high school students in their junior or senior year at the time of application. · (Must-have) Participants must be able to commit to full, in‑person participation at the UH main campus for the entire four‑week program, from June 1 to June 26, 2026. · (Must-have) Participants should be interested in STEM majors, particularly those related to Geoscience, Computer and Information Sciences & Engineering, or Materials Research. · Reference letters for high school students are optional.
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