PNNL: Preparing tomorrow's STEM work force

Almost five decades ago, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory was founded as a research organization independent from Hanford. Since that time, the Tri-Cities never wavered in its support of PNNL; our community remains an active partner in our growth and success. In turn, Battelle, which manages PNNL for the Department of Energy, has been committed to improving educational opportunities and quality of life in the Tri-Cities.

As the region's single largest employer, our 4,300 employees focus on the research and development that addresses many of America's most pressing issues in energy, the environment and national security through advances in basic and applied science.

Combined with regional partners like Washington State University Tri-Cities, Columbia Basin College and our local school districts, the concentration of science and engineering talent brought by a national laboratory has nurtured a strong STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education infrastructure throughout the Tri-Cities. This is critical, because a STEM-literate work force will serve the Tri-Cities' economy well today and far into the future.

A 2013 joint report from The Boston Consulting Group and the Washington Roundtable found that by 2017, an estimated 45,000 jobs in Washington will go unfilled as a result of a job skills gap. For those of us at PNNL, this was not a surprise; we have been strong proponents of STEM education for decades.

Most in our community are now familiar with STEM-focused Delta High School made possible in part through the leadership and commitment of our staff as well as a Battelle grant in excess of $1 million. We are now expanding our STEM advocacy through the formation of the Mid-Columbia STEM Education Collaboratory, a joint effort of the Yakima Valley/Tri-Cities MESA (Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement) Center, Southeast Washington LASER (Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform) Alliance, and the Delta High School Partnership.

MESA is an award-winning program designed to increase the number of underrepresented students in STEM disciplines. LASER has been cited for excellence by the National Governors Association, the National Science Foundation and the National Academies, and recently won the Golden Apple Award for Educational Excellence. And during the past five years, Delta has built an extraordinary reputation for producing STEM-literate graduates, being named a Washington State Innovative School and a Washington State Lighthouse School. Building on these successes, the new Collaboratory will actively engage efforts of the southeastern Washington community to strengthen STEM education further to prepare our children for 21st century STEM jobs and successful citizenship.

PNNL also supports the education of the next generation of scientists and engineers through internship and science education programs. In 2013, PNNL furthered the education of more than 1,100 high-caliber high school, undergraduate and graduate college students, post-doctorates, teachers and faculty. These visitors benefit from their PNNL experiences, as these internship programs infuse PNNL with energy, new ideas and new perspectives. Very often, our visitors contribute to research outcomes.

Since 1965, Battelle has invested more than $24.5 million to strengthen PNNL capabilities, education and quality of life, including the leadership for and funding of $2.3 million for the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center. Set to open in July 2014, the Reach will be a place of education, where people can learn about our geography, natural history and the events that shaped our unique nuclear history -- and the innovation economy that will shape our future.

Through the PNNL staff volunteer program Team Battelle, more than 2,800 employees volunteered 23,000 hours at 54 unique organizations last year alone. From developing formal STEM education programs to leading major community projects to spearheading individual contributions such as a mentoring at-risk youth on weekends, PNNL is committed to our community.

Almost 50 years ago, the Tri-Cities embraced PNNL and its management by Battelle. In turn, our support for our community has indeed never wavered and has become even stronger. It's a strong partnership as we look ahead to the next 50 years.

This story was originally published March 30, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "PNNL: Preparing tomorrow's STEM work force."