Hydrogen Education as Part of Alternative Energy Education

It is not an accident that the forum addressing education at the Fuel Cell Seminar and Exhibition comes under the title of Pathways to Commercialization.  If we are to provide a consumer pull to the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell technology, we must address the skeptical public with outreach and educational programs that will advance public understanding of the relevant technology and issues. Hydrogen fuel cell education and outreach can best reflect the path to commercialization in the world when it is embedded in complete alternative energy education curricula rather than being taught in isolation.  As solar and wind energy are becoming financially competitive with grid power, curricula addressing those more developed renewable energy sources are being presented as extension units in classrooms. Parents and teachers are becoming more comfortable with the science and social aspects of  solar and wind technology. The number of textbooks and websites that include solar and wind lessons far surpass available curricula addressing hydrogen fuel cells. Teachers are more comfortable presenting information about solar and wind energy, but teachers are not confident in their ability to teach what they fear will be complex science related to fuel cell technology.  Teachers see solar and wind power as energy resources of the near future and hydrogen fuel cells as a longer term solution to the energy crisis.  Offering curricula that demonstrates the possibilities of using solar, wind and other alternative power to produce hydrogen is one way to help bring hydrogen education into classrooms. It will also help dispel some of the myths the public holds about hydrogen energy.

Curricula are available for all aspects of alternative energy, but most address a specialized area of energy.  There are a number of websites that include a variety of activities for various alternative energy sources. Few include lessons that integrate the types of energy as interdependent.  We in the fuel cell education industry have worked cooperatively to bring outstanding curricula to teachers around the world.   We need to make a move beyond the fuel cell industry and begin working in close cooperation with educators from other renewable sources.  There are organizations, such as the Florida Solar Energy Center, BPA, and the United States Department of energy that include a variety of curricula. However, we can improve the perception of hydrogen fuel cells by coordinating this type of effort one step further.  Education about solar energy should include the important role hydrogen can play in turning solar power into a transportation energy. Education about wind power should include a lesson discussing the possibility of making wind a constant source of energy by storing excess power as hydrogen during peak wind conditions so that energy can be tapped during peak usage hours.  Developing completely integrated alternative energy educational packages, we will help provide an important service to the commercialization of fuel cell technology for the industry. 

My presentation will include examples of integrated units and a series of resources for educators to integrate units that are currently available on-line to help teachers build  complete alternative energy programs promoting fuel cell technology.