STEM Outreach

This video from the Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Center features a presentation by Jon Zeh and Richard Gentry, Mechanical Electrical Technology Department faculty at Sacramento City College. This presentation was given at the 2019 BEST Annual Institute. Zeh and Gentry provide an overview of Intro to Mechanical-Electrical Technology, a two-week course that Sacramento City College students must complete before enrolling in Mechanical-Electrical Technology Department programs. This presentation covers the components of this course, which include study and note-taking skills support, academic advising, assistance identifying the correct program for the student’s goals, and tours of lab spaces. Zeh and Gentry discuss the role of outreach to parents, spreading awareness about what heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals do, and strategies for recruiting female students to trade programs.This video runs 00:30:41 minutes in length. Other videos in this series are available to view separately

Advanced Manufacturing Lesson Plans

Collection Description:This collection from the Pennsylvania College of Technology (Penn College) contains lesson plans and supplementary materials introducing students to advanced manufacturing careers. During a teacher externship program hosted by Penn College, high school educators learned about the advanced manufacturing field firsthand, and then developed lesson plans sharing this information with their students.Contents Description:This collection is organized by participants’ instructional areas: Humanities & Social Sciences, Math & Science, School Counselors, and Technical Education. Each instructional area includes  externship lesson forms describing the lesson plans, along with supplementary materials such as activity sheets, presentation slides, and visual aids. In addition to these resources, a three-part unit plan is included for technical education. Humanities & Social Sciences includes three externship lesson forms, an activity sheet introducing students to building manufacturing concepts through real-world historical landmarks, a construction worksheet, presentation slides on advanced manufacturing careers, and four photographs providing visual context for lesson topics. Math & Science includes eight externship lesson forms, four presentation slide decks, and one 16-page .pdf document containing photographs of classroom projects. School Counselors includes 10 externship lesson forms, one worksheet template containing reflection prompts for students, and six presentation slide decks. Technical Education includes a three-part unit plan, an activity worksheet introducing students to advanced manufacturing topics, five externship lesson forms, one presentation slide deck on manufacturing processes, and five images representing lesson concepts using photographs and illustrations in .pdf and .jpg formats. The following are a sample of learning objectives addressed by lessons in this collection:Students complete three-dimensional (3D) printing projects using tools including computer numerical control (CNC) machines, Adobe Illustrator, and Arduino Uno boards,Students explore manufacturing careers, working environments, and local employers,Students research and compare the tuition cost of manufacturing degrees at their local community college with average earnings in the manufacturing field to evaluate return on investment.Austel - externship-lesson-form.pdf is included as a separate attachment and provides a sample of the material included in this collection.Below is a list of files included in the .zip attachment. The size of each file is included in parentheses. 19MAC.zip (61 files, 48.1 MB)Humanities & Social Sciences Externship Lesson Form (Easterday - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 240 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Voegtlen - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 190 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Wydareny - externship lesson form.pdf 126 KB)European Landmarks (Easterday - activity_European Landmarks.pdf 433 KB)Worksheet Construction (Easterday - worksheet construction.pdf 538 KB)Careers Presentation (Wydareny - Careers presentation.pdf 13.3 MB)Geometry Net (Easterday - geometry net.jpg 170 KB)Landmark Example (Easterday - landmark_example.jpg 275 KB)Materials (Easterday - materials.jpg 195 KB)Photos (Easterday - Photos.pdf 576 KB)Math & ScienceWhat Makes a Good Career Choice? (Billante - Lesson What Makes a Good Job.pdf 81 KB)Intro to CNC Machining (Mayberry - Intro to CNC Machining.pdf 1.1 MB)PCT Comparison Project (McKain - PCT Comparison Project.pdf 46 KB)Engineering Challenges (Gobert - Engineering Challenges.pdf 2.9 MB)Externship Lesson Form (Billante - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 206 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Funicelli - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 184 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Gobert - Externship Lesson Form.pdf, 191 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Heath - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 123 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Mayberry - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 190 KB)Externship Lesson Form (McKain - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 129 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Quazi - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 191 KB)Penn College Externship (Quazi - Penn College Externship.pdf 3.3 MB)Photos (Mayberry - Photos.pdf 5.3 MB)School CounselorsManufacturing Presentation (Austel - Manufacturing presentation.pdf 885 KB)PCT E&R Presentation (Bickel - PCT E&R Presentation.pdf 4 MB)Careers in Manufacturing (Miller - Careers in Manufacturing.pdf 1.2 MB)Manufacturing Engineering vs. Mechanical Engineering (Miller - ME_MFGE.pdf 962 KB)Manufacturing Careers (Wilson - Manufacturing Careers - Lesson Presentation.pdf 480 KB)Manufacturing Presentation (Newell - Manufacturing Presentation.pdf 1.9 MB)Externship Career Artifact (Baker - Externship Career Artifact.pdf 57 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Austel - externship-lesson-form.pdf 184 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Baker - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 213 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Bickel - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 201 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Duarte-Turi - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 102 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Gibble - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 185 KB)Externship Lesson Form (McNamara - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 147 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Miller - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 189 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Newell - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 183 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Wagner - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 151 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Wilson - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 183 KB)Technical Education Advanced Manufacturing Unit Plan 1 (Sarge - AdvManuf_Unit Plan (1).pdf 179 KB)Advanced Manufacturing Unit Plan 2 (Sarge - AdvManuf_Unit Plan (2).pdf 223 KB)Advanced Manufacturing Unit Plan 3 (Sarge - AdvManuf_Unit Plan (3).pdf 180 KB)Intro to Manufacturing Activity (Rita - Intro. to Manufacturing Activity.pdf 189 KB)Manufacturing Processes (Rita - manufacturing processes.pdf 319 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Bishel - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 180 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Soars - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 2 MB)Externship Lesson Form (Cilladi Externship Lesson Form.pdf 400 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Livergood - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 208 KB)Externship Lesson Form (Rita - Externship Lesson Form.pdf 286 KB)Head Finished (Livergood - Head Finished.pdf 85 KB)Insert Modified (Livergood - Insert Modified.pdf 80 KB)Machinist Hammer (Livergood - MACHINIST-HAMMER.pdf 101 KB)CO2 Parts (Sarge - CO2 Parts.jpg 2.6 MB)Robot Bracket (Sarge - Robot_Bracket.jpg 1.9 MB

Understanding Power Supplies

This video from the National Cybersecurity Training & Education Center (NCyTE) in partnership with the National Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA) features an introductory lesson on computer power supplies from John Sands, Co-Principal Investigator (PI) at CSSIA. Sands provides an overview of what the components of computer power supplies are, how they work to power personal computers (PCs), and their purpose in computer diagnostics.This video runs 00:05:53 minutes in length. Other videos in this series are available to view separately

InnovateBio Project Talk

This PowerPoint presentation from Shoreline Community College and Dr. Orlando de Lange was given to the InnovATEBIO community in April 2025. The presentation provides information about Dr. de Lange, Biotechnology programs at Shoreline Community College (SCC), and the Immunotherapy BioHub Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant. The PowerPoint covers Shoreline's role in strengthening the cell and immunotherapy technician workforce, describes the Kit Loan Program and the Essentials of Biomanufacturing Certificate, and shares lessons learned from workforce development and outreach efforts. Hands-on laboratory education, industry partnerships, and expanding access to biotechnology careers for students and educators across the region are also covered

Heat Pumps with Thermal Storage: Solving a Looming Electrification Problem

This video from the Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Center features a presentation from George Baker, Principal at GridWorks Energy Consulting. This presentation was given at the 2025 BEST Annual Institute: Ensuring Sustainability: Energy Efficient Buildings & Technician Education.In this presentation, Baker discusses heat pumps as a potential solution to thermal storage challenges in building electrification and the issue of "variable electricity prices in low-carbon grids." Baker shares examples of fluctuating energy prices in three United States region, and explores the potential benefits of heat pumps with thermal storage using a case from Millinocket, Maine.This video runs 00:17:41 minutes in length. Other videos in this series are available to view separately

ECT: Commercial HVAC Systems: Program Development

This 39-page resource from the BEST Center provides information about the Commercial HVAC Systems certificate and Associate degree program at Laney College. This program is designed to "... prepare[] students to install, service, and maintain large-scale commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems (HVAC/R) and controls, with emphasis on safety, occupancy, comfort, and energy efficiency."This program guide includes a table of contents, a catalog description, and provides information about the program design rationale and key elements, industry involvement, labor market needs analysis, recruitment, program infrastructure, pedagogy, and more. The following three appendices are also included: Sources of labor market needs analysis, Placement and wage data, and Industry Advisor Inputs.Program-level learning outcomes include:Explain the theory, function and maintenance of commercial HVACR systems including hydronics and control systems.Explain the operation of commercial HVACR systems and controls including psychrometrics, system components and types of systemsDemonstrate ability to interpret construction documents and diagrams to install and fabricate commercial HVACR systems, components, and controls.Demonstrate ability to apply building science principles and financially justify troubleshooting and system optimization to save energy while providing comfort and health.Individual course guides are available to view separately

Talking Technicians: Eldon is an Additive Manufacturing Project Specialist (S5, Ep. 3)

This episode of the Talking Technicians podcast from the Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC) features an interview with Eldon, an additive manufacturing project specialist at Somerset Community College (KCTCS). The interviewee's career path is discussed, including pursuing a 3D printing certificate at KCTCS. Courses taken in this program, such as CNC machining, basic metal manufacturing, and math, are also covered. The interview provides information on job responsibilities, pay, benefits, professional development, and advice for aspiring technicians. This video runs 00:30:12 minutes in length. The other episodes in this podcast series are available to view separately

Talking Technicians: Arman is a Technician at Excelitas (S5, Ep. 2)

This episode of the Talking Technicians podcast, from the Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC), features an interview with Arman, a fabrication technician at Excelitas. In this interview, Arman talks about fabrication technician job responsibilities, including grinding and polishing lenses for commercial, military, and other uses. The interviewee's career path is also covered, from working at a warehouse to enrolling in a two-year laser optics program at Pasadena City College. This interview covers growth opportunities, starting salaries, key skills for this role, and advice for aspiring fabrication technicians. This episode is 00:17:00 minutes in length. The other episodes in this podcast series are available to view separately.&nbsp

The PETase Tournament and Targeting Aging to Treat Disease

This video recording from Digital World Biology features two speakers who presented at the 2025 Antibody Engineering Hackathon. The hackathon provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to create research projects related to antibody engineering. The first presentation is from Bijoy Desai, PhD, technical project manager at the Align Foundation. Desai presents on the PETase Tournament, a protein engineering competition. The second presentation is from Ben Blue, PhD, chief technical officer and co-founder of Ora Biomedical. Blue presents on longevity intervention research performed at Ora Biomedical.In the first presentation, Desai introduces the PETase Tournament as a "community benchmark for predictive and generative models in protein engineering." Desai discusses the 2025 tournament goal of benchmarking PETase design models for properties that have applications for plastic recycling. Topics covered include the tournament's structure, data acquisition, timeline, schedule, and evaluation methods.During the second presentation, Blue outlined longevity medication research being performed at Ora Biomedical. The presenter went into detail on the longevity drug Rapamycin, interventions for Alzheimer's disease, and therapies for space travel stress. The presenter also shared online tools to support science education, highlighting the Million Molecule Challenge, an open access database of longevity interventions.This video runs 01:05:39 minutes in length. Other videos in this series are available to view separately

Refrigerant Trends, Regulations, and Applications for AC/HP Products

This video from the Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Center features a presentation by Donghun Kim, computational research scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The presentation shares industry developments related to low GWP (global warming potential) heat pump (HP) products. This presentation was given at the 2025 BEST Annual Institute: Ensuring Sustainability: Energy Efficient Buildings & Technician Education.The presentation begins by describing the significance of low-GWP refrigerants. Kim then discusses a product survey on low-GWP heat pump products. The presentation highlights low-GWP heat pump products developed in the United States and ultra low-GWP products developed internationally. Air-to-air heat pumps and air-to-water heat pumps are compared, and the presentation concludes with a discussion of safety challenges.This video runs 00:20:28 minutes in length. Other videos in this series are available to view separately