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What started as a single summer Introduction to Battery Science cohort in Rochester is now a multi-city initiative reaching students in Rochester, Syracuse and Binghamton, opening more doors for middle schoolers to explore how energy storage powers the devices and technologies they see every day.
Designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of energy storage, engineering, and innovation, the program blends hands-on learning with experiences that connect classroom concepts to real-world applications. This year, 51 students participated across the three cities, reflecting both growing demand and the program’s expanding impact.
Supported by the NSF Energy Storage Engine, the program builds on a simple idea: meet students early, make the science tangible, and help them see themselves as future problem-solvers. Each new location follows the original model, combining engaging lessons, practical experimentation, and exposure to higher education and career pathways tied to advanced energy storage and technology.
Students have taken part in a range of field experiences that spark curiosity and creativity, from visiting utility-scale photovoltaic sites and local universities to trying flight simulation activities that highlight engineering principles in action. These moments do more than entertain. They help students connect what they are learning to the broader world of innovation, and to the people and places driving it.
Middle school students got to engage directly with battery-powered technology through design challenges like building model cars powered by small photovoltaic panels and taking on robotics projects during the fall cohort. As students test, troubleshoot, and iterate, they learn how batteries store and deliver energy, how electrical systems work, and how teamwork strengthens problem-solving. The projects help make complex concepts accessible while building confidence in STEM at an early age.
The program’s long-term influence is already showing up in powerful ways. One student’s journey captures what can happen when hands-on learning meets the right environment. After participating in a summer cohort hosted at SUNY Broome, she discovered a strong connection to both the subject matter and the campus experience. Motivated by that opportunity, she enrolled at SUNY Broome in the fall. Now a college student, she continues to give back by chaperoning the fall cohort, serving as a mentor and role model for students who are just beginning their exploration of battery science.
As the Introduction to Battery Science program grows, it is building momentum across Upstate New York connecting students to learning experiences that are practical, inspiring, and rooted in the region’s innovation ecosystem. With each cohort, the NSF Energy Storage Engine is helping strengthen a future-ready pipeline of learners who can contribute to reliable energy infrastructure and next-generation technologies.
To learn more about the "Intro to Battery Science" program, contact Maggie Cousin
If you're interested in learning more about the NSF Energy Storage Engine’s workforce programming please reach out to Tim Thomas
