Choose Energy: Program Overview
The Choose Energy K–12 outreach program impacts student awareness of society’s energy needs, energy careers, and programs of study in the Hildebrand Department by providing diverse opportunities for Texas secondary STEM teachers.
- Professional Development: Teachers can enhance their knowledge of petroleum and geosystems engineering and gain insights into how energy careers benefit society through our continuing education programs.
- Outreach Events: Teachers can engage with our faculty, alumni, and outreach partners from both industry and regulatory sectors at a variety of events.
- Student Tours: Teachers can arrange a customized visit to the Hildebrand Department for their students.
- Classroom Resources: Teachers can easily integrate the Choose Energy outreach team’s free, standards-aligned energy and environmental content into their existing curricula.
Why Connecting with Educators is Important
Teachers are the best conduit to prospective department applicants who are interested in pursuing a fulfilling career in petroleum and geosystems engineering. Lessons on energy and teacher excitement around energy careers can spark a student’s interest in pursuing a profession in the energy industry.
How We Connect with STEM Educators
- Attend state and national science conferences to facilitate teacher workshops and network with other educators and organizations who share a common goal.
- Host a weeklong summer institute for Texas secondary STEM teachers: Energy Science and Technology Institute (ESTI).
- Partner with university alumni, industry leaders, and professional societies and organizations to host regional educator events.
- Visit districts around the state and provide information at student career fairs, education centers, community colleges or other educational events.
Shaping the Energy Narrative
Amid the noise and competing voices that can impact the public perception of the energy industry, the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering (UT PGE) promotes the value of oil and gas, recognizes that our technical expertise can address environmental challenges, and serves as a champion for societal improvement through accessible, affordable and sustainable energy. By providing expert thought leadership and by actively engaging in the public discussion, UT PGE helps shape the conversation and encourage future generations to pursue careers in energy. One initiative to meet this goal is the Energy Science and Technology Institute (ESTI) for high school STEM teachers.
Led by UT PGE’s faculty and staff, the program brings high school teachers and administrators from around the state onto the UT Austin campus every summer to learn oil and gas fundamentals. The hope is that the knowledge gained on the Forty Acres will then be applied in the teachers’ classrooms — showcasing that the oil and gas industry is a challenging, technologically advanced and rewarding path to a meaningful career.
Choose Energy’s free, standards-aligned content at EnergyExcursions.com supports core topics for ESTI and other outreach events.
