The Charles County Energetics Technology Center (ETC) recently granted the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) the sum of $500,000 over the next five years.  CSM will use the grant to develop the Energetics Team: a two year series of courses and programs encouraging local high school seniors to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers that are in demand locally.

Two of the ETC's projects involve research into Improvised Explosive Devices and Virtual Reality.

BARI KOWT, Afghanistan (August 29, 2006) - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Randolph Corvin, with the 741st Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Fort Bliss, Texas, diffuses an improvised explosive device at an Afghan border police compound just north of Bari Kowt, Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border, Aug. 26, 2006.  Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Bem Minor.

Iraqi Police discovered this improvised explosive device Nov. 7 (2005) in eastern Baghdad and disarmed it before it could be detonated in a terrorist attack. Army photo - http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2

Maxim Schwartz, ETC software engineer, works with virtual reality technology.

  Energetics is the study of the way energy flows and stores as it transforms.  In Southern Maryland, at the ETC and NSWC Indian Head, it’s used in research of propellants, polymers, microelectromechanical systems for use in ordnance and surveillance systems.  The ETC calls it “the next wave of American scientific development”.

  The ETC, currently based in La Plata, describes themselves as “a private, non-profit enterprise dedicated to growing science and technology in Southern Maryland”.  The center focuses on workforce and economic development in the region, and conducts energetics research and development.  

  According to the ETC statement, it saw the proverbial writing on the wall; that “America could be forced to import what should be its greatest strengths - invention and ingenuity”.  Southern Maryland lacks the quantity of technicians, research scientists, and development scientists it needs to staff the local demand for energetics research and development.  

  In response, the ETC granted CSM half a million dollars, to develop an innovative energetics workforce program to provide the area and country with qualified people that can meet the challenges of this technological frontier.  

  "ETC’s partnership with CSM will increase cooperation between local schools, baccalaureate colleges, businesses and the community as we work to develop a pipeline for future science and technology employees in our region,” said CSM President Bradley Gottfried.

  Recent studies, such as one published in early December by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), suggest that the U.S. is not adequately preparing its students in math and science to meet the demands of the future world economy, 

  “I believe we are facing a potential security crisis in not having enough physical scientists and engineers available for jobs in defense, and in critical disciplines such as energetics,” said Robert Kavetsky, executive director of the Energetics Technology Center.  

  Kavetsky describes a three-fold reason for this decline of American invention and ingenuity lurking on the horizon.  First, our current workforce is aging; second; the number of U.S. citizens working toward graduate degrees in STEM fields is declining; and third, our children in general lack interest in physical science and engineering careers.  He has high hopes that the grant can turn around the latter two problems. 

  “Through CSM, we are going to encourage students to open their eyes to careers in science and or engineering by exposing them to the exciting possibilities within those fields.  In addition, we are going to specifically target and try to attract students that have a lot to offer the community but may not have traditionally pursued science and engineering careers, namely women and minorities,” he added.

  CMS’s Energetics Team will have three cohorts, groups, of students who will take two years of STEM courses and activities at CSM before transferring to pursue a bachelor’s degree through a STEM program at an institution of their choice.  Cohorts will be made up of regional high school students from backgrounds often under-represented in STEM fields, including women and minorities.  

  In addition to courses and activities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, students will work one-on-one with an engineer or scientist mentor from the Navy or regional technology-focused company.  Students will get help securing summer employment in scientific businesses or locations.

  The first Energetics Team cohort will start in August 2008 with subsequent cohorts in August 2009 and 2010. Students participating in the Energetics Team may attend courses at any of CSM’s campuses and will visit two off-site locations each year.  Students will receive academic advising and tutoring and an individualized financial assistance package, including a $500 scholarship for the first semester of attendance.

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For information on the Energetics Team or STEM opportunities available at CSM call 301-934-7539 or 301-870-2309, Ext. 7539 for Charles County; 240-725-5499, Ext. 7539 for St. Mary’s County or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7539 for Calvert County or rfarinelli@csmd.edu.