Recognition comes for excellence in education outreach and technology research
(Photography by Andrea Starr and compositing by Jamie Gority | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Two PNNL staff members have received awards from the Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative, a Department of Energy collaboration that seeks to close the gender gap and increase the participation, leadership, and success of women in clean energy fields.
Chief Diversity Officer and Director for STEM Education Evangelina Galvan Shreeve from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Battelle Fellow Jie Xiao, who also serves as the PNNL Battery Materials and System group leader, have been named as two of ten women to receive 2023 Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) awards.
The C3E Awards recognize mid-career women who have made a compelling impact in their fields by using their talents to advance clean energy sources, technologies, practices, and policies.
Shreeve received the C3E Education award in recognition of her passion to inspire future generations to pursue careers in clean energy.
At PNNL, Shreeve’s team annually oversees the engagement of around 1,500 students who participate in PNNL internships that provide hands-on experience and research opportunities to help accelerate the diversity of the future Department of Energy workforce. She also guides the development of educational programs and partnerships to strategically create pathways for historically underrepresented groups in STEM fields through such efforts as the STEM Ambassadors pilot program. Under her leadership, the STEM Ambassadors program grew quickly in impact and reputation and ambassadors now serve as scientific and professional role models, presenting to a myriad of audiences, including students of all ages, community members, staff from the U.S. Congress, the Battelle Board of Directors, and technical sponsors.
Xiao received the C3E Technology Research and Innovation award for researching and developing advanced innovative clean energy technologies with the potential for demonstrable and scalable impact.
She is leading both fundamental research and practical applications of energy storage materials and systems to accelerate deep decarbonization. Her research has led to breakthroughs in long-cycling, next-generation high-energy lithium metal batteries and novel battery materials to aid in the development of a domestic manufacturing capability for clean energy technologies. Xiao’s research has changed how battery research is conducted and reported in the scientific community. Protocols she developed have been broadly adopted by scientists and engineers to cross-validate and accelerate innovations in clean energy technologies.
“I’m thrilled to see two of PNNL’s staff members among the ten women being recognized with this award. Evangelina and Jie are advancing clean energy education and scientific research,” said PNNL Director Steve Ashby. “Their contributions are integral to creating the clean, sustainable energy future PNNL seeks to support.”
The Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative is a collaboration between DOE, MIT Energy Initiative, Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy, and the Texas A&M Energy Institute that seeks to close the gender gap and increase the participation, leadership, and success of women in clean energy fields.
Shreeve and Xiao will receive their awards at the 2023 C3E Women in Clean Energy Symposium on September 27 – 28, 2023. A livestream will be available.
Published: September 13, 2023