NREL Helps Students “JUMP” into Building Science Innovation

In Partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NREL Launches Its Third JUMP into STEM Collegiate Competition this August

JUMP—which stands for Join the discussion, Unveil innovation, Make connections, Promote tech-to-market—into STEM is a collegiate competition that seeks to inspire the next generation of building scientists by focusing on creative ideation and diversity in the building science field. This program provides a gateway or on-ramp for undergraduate and graduate students from a wide range of majors and backgrounds to experience the research and career possibilities of studying building science.

The JUMP into STEM Final Event competition will be hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on or around January 28–29, 2021. Before students are invited to compete in-person this coming January, they must first produce creative solutions to one of three building science challenges presented by JUMP into STEM organizers. Student competitors must write compelling, well-researched papers on their innovative solutions and submit the papers for review by a panel of industry experts.

As of August 3, 2020, the 2020–2021 JUMP into STEM competition is open for student submissions. The three challenge topics are: Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB), Building Energy Audits for Residential or Commercial Buildings, and Advanced Building Construction Methods.