Let's go further. Together.
The United States is falling behind in STEM proficiency. Our country faces a great challenge in improving the capability/capacity of the U.S. STEM workforce in a globally competitive environment.
The ORAU STEM Accelerator has been created to meet this challenge.
Our mission is to develop and accelerate solutions to address U.S. STEM workforce gaps.
A top priority is to help build the nuclear science and technology workforce at the local, regional, and national levels. Recent legislative initiatives are aimed at fortifying nuclear energy's role in the nation's transition to clean energy. With more than 90% of existing nuclear plants preparing to extend their operating licenses to 80 years and the forthcoming deployment of advanced reactors, the industry faces an urgent need to ensure an ample supply of qualified workers.
In the domain of advanced reactors alone, the U.S. Department of Energy forecasts a requirement for 236,000 skilled professionals to oversee manufacturing, construction, and operation. Nevertheless, projections indicate a challenging U.S. labor market for the next decade and into the 2060s, necessitating a proactive approach by the industry to attract qualified talent. These challenges highlight the industry's struggle to secure and retain personnel amid ongoing retirements, retention issues, inflation, shifting workforce demographics, and other critical variables.
Our vision is to be the nation’s leading catalyst for advancing STEM education through transformative and innovative approaches with the ultimate goal of strengthening our national economy, our global economic and technological leadership, our national security, and our quality of life through STEM.
We are looking to build a network of public and private partners that will collaborate through research and innovation to transform the U.S. STEM workforce and strengthen America’s global leadership in STEM. Our areas of emphasis include:
Michelle Goodson has been promoted to director of the ORAU STEM Accelerator. In her role, Goodson advances key nuclear workforce development initiatives, such as the Partnerships for Nuclear Energy, a comprehensive research institute that consists of leading universities, community colleges and technical skill training organizations, industries producing nuclear reactors large and small, professional industry organizations, national research laboratories, and government agencies.
For more information about ORAU STEM Accelerator, contact michelle.goodson@orau.org.