Who knew rocks could be so cool? On July 19, ND Energy Managing Director, Dr. Ginger Sigmon, and graduate student, Tyler Spano, introduced 25 teens from Notre Dame’s TRiO Program to the wonders of geology and engineering. TRiO, or Talent Search, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and provides students from low-income families an extra boost in the hopes that they will become first-generation college graduates. Notre Dame has sponsored the program since 1980.

Ginger and Tyler shared their experiences as first-generation college graduates and discussed their paths as geoscientists. Some highlights included an introduction to what engineers and scientists at the University of Notre Dame are working on and an overview of different branches of geoscience. TRIO students learned about different minerals and their relevance in various fields of science and engineering. Ginger and Tyler also discussed the importance of nuclear energy and how the Materials Science of Actinides Energy Frontier Research Center at Notre Dame is working to better understand materials relevant to the nuclear fuel cycle. “It was a wonderful experience to meet these young scientists! Seeing their curiosity and excitement makes me look forward to the discoveries made by this next generation of researchers,” Tyler said.

ND Energy is a University Research Center whose mission is to build a better world by creating new energy technologies and systems and educating individuals to help solve the most critical energy challenges facing our world today. For more information, visit the ND Energy website at energy.nd.edu or contact Barbara Villarosa, Business and Communications Program Director, at bvillaro@nd.edu or 574-631-4776.