Led by Argonne and the University of Chicago, Office of Civic Engagement, the All About Energy apprenticeship program helps students study sustainability and environmental justice issues and discover firsthand how to enact meaningful changes through workable plans.

In the 6-week apprenticeship program at the University of Chicago, students learn about environmental issues, sustainability and clean energy, particularly through the lens of transportation. Students learn about air pollution’s effects on Chicago areas, as well as the benefits and challenges of advanced vehicle technologies, electric vehicle adoption and charging infrastructure. Students engaged in both data-driven investigations and hands-on experiences to learn about these topics. Students also visit Argonne, where they meet professional researchers and tour facilities such as the lab’s Smart Energy Plaza--a former gas station repurposed to charging electric vehicles. During the second half of the program, students apply what they learned to develop proposals to make electric vehicle charging more accessible for Chicago communities most at risk of poor air quality due to vehicle emissions including designing their very own Smart Energy Plaza-inspired charging hubs.

At the end of the program, students present their proposals at their own symposium . Participants leave with new connections and perspectives to guide them in their academic and professional development.

The program accepts around 30 students and is limited to students from Chicago Public Schools.