An energy transition and AI usage summer camp hosted by faculty at the Cullen College of Engineering in collaboration with the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) allowed 34 teenagers and young adults to learn about the fundamentals of these new, emerging career fields at no cost to the participants.
The camp had two sessions of one week each at UH’s main campus in mid-July. Jian (Jason) Shi, associate professor of Engineering Technology and Electrical and Computer Engineering, and assistant professor Bin Hu led the effort for Cullen, with three graduate and one undergraduate student helping out.
The program, “Project Elevate-Urban Youth Empowerment Program,” is funded through the Workforce Development for the Energy Transition program under the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program. Project Elevate is a program designed to support youth and young adults (ages 16–25) who are out of school and/or unemployed by giving them access to education, workforce training, and wraparound supports that prepare them for careers in energy, technology, and other high-demand fields.
“We had a total of 34 attendees, all of whom were between 16 and 24 years of age,” Shi said. “During the camp, we delivered course modules to familiarize them with the fundamentals of energy systems and the ongoing transition toward renewable generation and emerging technologies such as hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and geothermal energy.”
“We also conducted in-depth sessions on electric power grids, which form the backbone of the energy transition. In addition to energy-related topics, we introduced participants to the basics of machine learning and the Python programming language. To reinforce learning, we designed hands-on activities that allowed students to build circuits simulating electricity flow within a power grid, and created robotics projects that allowed them to program robots to perform various tasks such as dancing, object recognition and auto-piloting.”
Rommell Williams, the Senior Director of Workforce Development and Training for HAUL, called the event a “strong success” from their perspective, noting that for many students it was the first time stepping onto a college campus. He expressed hope that this experience will serve as a spark to inspire future engineers and innovators.
Jessica Georges, the Workforce Career Coach said, “Both camp weeks ran smoothly, with full participation and a strong level of enthusiasm from attendees. Participants gained exposure to robotics, renewable energy concepts, and artificial intelligence through practical projects such as building circuits, programming robots and experimenting with AI-driven applications.”
She added, “Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Students reported that the camp was not only educational but also fun and accessible, particularly for those who had little prior exposure to robotics or coding. We had many that were excited about exploring future careers in clean energy and technology as a result of the experience. Parents and guardians shared appreciation for HAUL providing such opportunities at no cost, emphasizing how rare it is to find STEM programs of this quality that are inclusive and community-centered.”
As students get involved in the camp’s curriculum, Hu said you can see the connections they make and the development of their skills.
“The most rewarding part was working with students who aren’t always conventional learners,” he said. “Many came in with little background in engineering or computing, but they were curious. Once they started building circuits or programming robots, you could see their confidence grow. By the end, they were asking great questions and seeing real possibilities for themselves. For us, it confirmed how important it is to make energy transition education hands-on, accessible and inspiring.”
The work of HAUL is what made the collaboration with Cullen able to happen, Shi said.
“We were fortunate to partner with them, and together we were able to reach young people who might not otherwise see themselves in energy or technology careers. To me, the real story here is about the camp attendees,” Shi said. “These students came in with open minds, and they worked hard to learn and build. At the end of the day, the camp wasn’t about us as faculty, it was about creating opportunities for these students and supporting HAUL’s mission of empowering the next generation.
Shi noted that it was important for him and Hu to have this connection with what they believed will be a cohort of future leaders.
“As faculty at the University of Houston, we see Houston as both the energy capital of the world and a city leading the energy transition. We wanted to make sure that the next generation of Texans here can see themselves in that future,” he said. “This program gave us the chance to connect our research with local students who might not otherwise get this kind of exposure. For us, it was about building a bridge between UH’s research strengths and the career pathways opening in clean energy industries.”