Students & Scientists Team Up
River Bennett and Daniel Berlin, engineers from T3 Alaska partner Radiant, recently ventured to Fairbanks, Alaska, for an immersive experience with the T3 Alaska Summer Program energy strand students and ACEP (Alaska Center for Energy and Power) interns.
“The T3 Alaska program is incredibly well-executed,” shared River. “The students were fully engaged, and the presentation topics were both intriguing and relevant. I was genuinely impressed by the caliber of the students—their insightful and thought-provoking questions really stood out. Hearing about their diverse backgrounds was fascinating, and it’s clear they’re passionate about energy.” Radiant’s donations to T3 Alaska help support the students to engage in STEM education, career pathways and community projects.
The visit kicked off Monday morning at the ACEP DRY Lab and Design Lab facility, where the ACEP research team showcased cutting-edge residential energy projects and the innovative technologies driving them. Later, MIT scientist Haruko M. Wainwright and Radiant captivated the students with a co-presentation on nuclear energy, including a hands-on project using a cloud chamber and radiation detection monitor with a small piece of uranium.
The afternoon was a flurry of hands-on learning, with students and Radiant engineers building a ‘desktop nanogrid.’ This project brought together solar panels, battery charging, and control circuits, expanding on the students’ existing knowledge of circuits, energy metering/monitoring, and soldering from the previous week.
The interaction between the students and Radiant’s team was electric, with a lively Q&A session where students eagerly sought advice on how to pursue internships in the field. The visit wrapped up with a thrilling tour of Eielson Air Force Base, offering an up-close look at F-35 jets, a fun-filled cookout by the lake, and a stop at the famous North Pole gift shop.
Looking ahead, there are exciting opportunities on the horizon for continued collaboration between scientists and students. This year, T3 Alaska aims for all sites to achieve core competencies in environmental monitoring. Each site will be equipped with a weather station, radiation monitors, and seismic detection stations. Students will gain hands-on experience installing, maintaining, and reporting data statewide. Radiant is committed to supporting the T3 Alaska students as they continue their journey into the world of energy.