Case to help power partners implement new fuel cell curriculum
The university will help Stark State College of Technology in Canton develop associate degree and secondary education programs
May 14, 2004 | For more information: Laura M. Massie (216)-368-4442
 Case Western Reserve University and its partners in the Power Partnership for Ohio: A Wright Center of Innovation, are moving forward with new programs and initiatives, including the implementation of a $780,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a fuel cell curriculum at the secondary and associate degree levels and to enhance related curriculum at select universities in Ohio.
The NSF grant was awarded to Stark State College of Technology in Canton, a member of the Power Partnership for Ohio, to develop an associate degree fuel cell curriculum that will be offered as an option within several engineering technology programs at Stark.
Because Stark State is a member of the Power Partnership for Ohio, the project will be integrated with Power Partnership activities taking place at the lead institution, Case, and other higher education partners, including Cleveland State University, The Ohio State University, Ohio University and the University of Toledo.
"This NSF grant paves the way for Stark State to begin developing the associate degree fuel cell curriculum that will lead Ohio in providing students with a strong career base in this field," said Robert F. Savinell, dean of the Case School of Engineering, chairman of the Power Partnership for Ohio and one of the country's leading fuel cell researchers. "Because the state already has strong research and development activity and has been a leader in academic fuel cell research, the Power Partnership for Ohio is making significant strides to deliver value and leverage Ohio's research strengths to foster a fuel cell manufacturing presence."
In addition to the associate degree program, Stark State College will work with the Stark County College Tech Prep Consortium in the development of competencies and courses for the secondary level, which will be offered at select Stark County high schools.
The curriculum development project is being funded through NSF's Advanced Technological Education program, which was created to strengthen technician education in the United States.
Instructional activities implemented as a result of this project will have the advantage of having access to Stark State's new $4.4 million Advanced Prototyping User Center, due for completion in the fall of 2005, as well as fuel cell research facilities at Case, its university partners and other organizations such as NASA Glenn Research Center, which recently built a new fuel cell testing building.
The NSF grant brings the total raised for fuel cell activities at Stark State to more than $5.2 million. This includes $3.35 million of state Third Frontier funds, channeled through the Ohio Department of Development; $625,000 from the Ohio Board of Regents; and nearly $500,000 in equipment funds from the federal government.
Once the secondary and associate degree curricula are developed, they will be shared with Cuyahoga Community College, Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio, Columbus State Community College in Columbus, and tech prep consortia in their regions of the state. Bachelor's degree curriculum enhancement activities will take place with Ohio University and the University of Toledo.
Curriculum developed through this project also will benefit by Stark State's relationship with the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, comprised of some 200 business, education and nonprofit entities interested in the development of fuel cell technology in Ohio. Professional development activities for teachers and college faculty will be offered in conjunction with OFCC conferences, where faculty will have interaction with Ohio fuel cell industry representatives. The business sector also will be involved in training faculty and teachers, curriculum development and by providing internship opportunities for students.
In May 2003, Case received an $18 million grant from the state of Ohio to support the research, development and commercialization of fuel cells by establishing the Power Partnership for Ohio, a Wright Center of Innovation. The Wright Center was established to position Ohio as a national leader in the growing fuel cell industry and is an integral part of the state's Third Frontier Project, a 10-year, $1.6 billion plan to create high-tech, high-paying jobs through the expansion of the state's high-tech research capabilities and promotion of start-up companies.
The Power Partnership for Ohio consists of a statewide collaboration of universities, companies and institutions to create a competitive advantage for Ohio in power and energy generation and utilization, with a focus on fuel cells. Proposed research areas include portable fuel cell systems, instrumented bipolar plates, science-based durability studies of fuel cells, modeling of fuel cell systems and advanced catalysts for fuel cells and fuel processors.
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