Academy students are having a say in national energy debate

Students Jeanette Ferrara and Ellen Hammett seated, hold their Keystone policy booklet as Jordan Caz

Five juniors at the Academy of Science and Technology may help to shape national energy policy in Washington.
The five, Jordan Cazamias, Jeanette Ferrara, Ellen Hammett, Robert Landis and Allison Olmsted, were among 40 students that participated this summer in a national youth policy summit on greenhouse gas reductions. On Oct. 14, the recommendations from the summit will be presented to the Keystone Energy Board in Washington, D.C., a group that consists of industry leaders and members of Congress that meet three times a year on energy issues and policy.
I thought it was one of the most interesting pieces to talk to Congressmen that are currently debating these issues," said Landis, who was to present some of the recommendations in Washington. They may get to use the ideas we presented to them."
Unfortunately, Landis will not be going to the nation's capital. The presentation fell on the day that the PSAT is administered at the school, a crucial step in the process for becoming a National Merit Scholar. But the students' ideas, a collaborative effort among all 40 participants at the summit, still will get a hearing before movers and shakers in Washington.
In June, the students gathered at the Keystone Science School in Keystone, Colo., and were among a group specially selected by science and math academies across the country. For a week, the groups took on the role of key industries and associations in the energy debate and tried to come up with a collaborative plan to reduce carbon emissions.
During the week, they got to learn the art of mediation and negotiation and met with leaders in energy-related fields to better refine their suggestions. In the end, the students came up with a white paper that will be presented in Washington. Among their suggestions, which cover short-, medium- and long-term goals, were a phase-in of new fuel efficiency standards, an increase in the use of nuclear energy, a phasing out of coal-burning plants, requirements for energy efficiencies in new and renovated buildings, an increase in the use of biofuels and renewable energy sources, and increase conservation measures on farms.
I think it has been an eye-opening experience," said Susan Caffery, headmaster at the academy who accompanied the students on the trip. We could see as adults their naivet and idealism. It opened them to a completely separate world where you do not get to change the variables. They got to dialogue with people over ideas they may not agree with."
The student debated many aspects of greenhouse gases, including political, economic, social, environment, technical and legal.
As part of the project, each student was required to research papers on broad concept to reduce carbon emission as well as industry positions from different sectors dealing with energy. Before the project, Olmsted said she was aligned with the philosophy of her assigned agency, the Environmental Defense Fund, which supports renewable energy and has denounced coal-burning plants. While she still thinks wind and solar power are good alternatives energy sources, she is not convinced the group's strict environmental stance can ensure the supply of energy for the future.
I was already in line with some of their views," said Olmsted, who is interested in a career in international affairs. But I realized they care too much about don't kill anything.' They need to relax a little about that."
Hammett represented Pulte Homes, a national home builder that promoted energy star compliance standards and LEED construction for new and renovated building. While Hammett was assigned to building construction, she couldn't help to get involved in one of her passions, biofuels, the subject of science fair experiments.
We had to represent different companies and ideals," said Hammet, who wants to be an engineer. All these smart minds have to come to one conclusion. We all had different views and we had to come to a single conclusion."
Ferrara was assigned to Toyota, the car manufacturer. While her counterpoints for Ford and GM haggled over government buyouts, she was concentrating on promoting ways to reduce carbon emissions by promoting mass transit.
Before this, I had a very narrow-minded view on how to solve the energy crisis," said Ferrara, a future marine biologist or lawyer. It was definitely something that was very unique, and I have an appreciation for the process behind negotiations and working a situation from multiple perspectives,"
Cazamias and Landis were assigned to energy production Cazamias in coal-burning plants and Landis as the Nuclear Energy Institute. Landis came to realize that nuclear energy will require local community support. Cazamias advocated that coal plants were vital to in energy future. But in the end, the group's recommendations were to phase out this form of energy, converting instead to natural gas.
I felt coal was really essential to maintain supply, but overall I was happy with the outcome," said Cazamias, who hopes to help the environment through a career in computers or engineering.
Landis said this was his first real exposure to open debate and discussion.
Everyone got really into it," said Landis, who wants to pursue a career in medicine. Everyone understood their company and fought for what they wanted."
The academy has participated in the youth policy summit since it was created in 2004 with the help of Larry Walker, a chemistry teacher at the school. In past years, students have tackled such topics as sustainable energy in transportation, energy efficiency, childhood and adult nutrition, obesity and sustainable fuels.
The academy, a magnet program within The Woodlands College Park, is one of two science and math magnet programs in the Conroe Independent School District, with the Academy of Sciences & Health Professions located in Conroe High School. The program has additional requirements than traditional high school students. Academy graduates must complete an additional half-credit in explorations by participating in field trips to science and technology centers. The also must complete an annual research project, such as science fair, Destination Imagination or BEST Robotics. Finally, all academy students have to complete at least an 80 hours internship, Caffery said.