When NETL held its regional Science Bowls in February, students competing in these exciting contests were tested and supported by researchers and staff dedicated to resolving complex energy issues and developing the nation’s next generation of scientific and engineering talent.

NETL’s Tammie Borders, acting associate laboratory director for the Critical Minerals & Advanced Alloys Center of Excellence, has been selected as a 2026 Oppenheimer Science & Energy Leadership Program (OSELP) fellow. This distinguished year-long program, facilitated by the National Laboratory Directors’ Council, identifies and cultivates exceptional leaders poised to shape the future of science and energy within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories.

ClearSign Technologies Corporation, with project management and financial support from NETL, is working to advance industrial fueling technologies that will address the practical demands of U.S. refineries and chemical processing facilities by enabling the cost-effective use of diverse fuel and natural gas mixed gas blends in industrial heating applications.

North Allegheny’s Ingomar Middle School Team 1 and North Allegheny Senior High School claimed the top spots in the 2026 Western Pennsylvania Science Bowl (WPASB), a challenging academic competition sponsored by NETL, and advanced to National Science Bowl to be held in the spring.

With two young children and a busy research job, Will Strahl did not have a lot of extra time to prepare for the third annual NETL SLAM, a contest in which early-career researchers explain complex projects in clear, easy-to-understand language.

Thirty-six schools will be represented at the 2026 Western Pennsylvania Science Bowl (WPASB), which will be held Friday, Feb. 27, for middle schools and Saturday, Feb. 28, for high schools. The Community College of Allegheny County South Campus in West Mifflin will host both days of the tournament.

NETL has released insights from the Critical Minerals and Materials Matchmaker (CM3) survey, an online information resource created to help connect activities across the critical minerals and materials (CMM) supply chain.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $175 million in funding for six projects to modernize, retrofit, and extend the useful life of coal-fired power plants that serve rural and remote communities across the United States, keeping dependable energy sources online, strengthening grid reliability, and helping keep electricity costs low for American families and businesses.

A talented team from Mountaineer Middle School and a highly skilled squad from Morgantown High School took top honors at the 2026 West Virginia Science Bowl (WVSB) co-hosted by NETL and advanced to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Science Bowl to be held in Washington, D.C this spring.

Final preparations are underway for the 2026 West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania Science Bowls, exciting academic challenges designed to test middle and high school students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and inspire the next generation to pursue rewarding STEM-related careers.