Educator Professional Development
K-12 STEM Education
Idaho National Laboratory is committed to helping students prepare for future STEM careers. One way we support this goal is by helping educators become more familiar with the groundbreaking energy and national security research happening at the laboratory. When teachers know what’s happening here at INL, and they can better help their students prepare for careers at the laboratory and in the future energy economy.
Energizing Minds
In 2025, INL hosted the first edition of Energizing Minds: Exploring the Future of Energy at INL, a dynamic professional development workshop designed exclusively for educators. At this free event, INL’s K-12 STEM Education team showcases how we are changing the world’s energy future as the nation’s nuclear research laboratory.
Certified K-12 and community college teachers are encouraged to bring their curiosity and enthusiasm as they explore INL’s advanced energy research and innovative technologies. This workshop introduces teachers to the groundbreaking work happening in east Idaho, provides a forum for collaboration among participants, and empowers them to become leaders in energy education. Participants discover practical strategies, hands-on activities, and valuable resources to enhance their teaching and spark student interest in pursuing education and career paths in STEM. They explore topics that include nuclear energy, integrated energy systems, high-performance computing and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. This free, two-day event includes one day of interactive workshops and one day touring INL’s in-town and desert Site campuses, all hosted by world-class researchers. Continuing education credit is available to participants.
The first Energizing Minds event took place at INL in June 2025. Look for registration opportunities for 2026 in the Spring.
Idaho STEM Action Center
INL is proud to partner with the Idaho STEM Action Center, a state organization that unites public education, employers, and community partners to ensure all Idaho youth are prepared to access STEM opportunities. As part of our partnership with the STEM Action Center, INL offers professional development opportunities to teachers each summer through the Educator Externship Program.
The Educator Externship Program connects Idaho’s in-demand industries with 6–12 educators by placing educators with local businesses during the summer. These experiences give educators real-world career insights to bring back to their classrooms, helping students explore future pathways while strengthening Idaho’s workforce pipeline. In 2025, more than 100 educators partnered with over 50 industries statewide, building lasting relationships that bridge education and industry while giving businesses the chance to showcase practical applications and engage directly with their communities.
Complete details about the Educator Externship Program, including the application form, are available at https://stem.idaho.gov/stem-externships/.
Contact Information
Matt Meehan