Philanthropy Opportunities

The UK Center for Applied Energy Research’s Lee T. Todd, Jr. Student Innovation Scholarship will help train the next generation of energy entrepreneurs. This scholarship program provide undergraduate student entrepreneurs with an opportunity to develop their ideas alongside UK CAER scientists and engineers in a collaborative environment.

Awardees will have full access to UK CAER laboratories and equipment. In a refreshing and novel twist, students will be paired with an entrepreneurial mentor to assist them in the commercialization aspect of their project.

Not sure which program at CAER you want to support? Or you simply want your donation to allow CAER to support its area of greatest need? This fund is for you! CAER’s Enhancement Fund allows the Center to invest in any area of the Center – our people, our equipment, or our facilities.

You can donate to the fund here: https://give.uky.edu/campaigns/ (simply search for ‘CAER Enhancement Fund’ in the drop-down)

CAER’s successes are tied to our abiding mission, “to execute a research program designed to develop new and more effective and environmentally acceptable use for coal and to improve existing uses for Kentucky’s natural resources.”

To that end, CAER is building a new facility that will help us ensure Kentuckians and our commitment to Kentucky’s energy industry and economy comes first.

The CAER Outreach and Education Center will be a leading space for energy innovation and collaboration. We are seeking philanthropic partners to help us make this space a more complete and robust facility for Kentucky. Partner with us as we take Kentucky’s energy ideas and turn them into new jobs and economic opportunities for our great Commonwealth. Contract CAER’s Dave Melanson at david.melanson@uky.edu to learn how you can partner with the Center in this project.

Want to help train the STEM leaders of tomorrow – invest with us in Gen-EV. Gen-EV is a project-based, STEM education program that is driving educational changes across the Commonwealth.

Teams from elementary to high-school work together to fund, construct, brand, and decorate an electric-powered racecar. They then compete against other schools for all the glory and fun! Students learn critical thinking, teamwork, and important STEM skills that will be vital for leading the next generation – a generation full of electric vehicles.

Interested in supporting Gen-EV, contact CAER’s Dave Melanson at david.melanson@uky.edu.