Agrivoltaics Citizen Science: A Model For Collaboration Between Engineers And K-12 Schools

This paper reports on a project that brings together photovoltaics engineers with 4th-12th-grade teachers and students to test agrivoltaics applications using citizen science. A summer research experience for teachers (RET) program engaged teachers in building and programming a novel agrivoltaic school garden monitoring device facilitated by photovoltaics engineering researchers. The teachers and their students will design and install school gardens for their own community purposes and collect data on garden conditions with and without solar panels covering the crops. A set of curriculum materials are outlined to support implementation across multiple contexts.