SUMMER 2025
PERSPECTIVES OF EARTH TEAM MENTORSHIP & INTERNSHIP
SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
2025 PROJECT - VISION
The McAuliffe Center, through the PETM Summer Internship, envisions the redesign of what is known as “Shoppers World” in Framingham, MA. This is a timely project since the new owners of Shoppers World, Urban Edge, have already proposed to the City of Framingham to transform a portion of the shopping mall into a mixed-use development.
Through this project, the McAuliffe Center aims to contribute the voice and perspectives of young members of the MetroWest community to the Shoppers World redevelopment. We believe that we can contribute to a thoughtful sustainable design after which other redevelopments of commercial lots in MetroWest may be modeled.
GOAL FOR SUMMER 2025
PETM was charged to develop a proof of concept for a 100% clean energy self-sufficient 15-min urban community that will replace the existing Shoppers World. The study focused on the integration of three key climate solutions: geothermal networks, photovoltaic systems, and passive building design.
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Legend
LINKS TO STORY BOARDS
Funders for this project include: Community Foundation for MetroWest, Mabel Louise Riley Foundation, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Massachusetts Executive Office of Education.
Subject Matter Experts, who provided advice to the project, from: Linnean Solutions, Solect Energy, HEET, Geothermal Drillers Association, Urban Edge and City of Framingham, Sustainability Committee / Capital Projects and Facilities Management.
For more information, please contact Dr. Irene Porro, Director, McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at iporro@framingham.edu
ABOUT THE CHRISTA MCAULIFFE CENTER
The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University was established in 1994 to honor Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space and Framingham State’s most famous alumna. The Center has been offering space science education programs to K-12 audiences since its inception. Over the past ten years, however, the Center acquired the technical capacity and content expertise to enable a much wider range of immersive learning experiences establishing the Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning as a modern hub for integrated and project-based learning.
Today, our programming features immersive experiences in space science and beyond, including a focus on environmental and sustainability activities, and programs at the intersection of science, social science and the arts. Our programs, designed in partnership with educators, scientists, artists, and media specialists, promote diversity and inclusion in STEM fields and serve K-12 audiences and undergraduate students, K-16 educators, community-based organizations and a growing community of lifelong learners. The McAuliffe Center also serves as an effective regional catalyst for collaboration among Framingham State University, regional businesses and industries, workforce and economic development initiatives, K-16 institutions statewide, and nonprofits organizations.
ABOUT PERSPECTIVES OF EARTH TEAM MENTORSHIP & INTERNSHIP (PETM)
Established in 2019, PETM promotes youth engagement in STEM disciplines by leveraging youth’s concerns for local environmental problems, while also fostering community participation in environmental mitigation and adaptation initiatives. This strategy fosters students’ environmental literacy and professional skills, and promotes youth’s lasting motivation for participation in STEM education and workforce pathways. Every school year, PETM recruits diverse cohorts of students from high schools in the MetroWest region of Massachusetts to participate in a spring preparatory program. This leads to the selection of a dozen of students who will be part of the summer internship program.
This year, PETM interns are introduced to a wide range of climate-critical workforce pathways, practice foundational competencies and develop interpersonal confidence. Interns who complete the program will earn industry validated credentials which they will be able to use when applying for internship or employment opportunities in sustainability and clean energy.
Professionals from a range of green economy industries participate in the PETM internship activities. Specific expertise is drawn from employers in the project areas directly related to the summer project:
Buildings of the Future - Explore how to design Passive-Design buildings for a greener future
Harnessing the Power of the Sun for our Communities - Explore and promote solar projects in Massachusetts.
Going Deep! Networked Geothermal Projects - Explore the science and design of networked geothermal systems and how it can contribute to clean heating and cooling.
LINK TO VISION DOCUMENT