Interested in CR2C2 activities and engagement opportunities?
Exhibit D - Research Project Requirement: PDF Link
Principal Investigator: Jerry Everett, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)
Other Investigators: Hope Whiteside, University of Alabama (UA)
Project Partners: University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) and University of Alabama (UA)
Research Project Funding: $150,000 (Federal: $75,000; non-Federal: $75,000)
Project Status: Active
Project Start and End Date: 07/01/2026 to 06/30/2027
Project Summary: As the United States navigates the Fourth Industrial Revolution - defined by the convergence of physical, digital, and biological technologies - STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education has become increasingly vital to preparing students for the future workforce. Transportation, a sector undergoing rapid technological transformation, is deeply intertwined with STEM and plays a critical role in shaping economic development, public safety, and access to essential services. Yet, many K-12 students, particularly in rural areas, lack exposure to high-quality STEM learning opportunities. The Advanced Mobility Innovation Lab (AMIL) was established through funding from the CR2C2 REE program to address this gap by providing portable, hands-on STEM experiences that fuse transportation technology demonstrations with project-based learning. This project will expand AMIL’s effort in projects R-EWD-1 and R-EWD-2, and increases the reach and impact by partnering with the University of Alabama’s robust K–12 STEM Education Outreach program, creating a collaborative model for multi-university engagement and STEM education. Together, these programs will deliver enriched STEM experiences that emphasize emerging transportation technologies, autonomous systems, and the STEM principles behind their development and operation. The initiative will culminate in two regional events - one in Alabama and one in North Carolina - featuring autonomous vehicle demonstrations and showcasing student learning outcomes.
Acknowledgement: Funding for this effort was provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), University Transportation Centers Program, through the Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) under Grant No. 69A3552348304.