The objective of this FOA is to educate and train the next generation of engineers and scientists to fill critical workforce gaps. This will be achieved by funding early-stage decarbonization and net-zero greenhouse gas emission technology R&D projects that support Fossil Energy and Carbon Management program goals. The Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions (HBCUMSI) Program has additional objectives to increase opportunities and provide investments for traditionally underrepresented and disadvantaged communities within the U.S. to achieve a more racially diverse and highly skilled workforce.

Projects are specifically sought under five Areas of Interest (AOIs) as follows:

• AOI 1: Visiting scholars program to benefit students from minority-serving institutions
• AOI 2 (HBCU-MSI Only): Development of geoscience education curriculum at minority-serving institutions to prepare a workforce for critical mineral production
• AOI 3: Humanities-driven science (including social science), technology, engineering and mathematics (HDSTEM) to facilitate interdisciplinary student training and technology development
• AOI 4: Improving critical minerals and materials recovery from coal-based resources
• AOI 5: Energy Asset Transformation