Partner Highlight: Museum of Science, Boston Talks “Harnessing Hydrogen” to Increase Understanding & Awareness About Hydrogen Technology

Christina Leavell, Arizona State University

Earlier this year, partners at the Museum of Science (MOS) in Boston, MA created a safe and accessible environment for the community to engage in conversations about the implementation of hydrogen as an energy source. In collaboration with The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Justice and Equity and a team of Presidential Management Fellows, two forums were developed to address the use of hydrogen technology and its benefits to the community. Through an iterative process that involved environmental justice organizations, communities in the Gulf South, Boston-area residents, and expertise from the DOE offices, “Harnessing Hydrogen for a Just and Equitable Transition” was piloted and proved to have great success engaging the community in thoughtful discourse. 

Forums are spaces to engage the public in conversations about emerging technologies and their possible implications on society. MOS has a wealth of experience creating successful, thoughtful forums with tangible entry points for audiences at any level of familiarity with content. These forums help participants express their values, shape their opinions, and empower them to have a voice in larger conversations about complex issues of science and technology that will influence society, such as the conversation about hydrogen technology.

Closeup of table with large white paper, small cards, and even smaller round multicolor markers on the cards.

Hydrogen is a major component of the DOE’s plans for lowering carbon emissions, however this potentially promising solution for renewable energy is also controversial. Most experts see a role for hydrogen in a zero-carbon future. For example, there are possible uses in long-haul freight transport and in industrial carbon-intensive sectors like cement manufacturing or chemical synthesis. However, some experts doubt hydrogen as a prospect, seeing it as a distraction from focus on the ultimate goal of reducing emissions. Like all emerging technologies, hydrogen presents different opportunities and impacts upon different communities. It is vital to create spaces for all people to converse on the matter, especially those within marginalized communities where vulnerabilities to public health and the environment could have the most impact. 

“As news recently broke that huge natural stores of geologic hydrogen may exist around the world, raising hopes (and skepticism) about a potential future hydrogen economy, a few of us were putting the finishing touches on a relevant public engagement product here at the Museum.” says David Sittenfeld, Director of the Center for the Environment at the Museum of Science Boston. So when a group of agency employees doing a fellowship rotation in DOE’s Department of Energy Justice and Equity asked if the team at MOS would co-design and implement a forum about hydrogen, they were immediately onboard. “We have worked closely with these public servants over the last several months as they designed and revised a forum product informed by our model for deliberative public engagement, incorporating our feedback and testing out. We’re excited about this partnership, which aligns well with the Administration’s “clarion call” for participatory public engagement methodologies to inform public decision-making, which the Museum and its partners have been involved in for over a decade.”

Large room with many people sitting at tables, at the front someone stands at a podium.
David Sittenfeld addresses a group of participants during the "Harnessing Hydrogen for a Just and Equitable Transition" forum. Photo Credit: Museum of Science, Boston

For MOS, 2024 has been “The Year of the Earthshot,” placing a spotlight on the environment and exploring proposed solutions to the climate crisis. Programming has engaged audiences in many of the innovative ways that people are transforming how we live, work, eat, and much more to create a sustainable and better future for us all. Through an NSF grant project called “Building Capacity for CoCreated Public Engagement with Science,” MOS has focused on ways to support and utilize informal science education institutions as convening hubs to help engage publics about topics that lie at the intersection of science and society.

Forum resources developed in collaboration with the DOE’s Office of Energy Justice and Equity are open-source materials available free of charge for anyone to download from their site and use with communities everywhere: https://www.energy.gov/justice/harnessing-hydrogen-and-community-benefits-public-forums?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Resources include:

“Harnessing Hydrogen: An interactive activity to build hydrogen-based supply chains” 

This forum is a great introductory activity for groups to become familiar with hydrogen-based technologies. Harnessing Hydrogen teaches participants how to build hydrogen-based supply chains and fosters discussion on the economic, social, environmental and justice implications associated with different ways of making, transporting, and using hydrogen. 

“Community Benefits Planning: An interactive workshop to learn how to build Community Benefits Plans” 

This forum is a great way to learn parts of a community benefit plan, example possible benefits, and engage in deliberative conversation about participants’ values and priorities. Participants are guided through the development of a mock Community Benefits Plan (CBP) for an example community that has been approached about hosting a hydrogen fuel cell trucking project. 

 

A tabletop with many sets of hands holding cards. A large white paper takes up most of the table, on the paper are more cards organized into rows.

To learn more about this incredible work…

NISE Network Resources:

DOE’s Office of Energy Justice and Equity site:   https://www.energy.gov/justice/articles/doe-hosts-community-engagement-event-boston-museum-science-local-level-training?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery