The Importance of Workforce Development in EPSCoR Grants and Strategies for Plasma-Focused Education and Public Engagement in Alabama.

A 2021 study from the National Science Board finds that the performance of U.S. elementary and secondary students in STEM education continues to lag that of students from other countries. The FTPP grant and the previous CPU2AL grant, funded by the NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), have put much effort into trying to contribute to the solution of this problem. In our experience, we found out that several critical areas contribute to the success of this effort. Strategies adopted and actions taken will be evaluated and discussed. New research and advancement challenge the workforce and outreach development. The management of the organizational activities must be assigned to specialized personnel. The turnover rate of the supporting staff can negatively affect the specialization level and the team's effectiveness. Moreover, building an extended network of external contacts with Agencies or other Universities is an essential element to success. Universities are not all the same; they vary by size, cultural variation, and student population. In addition, the local environment must also be considered to obtain and maintain cooperation with industries, museums, and non-profit organizations. These activities must be meticulously planned, organized, and monitored in a practical project management framework. One of the main goals is to build additional capacity by creating new educational and outreach programs for college and K-12 students. Consequently, increasing public awareness and plasma-focused education in a State like Alabama is difficult. This situation requires action directed towards elementary and secondary students as soon as possible, considering how they vary by size, cultural background, and underrepresented minorities. We learned that "marketing" campaigns must be focused and specifically built toward a variegated target. Response rates can differ depending on the channel and methodology used to increase student engagement.