The HBCU/OMI program was established to provide a mechanism for cooperative research between HBCU/OMI institutions, US industries, and Federal agencies. Since the inception of the HBCU Program in FY1984, the HBCU//OMI Program has emphasized improving the energy and environmental capabilities of advanced coal, oil, gas, and environmental technology concepts. This program strives to:

1) Provide and promote opportunities for HBCU/OMI in the area of science and engineering within DOE/FE that fosters private sector participation and interaction with HBCU/OMI in fossil energy-related programs, and

2) Provide a forum to facilitate technology transfer, strengthen educational training, develop and enhance the research infrastructure and capabilities of HBCU/OMI for producing the next generation of scientists and engineers of diverse backgrounds.

Relationship to DOE Strategic Plan

Collaborative research between the private sector, professors, and students from HBCU/OMI contributes to the success of the HBCU/OMI program.  This program supports the DOE's Strategic Plan for cooperative opportunities to perform fundamental and applied scientific research to advance domestic and global industrial competitiveness, clean energy research, national security, diversity initiatives, and environmental quality.

Program Description

The central thrust of the HBCU/OMI program is to generate fresh ideas and tap underutilized talent, define applicable fundamental principles, and develop advanced concepts for generating new and improved technologies that support the full spectrum of fossil energy R&D programs. Technological areas of interest for investigation include:

1) Advanced Environmental Control Technologies for Coal;
2) Advanced Coal Utilization;
3) Clean Fuels Technology;
4) Heavy Oil Upgrading and Processing;
5) Advanced Recovery. Completion/Stimulation, and Geoscience Technologies for Oil;
6) Natural Gas Supply, Storage, and Processing;
7) Infrastructure Reliability for Natural Gas; and
8) Fuel Cells.

Resulting research projects pursue advanced and fundamental concepts related to the science of fossil energy sources. The components of this program are broken down into three areas.