Wafa Khalil - Maritime and Science Technology (MAST) Academy

Dr. Wafa Khalil, a National Board Certified Teacher in Miami at the Maritime and Science Technology (MAST) Academy has been teaching for 18 years. She created two courses on solar and sustainable energy that have been approved by the Florida Department of Education as college preparatory science courses.

In the courses she covers the science behind solar heat and electric technology with a strong emphasis on solar careers. Students explore the variety of careers including environmental engineering and energy audit consultants through guest speakers and field trips.

For their final project, students design a solar-operated product and an imaginary company to market the product. These projects are showcased in a Solar Celebration and a judged competition. Wafa's teaching efforts have garnered attention from the Florida Solar Energy Center, the Department of Environmental Recourse management, Florida Power and Light, other teachers and students, waste management officials and many other energy-issue stakeholders.

Her courses have also had impact on the school campus: students designed a solar waterfall and pond that inspired the planting of over 100 trees around the school parking lot and established energy conservation and recycling program that reduced the school's CO2 footprint by over 150,000 Lb/year.

Wafa is in the final stage of publishing a textbook for her courses. You can contact Wafa at [email protected].