Herrera, a mechanical engineering student, became interested in wind energy in a thermodynamics class. She joined a National Science Foundation-supported project as one of 10 participants in a new Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) in wind energy systems. The 10-week summer program, offered through UT Dallas’ Wind Energy Center, included five students from UTD and the remaining five from other universities. Clark Summer Research Program participants invited the REU students to compete in their poster contest, and four of them won awards. UTD’s wind energy research is designed to support the nation’s strategic goal of generating 35% of the United States’ electricity from wind power by 2050.