This spring 2026 at SUNY Broome Community College launched a new battery course focusing on the emerging and exciting field of Battery technology.
The course was developed and taught by Dr. Joel Miller, Chair of SUNY Broome’s Chemistry Department. Dr. Miller earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Binghamton University, where he studied under Nobel Prize winner M. Stanley Whittingham. Dr. Miller brings his expertise and industry knowledge into the classroom giving students a unique opportunity to learn from someone at the cutting edge of modern battery science and technology.
The first class of students in CHM-143 Battery Science spent the semester learning about the science, technology, and manufacturing processes behind modern batteries. Supported by New Energy New York (NENY), the course covered topics ranging from battery chemistry and materials science to battery safety, manufacturing, recycling, and the battery ecosystem. Students also gained hands-on experience preparing battery materials, constructing cells, and evaluating battery performance.
The semester culminated in a laboratory session where students applied the concepts from chemistry, materials science, engineering, and manufacturing to successfully build their own real-working coin-cell batteries. What made this achievement especially impressive was that many students entered the class with little chemistry background and represented a variety of STEM programs across campus.
Another highlight of the course was a visit to C4V at Binghamton University’s Innovative Technologies Complex. Students toured the facility, learned about battery research and manufacturing, and spoke directly with professionals working in the industry. The experience helped connect classroom concepts to real-world applications while providing students with a better understanding of how batteries are developed from research and development to manufacturing and commercialization.
As New York continues to expand its role in battery manufacturing and clean energy, courses like CHM 143 give students an opportunity to see how science, engineering, and manufacturing come together in the real world and showcases the many pathways available within this rapidly evolving field.
Submitted by: Workforce & Community Partnership
Tags: STEM Division
