Conference: Equity, Innovation, and STEAM - Strengthening the R&D Connections

Information

  • NSF Award
  • 2314092
Owner
  • Award Id
    2314092
  • Award Effective Date
    9/1/2023 - a year ago
  • Award Expiration Date
    8/31/2025 - 8 months from now
  • Award Amount
    $ 236,606.00
  • Award Instrument
    Standard Grant

Conference: Equity, Innovation, and STEAM - Strengthening the R&D Connections

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math) continues to grow in the informal science learning field, with a wide variety of findings from researchers and practitioners. There is a significant need to assess where this nascent field is in relation to equity and what are the critical next steps that should be taken. Research shows: (1) a need to develop more mutually supportive links in this work between researchers and practitioners; (2) a need to address equitable access, framing, and design in STEAM informal science learning; and additionally, (3) that STEAM engages underserved populations in STEM. This can, potentially, help provide needed diversity in the STEM workforce, along with creative and innovative thinking skills essential to success. Texas Southern University, in partnership with the Innovation Collaborative, will convene a two-year five-phase working conference project to address these issues. This conference project is housed on an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) campus that has a museum studies program and a university museum. A core group of diverse leading STEAM informal science learning researchers and practitioners will help lead the project. They will assemble diverse teams representing the broad spectrum of informal science learning institutions. During the two years, these participants will immerse themselves in equity, choose and frame the six most important topics to address, and investigate these topics through virtual and in-person components. This conference project can serve as a model for other fields to develop an approach and next steps relating to equity, especially as it integrates research and practice.<br/><br/>The goals of this research are to develop: 1) a cohesive approach, integrating research and practice, to the most salient issues regarding equity in STEAM informal science learning; and 2) an effective model for a STEAM informal science learning conference project to address equity. All targeted outcomes will be iteratively measured using equitable, culturally responsive evaluation techniques. The project findings will be disseminated through traditional and nontraditional means with a focus on reaching a wide variety of diverse audiences. At the conclusion of this process, there will be a more cohesive view of where the STEAM informal science learning field is in relation to equity that will inform next steps that will benefit a broad spectrum of underserved populations. This conference project is funded by the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program, which supports projects that: (a) contribute to research and practice that considers informal STEM learning's role in equity and belonging in STEM; (b) promote personal and educational success in STEM; (c) advance public engagement in scientific discovery; (d) foster interest in STEM careers; (e) create and enhance the theoretical and empirical foundations for effective informal STEM learning; (f) improve community vibrancy; and/or (g) enhance science communication and the public's engagement in and understanding of STEM and STEM processes.<br/><br/>This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

  • Program Officer
    Fengfeng Kefke@nsf.gov7032922411
  • Min Amd Letter Date
    7/24/2023 - a year ago
  • Max Amd Letter Date
    7/24/2023 - a year ago
  • ARRA Amount

Institutions

  • Name
    Texas Southern University
  • City
    HOUSTON
  • State
    TX
  • Country
    United States
  • Address
    3100 CLEBURNE ST
  • Postal Code
    770044501
  • Phone Number
    7133137457

Investigators

  • First Name
    Lillian
  • Last Name
    Poats
  • Email Address
    Lillian.poats@tsu.edu
  • Start Date
    7/24/2023 12:00:00 AM
  • First Name
    Lucinda
  • Last Name
    Presley
  • Email Address
    lpresley@innovationcollaborative.org
  • Start Date
    7/24/2023 12:00:00 AM

Program Element

  • Text
    AISL
  • Code
    7259

Program Reference

  • Text
    CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOPS
  • Code
    7556
  • Text
    Broaden Particip STEM Resrch
  • Code
    8212