September 30th, 2019
Fifty-three projects funded by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program are now cataloged on InformalScience.org. Start dates for these projects range from January 1, 2019 through September 1, 2019.
Below, the awards are listed in alphabetical order by project type with their Principal Investigator(s) (first bullet) and co-Principal Investigators (second bullet), with a link to the project description.
Pictured: A breakout session at the 2019 NSF AISL Principal Investigators Meeting in Alexandria, VA.
Other Ways to Browse AISL Projects
You can also use the advanced search function on InformalScience.org to sort by audience type, disciplinary content, and other tags of interest. If you are developing an AISL proposal for the upcoming November 6 deadline, be sure to explore our many proposal development support resources. Now, on to the projects!
In 2019, there were 53 Cataloged AISL Projects
Broad Implementation
These projects more fully explore questions and issues for which there are already preliminary findings, significant literature, or a practice base.
Karen Lozano, The University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley |
|
Researching a Strengths-Based Approach to Engineering Education Using Design Squad LatinX |
Mary Haggerty, WGBH Educational Foundation |
Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program
Career awards provide stable support at a sufficient level and duration to enable awardees to develop careers not only as outstanding researchers, but also as educators demonstrating commitment to teaching, learning, and dissemination of knowledge.
Talking Science: Early STEM Identity Formation Through Everyday Science Talk |
Remy Dou, Florida International University |
Conferences
A Workshop to Plan The Future of the Teen Science Cafe Network |
Michelle Hall, Science Education Solutions, Inc. |
Communicating STEM in Natural World: Advancing Collaboration bet Sci & Media (Conference) |
Ru Mahoney, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival |
John McCleary, Vassar College |
|
Exploring the Use of Non-Science Themed Art in Science Education |
Aaron Price, Museum of Science and Industry |
Sunshine Menezes, University of Rhode Island |
|
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Imaginative Thinking in Informal STEM Environments |
Rebecca Kipling, Museum of Science, Boston |
Scott Pattison, TERC |
Innovations in Development
These are projects that are expected to result in deliverables such as exhibits, media products, after school programs, etc., and in innovative models, programs, technologies, assessments, resources, or systems for an area of STEM learning in informal environments.
Michael Kennedy, Northwestern University |
|
Building More Inclusive Makerspaces to Support Informal Engineering Learning Experiences |
Keith Braafladt, Science Museum of Minnesota |
Veronica Garcia-Luis, Exploratorium |
|
Ross Higashi, Carnegie Mellon University |
|
Cool Science: Art as a Vehicle for Intergenerational Learning |
Jill Lohmeier, University of Massachusetts–Lowell; Robert Chen, University of Massachusetts–Boston; and Steven Schrock, University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc. |
Enhancing Learning Opportunities in Libraries of Rural Communities |
Keliann LaConte, Space Science Institute |
Lauren Giarratani, Carnegie Institute and Kevin Crowley, University of Pittsburgh |
|
H. Chad Lane, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
|
Food for Thought: Igniting, Engaging, and Measuring Family STEM Learning Using a Food Lab |
Bradley Morris, Kent State University |
Annie Douglass, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and Scott Pattison, TERC Inc. |
|
Hidden No More: Shedding Light on Science Stories in the Shadows |
Todd Boyette, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Innovative approaches to Informal Education in Artificial Intelligence |
Elisabeth Soep, Youth Radio and Harold Abelson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Lawrence Clark, University of Maryland College Park |
|
Meaningful Math: News Media for Increasing Adult Statistical Literacy |
Patti Parson, Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association |
Lainie Castle, American Library Association |
|
Technology Education for Women in Transition: Broadening Participation through Innovation |
Hyunjin Seo, University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc. and Baek-Young Choi, University of Missouri-Kansas City |
Martin Storksdieck, Oregon State University |
|
The STEM Ambassador Program: Supporting Scientists’ Engagement with Public Audiences |
Nalini Nadkarni, University of Utah |
Jamie Donatuto, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community |
|
Water in the Four Corners Region: Connecting and Engaging Communities with Their Water Systems |
Anne Gold, University of Colorado at Boulder and Keliann LaConte, Space Science Institute |
Literature Reviews, Syntheses, or Meta-analyses
Projects that focus on a question, issue, or topic of critical importance to the AISL program that are explored in breadth and depth.
Addressing Societal Challenges through STEM (ASCs): Interpreting the Literature |
Kristine Morrissey, New Knowledge Organization Ltd |
Examining the Role of Authenticity in Informal Science Learning |
James Kisiel, California State University–Long Beach Foundation |
Pilots and Feasibility Studies
These projects offer opportunities for practitioners and researchers to investigate issues in and approaches to informal STEM learning and to establish the basis for future research, design, and development of innovations or approaches.
Erika Woolsey, The Hydrous and Jeremy Bailenson, Stanford University |
|
Sheryl Burgstahler, University of Washington |
|
Designing and Testing Companion Robots to Support Informal, In-home STEM Learning |
Bilge Mutlu, University of Wisconsin–Madison |
Harrison Pinckney, Clemson University |
|
Cynthia Graville, Saint Louis University |
|
Youth Engaging in the Science of Resilience in Urban and Rural NC |
Kathleen Gray, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE)
Bold, interdisciplinary projects expected to generate transformational advances.
Harry Mairson, Brandeis University |
Research in Service to Practice
These projects focus on research that advances knowledge and the evidence base for practices, assumptions, broadening participation, or emerging educational arrangements in STEM learning in informal environments, including the science of science communication.
Brains On! the Move: STEM Podcasts as Facilitators of Automobile-Based Family Learning Experiences |
Amy Grack Nelson, Science Museum of Minnesota |
Exploring the effectiveness of using humor for communicating about science |
Sara Yeo, University of Utah |
Patrik Lundh, SRI International |
|
Investigating How Museum Experiences Inform Youths’ STEM Career Awareness and Interest |
Aaron Price, Museum of Science and Industry |
Making Space for Story-Based Tinkering to Scaffold Early Informal Engineering Learning |
Catherine Haden, Loyola University of Chicago; Tsivia Cohen, Chicago Children’s Museum; and David Uttal, Northwestern University |
Danielle Harlow, University of California-Santa Barbara and Ron Skinner, Children’s Museum of Santa Barbara |
|
Deborah Wasserman, Franklin County Historical Society, and Keliann LaConte, Space Science Institute |
|
What leads to better outcomes in informal STEM-based environmental education programs for youth? |
Robert Powell, Clemson University |
Co-funded by the NSF Division of Polar Programs
Jason Cervenec, Ohio State University and Janice McDonnell, Rutgers University–New Brunswick |
Co-funded by AISL and other NSF Programs
Ivory Toldson, Quality Education For Minorities Network |
|
Lucy Fortson, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities; Sarah Benson-Amram, University of Wyoming; Laura Trouille, Adler Planetarium; Subhashini Sivagnanam, University of California–San Diego; and Gregory Newman, Colorado State University |
|
Marios Pattichis, University of New Mexico |
|
Sethuraman Panchanathan, Arizona State University |
|
Talking Black in America, Part II: Mini-Series and Public Education |
Walter Wolfram, North Carolina State University |