Summative Evaluation: SENCER-ISE Project

The National Center for Science and Civic Engagement (NCSCE) contracted Randi Korn & Associates, Inc. (RK&A) to conduct a summative evaluation of its SENCER-ISE project partnerships. SENCER-ISE is an initiative that brings partners from higher education (HE) together with partners from informal science education (ISE) to create projects that engage audiences in science using the lens of civic engagement. SENCER funded 10 partnerships over three years—six through the National Science Foundation (DRL #1001795) and four through the Noyce Foundation. Previously, RK&A conducted a formative evaluation of the partnerships, exploring the successes and challenges of the infrastructure SENCER created to support partnerships (RK&A, 2014). The summative evaluation explores achievement of project outcomes and lessons learned from the project partnerships. RK&A collected data from partners using in-depth interviews and an online standardized questionnaire.