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Informal learning settings are valuable environments for students to learn beyond the classroom. This article describes the preliminary findings from a systematic review that explored programmatic elements associated with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning, knowledge, identity, and self-efficacy for neurodiverse youth in informal STEM learning environments. ...

As evidence synthesis methodologies, particularly systematic reviews (SRs), continue to gain popularity across social science research disciplines, faculty requests for librarian assistance with literature searchers are also increasing. A critical component of a well-developed systematic review is a robust grey literature search. Grey literature provides access to research outside of traditional publishing streams, such as conference proceedings, government reports, or...

Informal STEM settings offer unique opportunities to engage neurodiverse learners, including those with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. To understand how these programs can be more accessible, we conducted a systematic review of academic research and grey literature on informal STEM programs for K–12 neurodiverse learners in the U.S. We reviewed more than 2,000 records and identified 11 research articles and 7...

The Molly Community Science project, a collaborative research and design initiative involving rural Alaskan communities, educators, researchers, media producers, and cultural advisors to support STEM education grounded in Alaska Native culture, developed an engaging, place based, culturally responsive educational camp that supports environmental science learning for children aged 6 to 8 in rural Alaska Native communities. The prototype, Molly’s Salmon...

This report assesses how the Molly Community Science project implemented the co-design process by evaluating it against the following indicators: Equity: reduction or removal of barriers to active participation of all members in a co-design process. Trust and respect: skills, expression, and knowledge systems are trusted and respected as having value to the project. Relationships: valuing connectedness and long-term relationships beyond the scope...

North Atlantic storms--such as hurricanes and Nor'easters--disrupt lives and impose significant burdens on coastal communities. Residents in these regions rely on storm forecasts to assess risk and decide on protective actions. To inform the public, news and social media outlets frequently use scientific visualizations--such as cones of uncertainty and spaghetti plots--to communicate storm trajectories and potential impacts. However, these visualizations...

Informal learning environments such as museums, libraries, and community organizations are important settings that provide innovative learning experiences to develop young people's interests and skills with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and computing. Yet despite the increasing educational opportunities, there are barriers to meaningful participation for all youth. Research suggests that attention to the structural conditions of learning environments...

The increasingly connected and technologically mediated world both gives learners unprecedented access to data about complex systems, and simultaneously requires increasingly sophisticated STEM reasoning skills to grapple with those complex systems. This project will develop analytical tools, simulations, and online learning materials to help adult learners make sense of the complex systems involved in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). The project...

The objective of this project is to support research on creating, implementing, and testing a novel online serious game on emergency response. Iowa State University (ISU) and Polk County Emergency Management (PCEM) in Iowa collaboratively develop the Disaster Multiplayer Online Game (DMOG). Emergency response is a complex process, involving multiple organizations and decision makers with different roles and responsibilities, objectives,...

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are rapidly reshaping daily life; yet older adults--one of the fastest-growing U.S. demographics--have limited chances to understand, critique, and influence AI technologies. Meanwhile, older adults bring a wealth of life experience, and a willingness to share knowledge across generations. Their shared experience and knowledge can have a great impact on human and technology advances. This project...

This project, known as Molly Community Science, aims to support the development of environmental stewardship among 6- to 8-year-old children from rural Alaska Native communities. The project has two goals: (1) to investigate how children develop environmental stewardship (which we refer to as environmental identity); and (2) to co-design, with Alaska Native communities, an intergenerational, culturally responsive science program that...

Studies indicate that informal learning settings such as out-of-school learning (OSL) programs, including afterschool and summer learning programs, can support K-12 students' learning in science, technology, math, and science (STEM) as well as enhance youth career interests in STEM. This project seeks to model how two organizations, the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC) at Georgia Tech...

Young children begin learning math long before they enter school. Between ages 1 and 3, toddlers develop early understandings of number, shape, size, and location through everyday conversations and interacting with materials in their home environment. But not all children are exposed to the same math talk and objects, and early differences in home experiences may contribute to later gaps...

The goal of this Partnership Development & Planning (type 3) project is for the libraries of the Northern Mariana Islands to strengthen partnerships and relationships that leverages existing collaborations with the Space Science Institute. The purpose of this partnership project is to continue the forward progress and set the stage for future work in collaboration between libraries and Space Science...

This project, led by BSCS Science Learning with partners NatureBridge and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), will conduct a research synthesis study to understand the extent, range, and nature of existing literature outdoor and nature-based environmental education programs, including the impacts of outdoor environmental program designs, professional learning, and pedagogical practices on educators and youth participant outcomes...

Advancing the semiconductor industry is a national priority, but a major skilled workforce gap is projected in the coming decade. Closing this gap requires early, proactive engagement in STEM education. This project directly addresses this need by cultivating STEM interest and skills in younger learners to prepare them for careers in this critical industry. This project will advance scientific progress...

The Building Supports Towards a Useful, Usable, and In-Use Framework of Professional Competencies in the Informal STEM Learning Field (AISL #2215274) project was undertaken to create professional learning and development tools for those who engage the public in informal STEM learning (ISL). The resulting tools are now collectively known as Professional Pathways in Informal STEM Learning, or "Pathways" for short....

Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM) and Loyola University Chicago (LUC) have a nearly 20-year history of research-to-practice partnership that enables us to collectively better understand children and families’ learning in informal STEM environments, and for CCM to take a data driven approach to the design and implementation of its programs. Our most recent collaboration, TALES (Tinkering and Learning Engineering Stories) Project...

Participatory science, ranging from citizen to community science, refers to ways that everyday people collaborate with scientists in meaningful ways. There are thousands of participatory projects, each of which can engage thousands, tens of thousands, or even millions of people. Projects occur across varied disciplines such as astronomy, biochemistry, conservation, engineering, and environmental sciences. Research suggests that people engaged in...

This Integrating Research and Practice project uses an iterative approach to develop a STEM tabletop role-playing game for informal science learning. The project supports the development of game materials, which include freely available rules and learning-centered adventures. The game targets players ages 15 and older and includes content from biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics. Players acquire STEM content by...

Paper-based electronics offer a creative and accessible entry point for STEM education, grounded in the rich tradition of papercrafting. However, most K-12 education tools and activities remain focused on introductory concepts, leaving a gap in opportunities for advanced electronics learning. This project aims to address the gap by integrating emerging printed electronics techniques with craft-friendly conductive materials, such as...

In January 2025, Los Angeles faced a series of devastating wildfires, notably the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, which collectively destroyed over 18,000 structures and led to the evacuation of more than 200,000 residents. These fires continue to profoundly impact schools and families, requiring new forms of environmental literacy and community public health efforts. In recognizing the complex decision-making...

Sesame Workshop is an American nonprofit organization with a mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Inspired by the 75th Anniversary of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), this project will leverage current research efforts in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and multimedia resources as delivery mechanisms for developing the content knowledge and process skills...

Soils provide critical ecosystem services that support agriculture, determine nutrient and carbon cycles, maintain clean air and water, and sustain biodiversity. These services are controlled by microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Plants can manipulate these microbial communities through the chemicals they release—root exudates—with subsequent consequences for soil functions. Characterizing root exudates and their relationships with other plant traits will improve...

The Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology program provides support to enhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. With National Science Foundation support, California State University San Bernardino will build on the accomplishments with their Phase I Center by advancing knowledge in functional materials, while providing quality...