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Project descriptions from the National Institute of Health (NIH) Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) program are now available on InformalScience.org The SEPA program funds innovative projects that create partnerships among biomedical and clinical researchers and K-12 teachers and schools, museums and science centers, media experts, and other educational organizations. SEPA K-12 resources target state and ... Read more

The Serious Play Conference is presented June 13 – 17, 2022 online and in Orlando, FL. More information is here. The Serious Play Conference is a leadership conference for professionals who are exploring the use of game-based learning, sharing their experience and working together to shape the future of training and education.   

Reviewing is an important service to the informal STEM learning field. It is also great professional development with respect to understanding the AISL solicitation, the NSF Merit Review process, and writing strong proposals.

This blog was co-written with Karen Peterman and Cecilia Garibay. See additional author information at the end of the blog. It’s finally fall—temperatures are starting to cool, the leaves will soon begin to change, and the proposal deadline for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program is just around the corner. ... Read more

In Spring 2020, Smirla Ramos-Montañez, Family STEM Learning Researcher at the Technology Education Research Center (TERC) spoke with us about applying a culturally responsive approach to research and evaluation studies of informal STEM learning. The interview was conducted by Dr. Kelly Riedinger as a member of the Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) ... Read more

This article was co-authored by Scott Pattison, TERC​ and Gina Svarovsky, University of Notre Dame.   The Storybook STEM project began from a relatively simple premise. With support from the National Science Foundation (#1902536) and TERC, our goal was to synthesize knowledge about how children’s books can support STEM engagement and learning for preschool-age children ... Read more

This blog was co-written by Marjorie Bequette, Director of Evaluation and Research in Learning  at the Science Museum of Minnesota, and Gina Navoa Svarovsky, Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Notre Dame’s Center for STEM Education. Making Connections began in 2013 with a vision of a more diverse and inclusive Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM), where families ... Read more

This webinar will focus on questions and issues relevant for these types of organizations to submit and/or be part of grants to the AISL program.

This webinar will highlight insights, common questions, and emerging advancements from NSF-funded projects. Come talk with program officers about how the AISL program can support future projects.

Authors: Perrin Chick, Sue Allen, Kate Cook, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance Well before COVID-19, there were occasions when we all hosted meetings or offered workshops and inevitably there would be at least one person who could not physically attend but wanted to be included. Unfortunately, in many cases the default would be to send along notes ... Read more

This article was migrated from a previous version of the Knowledge Base. The date stamp does not reflect the original publication date. Overview  Simulation offers the learning fields the ability to use rich models and visualizations to create interactive learning experiences. The ability of those experiences to explore the elements of time, space and scale, ... Read more

Founded in 2008, The Inclusive Museum Research Network is brought together by a shared concern for the future role of the museum and how it can become more inclusive. We seek to build an epistemic community where we can make linkages across disciplinary, geographic, and cultural boundaries. As a Research Network, we are defined by our scope ... Read more

Small Matters is a science storytelling project developed in response to a National Science Foundation (NSF) supplemental funding opportunity designed to partner an existing NSF Center for Chemical Innovation with an informal science educator or organization (Award #1004570; funded via NSF Chemistry and AISL). I (Meisa Salaita, Director for Education & Outreach for the Center ... Read more

The National Science Foundation is requesting proposals for Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC). Program proposals are accepted anytime until April 1, 2024.   Available Formats: HTML: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2022/nsf22529/nsf22529.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_27&WT.mc_ev=click PDF: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2022/nsf22529/nsf22529.pdf?WT.mc_id=USNSF_27&WT.mc_ev=click Document Number: nsf22529   Program Title: Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC) Synopsis of Program: Communities in the United States (US) and around the world are entering ... Read more

Join online or in person from July 18-20, 2023 for the free, three-day Smithsonian National Education Summit. This annual education conference offers in-person workshops at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., as well as online-specific sessions, so participants can choose the format that best suits their needs.  PreK-12 educators, librarians, media specialists, and policymakers nationwide are ... Read more

This Knowledge Base article was written collaboratively with contributions from Kris Morrissey, Carlyn Buckler and Effrosyni Nomikou. This article was migrated from a previous version of the Knowledge Base. The date stamp does not reflect the original publication date. Overview  As a field, science museums and other ISE forums are exploring and defining their place ... Read more

This guest post was written by Dan Barstow, Senior Education Manager at the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory. Orbiting Earth every 92 minutes, the International Space Station (ISS) supports experiments in micro-gravity, exposure to extreme temperatures and radiation, Earth remote-sensing equipment, robotics, human adaptation, a unique closed system in isolation from its environment, and more. Built by an ... Read more

The Spark!Lab, a project of the Lemelson Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, seeks national partners from metro areas across the United States to become a part of the Spark!Lab National Network. Since 2008, the Spark!Lab has been committed to fostering inventive creativity in children and their families. Spark!Lab members in different ... Read more

Sparticl, a new informal science learning portal, is now live at www.sparticl.org. Created by TPT Twin Cities Public Television with support from 3M, Sparticl is a free, searchable showcase of the top science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-related content from trusted sources like PBS, National Geographic, Scientific American, Discovery, and a host of science centers ... Read more

Introduction How can high school students engage more deeply in authentic science learning? One method is by working directly with scientists. However, several inevitable challenges may hinder interaction between students and scientists, such as power dynamics, the complexity of scientific language, and communication barriers. The purpose of this project was to introduce a pedagogical tool, ... Read more

Have you done a community/citizen science project in the last few years? Did it work? Did it not work (as expected)? The journal Environmental Justice wants to hear about it! The journal Environmental Justice is hosting a Special Issue on community participatory science and its effectiveness (or not – just as important) in informing decisions and improving public health. Community participatory science has ... Read more

The Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG), Sigma Xi, and the Rita Allen Foundation are pleased to announce a call for papers and competition on: Civic Science for Transformative Policy Solutions to Societal Challenges. The Special Issue will promote the concept of civic science to broad audiences, provide a platform for emerging leaders in civic science to showcase the policy ... Read more

Join the National Science Foundation for the Spring 2022 NSF Virtual Grants Conference, to be held during the week of June 6-10, 2022. Registration opens on May 11. More information is here. Just like the in-person grants conferences, the NSF Virtual Grants Conference is a must, especially for new faculty, researchers and administrators. Highlights include: ... Read more

The NSF Grants Conference is designed to give new faculty, researchers, and administrators key insights into a wide range of current issues at NSF. NSF staff will provide up-to-date information about policies and procedures, specific funding opportunities, and answer attendee questions. The NSF Grants Conference is a must, especially for new faculty, researchers, and administrators. Attendees will engage in and learn: ... Read more

Springer has announced a new journal, The Journal of Formative Design in Learning, which will present original papers that inform the study and practice of education and training, including evaluation reports. The Journal of Formative Design in Learning is currently accepting submissions. All articles published by the journal will be available for free during 2017 and ... Read more