The National Science Foundation’s INCLUDES (Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science) is a comprehensive initiative to enhance U.S. leadership in science and engineering discovery and innovation by proactively seeking and effectively developing STEM talent from all sectors and groups in our society. By facilitating partnerships, communication and cooperation, NSF aims to build on and scale up what works in broadening participation programs to reach underserved populations nationwide.
On September 12, 2016, the first NSF INCLUDES awards were issued to 37 projects. Among the 37 are two projects led by STEM Learning Ecosystems – Queens 20/20 and the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative.
Queens 20/20
The New York Hall of Science, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and a national leadership team representing universities, cultural organizations, corporations, foundations and leaders in the Maker Movement will lead Designing for Diversity: A Networked Improvement Community for Broadening the Participation of Black and Latino Youth in Computational Careers.
Using the methodology of Networked Improvement Communities (NIC) developed by leaders of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the Designing for Diversity NIC will focus on how participation in computational Making programs can impact Black and Latino youths’ choices to pursue STEM-focused internships, post-secondary education, and career paths. For more information, please contact Andrés Henríquez: andreshenriquez@nysci.org.
The Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative
On March 2-4, 2017, the University of Cincinnati will convene a conference of national and local experts to explore the best practices that support the development of a backbone organization in the context of using a social innovation model for broadening participation in STEM. All the STEM ecosystems are invited.
The intent is to strengthen the network among participants and leverage learning from the Cincinnati Strive experience with collective impact across the Midwest and beyond. Results from the NextLivesHere: Social Change Innovation Summit, will be disseminated in the tri-state region through the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative (GCSC and the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN). For more information, please contact Kathie Maynard: Kathie.maynard@uc.edu
