CURRENT PROJECTS

Evaluation Learning and Research Hub for Advanced Technological Education

Funded By: National Science Foundation

Prime Institution: Western Michigan University

Project Overview: EvaluATE aims to develop the evaluation capacity of nearly 300 Advanced Technological Education (ATE) projects and centers, which involve more than 400 principal investigators (PIs) and co-PIs, over 200 evaluators, and numerous staff, grant professionals, program officers, and others who develop, administer, assess, and oversee ATE-funded work. The ATE program is focused on tangible broader impacts in terms of making the United States more globally competitive through improved technological education. The purpose of EvaluATE is to support ATE program grantees to conduct high-quality evaluation that can be used to improve individual projects and the program overall. EvaluATE’s expanded work will directly contribute to developing the capacity of institutions to conduct evaluation―within ATE and beyond. EvaluATE employs research on evaluation (RoE) as part of the activities that will lead to achievement of its goals. Research on measuring equity, diversity, and inclusion(EDI) in the ATE program is one of the studies that will expand the evidence base for effective STEM education evaluation practices as well as generate actionable findings that can be applied at institutions to assess progress toward broadening participation in STEM, an NSF priority (NSF, 2018a). Additionally, the study will determine the feasibility of measuring EDI in the ATE context using indicators recommended in the National Academies (NAS, 2018) report Indicators for Monitoring Undergraduate STEM Education.

Genomics and Eco-evolution of Multi-Scale Symbioses

Funded By: National Science Foundation

Prime Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Project Overview: GEMS is a Biology Integration Institute that focuses on the intersecting goals of changing how biology is done and who does it, by answering how bee-symbioses unifies biology from molecule to ecosystem. The Institute is grounded in a true-integration, shared-leadership, cross-disciplinary, human diversity (in terms of gender, race and communication style) model. This innovative collaborative model seeks to dismantle institutional and academic hierarchy and silos, while also providing research opportunities to groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM (outreach participants, undergrads, graduate and postdoc students).

Interdisciplinary Biochemistry Master’s Program

Funded By: National Science Foundation

Prime Institution: NC State University

Project Overview: The Interdisciplinary Biochemistry Master’s Program (IBMP) is a collaborative effort between the Departments of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry; Plant and Microbial Biology; Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences; Animal Science; and the Prestage Department of Poultry Science. Scholars in this program will take core classes in Biochemistry and will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge to solve real-world problems in a wide variety of areas. Research studies could include probiotics, human milk biochemistry, microbiome metabolics, nutrition, plant metabolism, or engineering of plants for nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals. This innovative program is funded by the National Science Foundation and is aimed at recruiting and retaining students from underrepresented groups.

Midwest Big Data Hub (MBDH)

Funded By: National Science Foundation

Prime Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Project Overview: The MBDH is one of the four Big Data (BD) Innovation Hubs launched by the NSF in 2015, to develop partnerships among academic researchers, government agencies, industries, and local communities, with specific focus on the creation, sharing, and use of large data collections. The MBDH serves this purpose across the twelve states in the region, and focuses on five thematic areas that are priorities for research, development, and commerce in the Midwest region: water quality; agriculture; materials and manufacturing; health and biomedicine; and smart, connected, and resilient communities. The Hub also focuses on topics that are relevant to each of these thematic areas, like data science education; workforce development; and computing infrastructure that are necessary for cybersecurity, and modern science. The second phase of the project will run through 2019 to 2023, to further the acceleration of the big data innovation ecosystem through the central leadership of the UIUC, and co-governance of five partner institutions: Indiana University, Iowa State University, the University of Michigan, the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and the University of North Dakota.

Engineered nanoBIO Node

Funded By: National Science Foundation

Prime Institution: Indiana University

Project Overview: The MBDH is one of the four Big Data (BD) Innovation Hubs launched by the NSF in 2015, to develop partnerships among academic researchers, government agencies, industries, and local communities, with a specific focus on the creation, sharing, and use of large data collections. The MBDH serves this purpose across the twelve states in the region and focuses on five thematic areas that are priorities for research, development, and commerce in the Midwest region: water quality; agriculture; materials and manufacturing; health and biomedicine; and smart, connected, and resilient communities. The Hub also focuses on topics that are relevant to each of these thematic areas, like data science education; workforce development; and computing infrastructure that are necessary for cybersecurity, and modern science. The second phase of the project will run through 2019 to 2023, to further the acceleration of the big data innovation ecosystem through the central leadership of the UIUC, and co-governance of five partner institutions: Indiana University, Iowa State University, the University of Michigan, the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and the University of North Dakota.

Network for Computational Nanotechnology Cyber Platform (NCN-CP)

Funded By: National Science Foundation

Prime Institution: Perdue University

Project Overview: Initially established in 2002 with the support of NSF funding and a charge to foster the sharing of research, resources, and data relevant to the continued development and application of nanotechnologies, nanoHUB provides simulations, a variety of virtual tools, and educational resources. nanoHUB is committed to continued excellence in developing nanotechnological resources and continuing to extend its audience reach including a focus on enhancing diversity in STEM. In addition to generating original content, nanoHUB also includes tools developed by content contributing nodes, nanoBIO and nanoMFG, who are also members of the Network for Computational Nanotechnology.

NCN HierarchicalNanomanufacturing Node

Funded By: National Science Foundation

Prime Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Project Overview: The NCN Hierarchical Nanomanufacturing Node (nanoMFG Node) funded by the NSF aims to develop and deploy a comprehensive approach to assembling, developing, and implementing advanced cyberinfrastructure tools to design integrated nanoscale manufacturing facilities. More specifically, it seeks to bring together disparate researchers, educators, national labs, industries, and high schools to form a cohesive framework in order to advance nanoscience and resulting nanotechnologies and to promote STEM education. The Node will be part of the established Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN) Cyber Platform. The leading institutions of nanoMFG Node are the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) and the University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley). The educational and outreach objective for the NCN Hierarchical nanoMFG Node is to promote computation, simulation, and education services to the nanoscience and engineering communities that fully integrates simulation and modeling tool development in order to create and sustain a continuous, robust, and diverse pipeline in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education from pre-college to graduate studies to foster workforce development. Furthermore, diversity is foundational to NCN Hierarchical nanoMFG Node to not only help increase participation from underrepresented groups and institutions but also enhance the richness of potential tools developed.

Spartans ADVANCE

Funded By: National Science Foundation

Prime Institution: University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Project Overview: Spartan ADVANCE is a multi-year initiative that aims to increase equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) at UNCG. The main goals are to increase faculty diversity in STEM departments, faculty equity in sponsored research outputs, and a climate and culture of care that advocates for career-life balance and flexibility. This project addresses these three areas of need that will require intersectional actions such as, but not limited to, faculty mentoring, proposal submission workshops, and a central work-life balance website. The evaluation and assessment are completed by UNCG’s Office of Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Services.

Science, Technology, and Math Preparation Scholarship

Funded By: National Science Foundation

Prime Institution: University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Project Overview: The STAMPS program aims to provide guidance and supportive elements to academically talented and financially needy students, including minority, women, and first-generation college students, so that they are able to complete degrees in their STEM disciplines and be motivated to continue within STEM-based fields. The project has built a cohort-based, supportive community of science students and faculty who are dedicated to broadening students' knowledge of the interconnectedness of STEM disciplines, career opportunities, and exposure to cutting-edge research. Students and faculty participate in a course; attend interdisciplinary lectures and programs; visit scientific labs; engage in opportunities with graduate students; travel to Washington, DC; and network with other students to form a community of scientists.

STEM Pathways for Underrepresented Students to Higher Education

Funded By: National Science Foundation

Prime Institution: University of Pittsburgh

Project Overview: The mission of the NSF INCLUDES STEM PUSH (Pathways for Underrepresented Students to Higher Education) Network is to broaden the participation of underrepresented racial minorities (URM) in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields by leveraging the strengths of pre-college STEM programs (PCSP) and highlighting their importance in the college admissions process. This project aims to create a national alliance of college admissions professionals, PCSPs, accreditation experts, and other higher education leaders. The STEM PUSH Network will utilize the efforts of its partners to build a next-generation accreditation model for PCSPs. It aims to address the lack of racial diversity in STEM by promoting PCSPs as an alternative to existing admissions metrics, such as standardized testing. Largely, the STEM PUSH Network is expected to increase the number of URM in STEM by obtaining the accreditation of PCSPs.