Broadening Participation in STEMNanoscale Science and Engineering

Education Programs at NSF

Dr. Abiodun (Abby) IlumokaProgram Director for Engineering Education

NSF/EHR

Nanotechnology Frontiers at 20 years of NNIProceedings, December 1, 2020,

www.nseresearch.org/2020/

Outline

• Introduction• NSF Directorate for Education and Human Resources (NSF-EHR)• NSF-EHR Grant Programs for Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education • Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education - Award Statistics • Broadening Participation in STEM through Nanoscale Science and Engineering

Education• Examples of Funded Projects in Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education

Nanoscale Science and EngineeringNanotechnology permits integration of knowledge, tools, and ways of thinking from physical and mathematical sciences, engineering disciplines, life and social sciences and the humanities to form a comprehensive framework for tackling societal challenges that exist at the interfaces of multiple fields.Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education is a robust and agile enterprise led by educators, industry & professional organizations working collaboratively to ensure that a diverse group of individuals is attracted, recruited and retained in Nanotechnology for the long-term

NSF Support for Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education• Provide students and the US general public access to nanotech education & training facilities,

formal and informal• Human Capital Development: attract, retain, and empower a talented and diverse STEM workforce • Leverage convergence of AI, Quantum, Biological systems to accelerate introduction of new

nanoscale science and technology platforms to support education and human resources for industries of the future

Introduction

NSF Core Values: Inclusion & Broadening

Participation

Introduction

Division of Undergraduate

Education DUE

Division of Research on

Learning DRL

Division of Graduate Education

DGE

Division of Human

Resources Development

HRD

Nanoscale Science & Engineering

Education

4 divisions within EHR Directorate

NSF Directorate for Education & Human Resources

EHR Mission: To achieve excellence in STEM education at all levels and in all settings (both formal and informal) in order to support the development of a diverse and well-prepared workforce of scientists, technicians, engineers, mathematicians and educators and a well-informed citizenry

Broadening Participation

in STEM+ =

Attraction, Retention & Empowerment

of a Talented & Diverse STEM Workforce

The Broadening Participation portfolio in EHR includes:• programs that are primarily focused on broadening participation e.g. NSF

INCLUDES, ADVANCE• programs that have broadening participation as one of several

emphases e.g. HSI, ATE, ITEST, CREST, LSAMP, IUSE• This presentation focuses on programs that have successfully coupled

Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NSE) Education with Broadening Participation (BP) in STEM

• In the period FY14 - FY19, EHR made 84 NSE/BP awards totaling $91million and spanning 13 different grant programs in the directorate

• NSE/BP programs and links are presented on the next two slides

NSF is committed to expanding efforts to increase participation from underrepresented groups and diverse institutions throughout the United States in all NSF activities and programs.

NSF Directorate for Education & Human Resources

• Advanced Technological Education Program (ATE) focuses on the education of technicians for the high technology fields that drive our nation's economy and involves partnerships between academic institutions and industry to promote improvement in technician education

• Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL)The Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance new approaches to andevidence-based understanding of the design and development of STEM learning opportunities for the publicin informal environments

• Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program assists universities and colleges in diversifying the nation's STEM workforce by increasing the number of STEM baccalaureate and graduate degrees awarded to populations historically underrepresented in these disciplines

• Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program provides support to enhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions (MSI) through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research

• EHR Core Research (ECR) places emphasis on the rigorous development of theory and accumulation of knowledge to inform efforts to address challenges in STEM interest, learning, and participation, for all groups and all ages in formal and informal settings

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) provides awards to strengthen STEM undergraduate education and research at HBCUs

NSF-EHR Grant Programs for NSE Education

• Hispanic Serving Institutions Program (HSI) focuses on enhancing the quality of undergraduate STEM education at HSIs and seeks to increase the retention and graduation rates of students pursuing associate or baccalaureate degrees in STEM.

• Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)ITEST is an applied research and development program providing direct student learning opportunities at the preK-12 level

• Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Program (IUSE) seeks to promote creative, novel and transformative approaches to generating and using knowledge about STEM teaching and learning to improve undergraduate STEM education

• NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative models for STEM graduate education

• Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (NOYCE) seeks to encourage talented STEM majors and professionals to become K-12 STEM teachers

• Scholarships in STEM Program (S-STEM) seeks to increase the number of low-income, academically talented students with demonstrated financial need obtaining degrees in STEM and to generate knowledge to advance understanding of how evidence-based interventions affect student success

• Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) welcomes proposals that advance the field of cybersecurity and privacy within a single discipline or interdisciplinary efforts that span multiple disciplines. The Education (EDU) designation identifies proposals focusing on cybersecurity education

NSF-EHR Grant Programs for NSE Education

Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education Award Distribution across EHR Programs (FY 2014 – FY 2019)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Percentage of Funds Invested by Program

35%

26%

8%6% 5% 4% 4% 2.5% 2%2.5% 2% 2% 1%

Total Award Amount =$91 million

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

AL AR AZ CA CT DC FL GA IL IN MA MN NC NH NJ NM NY OR PA PR TX UT VA WA WI

Number of NSE Awards - Distribution by State

Total # of Awards = 84

25 states (including PR) received awardsLargest # of awards went to NY (14), MA (8), PR (7) MN (6) and PA (6)

Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education Award Distribution by State (FY 2014 – FY 2019)

Broadening Participation in STEM

• Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education awards have helped to broaden participation in STEM by a diverse group of individuals

• 84 awards spanning 13 programs FY14 – FY19 (total $91 million) • Awards ranged from large collaborative efforts (>$3million) supporting Regional

Centers of Excellence in Nanotechnology to smaller grants (<$100,000) for curriculum development and conferences

• Grants awarded to institutions in 25 states from New York to Minnesota, California the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico

• Institution types included R1 public institutions with high research activity to minority serving institutions, science museums and community colleges focused on technician training

• PIs supported were diverse in gender, race and ethnicity

PI Distribution by Gender

Female Male Unknown

Female 27%

Male 58%

Unknown 15%

NSE Education Awards Broadening Participation in STEM

PI Distribution by Ethnicity

Not Hispanic Hispanic/Latino

Do Not Wish to Provide

Not Hispanic 69%

Hispanic 13%

Do Not Wish to Provide 18%

NSE Education awards help to diversify the STEM workforce reducing gender, racial and ethnic gaps

PI Distribution by Race

White Black Asian Do Not Wish to Provide

White 64%

Black 11%

Do Not Wishto Provide 20%

Asian 5%

Note:• Majority of STEM workers in the U.S. are white (69%), followed by Asians (13%), blacks (9%) and Hispanics (7%)• Representation of women in Engineering, Math & Physical Sciences STEM workforce is approx. 31%Source: Pew Research Center, Social & Demographic Trends, Jan 9, 2018

Example 1: Nanotechnology Center for Biomedical, Environmental & Sustainability Applications Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (EHR/CREST, Award # 1345156)

Univ. of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (EHR/CREST, Award # 1345156, $5million, 60 months)

• Summer research experiences for teachers, high school , grad & undergrad students• Development of nanotechnologies for cancer therapy, water disinfection & sustainability• Graduation of Hispanic professionals for a competitive nanotechnology workforce• Assessment of impact on participants • 3 interdisciplinary research groups:(i) Nano-scaled materials for non-invasive cancer therapy using magnetic fields &

specialized light sources(ii) Composites for removal of contaminants from water, pharmaceuticals and personal

care products(iii) Nano-catalysts for conversion of renewable resources

Examples of NSE Education ProjectsNSE educational multidisciplinary projects have supported research & education centers,

museums and educational institutions, providing valuable experiences for students and faculty

Example 2: Nanotechnology Experiences for Students and Teachers Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI)

Innovative Tech Experiences for Students & Teachers (EHR/ITEST, Award #1513112, $1m, 3 years) Program introduces high school teachers and students to nanotechnology during two-week summer campsFor Teachers:• Hands-on laboratory experiences in inquiry-based science• Participant-designed teaching modules • Connection to professional network of faculty and scientists • Professional development creditsFor Students:• Hands-on laboratory experiences in inquiry-based science• Discover Innovative Technologies • Connection to professional network of faculty and scientists • University Faculty-Mentored Research during academic year

Students Fabricated and Tested Carbon Nanotube Gas Sensors

Educational Research QuestionsDoes student nanotechnology content knowledge increase? Do participants become more interested in STEM careers? Does teacher nanotechnology content knowledge increase?Does teacher’s self-efficacy towards nanotechnology increase?

Teacher Testimony: “The program helped me to understand what it [nanotechnology] is but also it changed my perspective - nano required an interdisciplinary approach and maybe I don’t have the same idea as yours because of different backgrounds but combined we can work together.”

Example 3: ATE Regional Center for Semiconductor & Nanotechnology EducationSUNY Polytechnic (Regional ATE Center, EHR-ATE Award 1700606, $2.5M, 36 months)

• Northeast Advanced Technological Education Center at SUNY Poly focuses on education and training of technicians for nanotech-based manufacturing industries in New York State and Western New England

• Design and develop new stackable curriculum modules in semiconductor & integrated photonics manufacturing

• Technological education program for newly transitioned veterans• International refugee technological education program• Technological education program for at-risk students at regional

Technical High Schools• Academic partnerships with several community colleges: Mohawk

Valley, Onondaga, Fulton Montgomery, Hudson Valley, Erie, Jefferson• Interagency agreement between National Institute of Standards and

Technology (NIST) and NSF has resulted in establishment of a community college cleanroom technician program

• Industry partnerships with SolarCity, Soraa, AIM Photonics, United Technologies Research Center, Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), GlobalFoundries, Tokyo Electron and General Electric

Wafer film Thickness MeasurementMohawk Valley Community College

Example 4: STREET SMARTS – EXPERIMENTS IN URBAN SOCIAL SCIENCEEXPLORATORIUM MUSEUM, PIER 17, SAN FRANCISCO

Advancing Informal STEM Learning (EHR-AISL, Award #1713638, $1.94 million, 36 months)

• Outdoor learning installation in front of City Hall in San Francisco• Exploratorium project to encourage pro-social interactions among general public • 14 interactive science and engineering exhibits to engage and serve a diverse public• Opportunity to learn about science in an informal public learning space• Help combat the impression that science is not relevant to everyday life• Build new knowledge about how the public learns and reflects on social phenomena• Help the public identify social biases and stereotypes and understand how they work• Conducted in partnership with Urban Alchemy - to bring a sense of peace and respect

to chaotic urban areas struggling with poverty, addiction, mental illness • Sensors installed to collect data on public patronage and holding time • Between Oct 2019 and March 2020, 550,000 people walked through exhibition