Advancing Informal STEM Learning is a new program name for the Informal Science Education Program at the National Science Foundation. The name of the program has changed from Informal Science Education (ISE) to Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL). AISL better emphasizes the priorities of the solicitation and the changes at NSF....[More]
What is informal science education?
Informal science education supports people of all ages and walks of life in exploring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Informal Science Education News
To recognize the substantial contributions and achievements of citizen scientists across the Nation, the White House will host a Champions of Change event on Citizen Science on June 4, 2013. The White House Champions of Change program highlights the stories and examples of ordinary citizens who are doing extraordinary things ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 24, 2013 at 10:11 am in About informal science education
On May 1, CAISE and our colleagues at the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) will be relocating to 818 Connecticut Avenue NW, 7th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006. Between April 25 and May 1, the CAISE office will be closed to phone calls and visits to accommodate the move. Additionally, from ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 24, 2013 at 10:08 am in About CAISE
Recently, John Falk (CAISE Co-PI) and Lynn Dierking, Sea Grant Professors of Free-Choice Learning at Oregon State University (OSU), delivered a distinguished lecture on behalf of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR). Professors Falk and Dierking presented on several research projects that they have ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 24, 2013 at 10:07 am in About informal science education
After more than a year of drafts, comments, and reviews, the Next Generation Science Standards are now available for implementation in science-learning environments. The new standards incorporate edits from more than 10,000 education stakeholders in two public review periods. Although the standards do not have specific recommendations for ISE professionals ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 24, 2013 at 10:05 am in General
Serious Play, the official conference convened by the Serious Games Association, invites educators, vendors, education administrators, policymakers and government workers, heads of workforce development and corporations, and other stakeholders to learn how gaming is revolutionizing learning and training at a variety of organizations across many industries. This year’s conference will ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 24, 2013 at 10:02 am in Meetings and events
Is your work at an exemplary afterschool STEM program having demonstrable impact on young people in grades 4 through 8? If so, you could win $10,000 from the Noyce Foundation and the Afterschool Alliance. One award will be given in two categories: programs that are a strong partnership between an ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 24, 2013 at 9:57 am in Funding
The Science Center World Summit 2014 (SCWS2014), hosted by Technopolis (Mechelen, Belgium) and the Museum of Natural Sciences (Brussels, Belgium) will take place March 17-19, 2014. As the international professional science center community grows and becomes increasingly networked, the organizers are rethinking the structure and focus of the nearly 20-year ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 24, 2013 at 9:54 am in Meetings and events
The National Science Foundation has released a new solicitation for the Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) that contains opportunities for informal science educators to support, work, or partner with MRSECs. Partnership opportunities could include work such as: "Promotion of the integration of research and education, and development of ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 24, 2013 at 9:08 am in Funding
The current issue of the Afterschool Matters journal, published by the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST), focuses entirely on STEM. Article topics include models of STEM learning in afterschool, integrating math into library programs, STEM programs for adolescent girls, public television STEM outreach resources, survey ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 24, 2013 at 9:04 am in About informal science education
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) recently announced the recipients of their 2013 NSTA Teachers Awards Program, which honors teachers, administrators, professors, and other educators for their outstanding achievements and contributions to science education. Recipients were presented with their awards at the annual NSTA National Conference in San Antonio, TX ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 24, 2013 at 8:57 am in General
Just last week, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released its FY 2014 Budget Request. For more information relating to the interests of the informal science education field in the NSF budget – and those at other federal agencies who provide support for the field – please visit the Government Relations ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 17, 2013 at 6:20 am in About NSF
A new funding opportunity is available from the National Science Foundation. The EHR Core Research (ECR) program establishes a mechanism in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) to provide funding in foundational research areas that are broad, essential and enduring. EHR seeks proposals that will help synthesize, build and/or ...[More]
0 comments | Posted April 15, 2013 at 1:25 pm in Funding
Informal Science Education Spotlights
Spotlights feature NSF funded ISE projects from science centers and museums, media productions, afterschool & out-of-school time programs, science journalism and cyber-enabled and gaming projects.
