According to a Feb. 21 news release, winners will receive the grants in one of two forms: research kits assembled and distributed to teachers by Society for Science or funds paid directly to teachers for STEM-related equipment. The grants will be between $2,000 and $5,000 based on teachers’ equipment needs. The announcement added that the goal is to provide students with more STEM education and research activity opportunities focusing on subjects like electronics and coding, environmental science and ecological studies, and to encourage an early interest in STEM subjects, particularly among female students and students of color, both underrepresented in STEM.
“Congratulations to the 41 recipients of this year’s STEM Research Grants. These grants serve as a catalyst in classrooms across the country, igniting student curiosity and exposing learners to tangible, real world applications of STEM. These grants play a crucial role in shaping an inclusive landscape of scientific exploration,” Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science and executive publisher of Science News, said in a public statement.
According to the announcement, this year’s recipients include teachers from 24 states, as well as Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. Priority was given to teachers who serve students from low-income demographics and student populations underrepresented in STEM fields; all teachers are from public schools. It noted that about 72 percent of students benefitting from the grant are American Indian, Alaska Native, Black and Latinx students. The announcement added that funding this year will go toward equipment such as EEG devices to research brain activity, as well as data loggers, 3D printers and robotics materials, among other tools for STEM research and education activities.
Of the 41 awardees, the announcement said 19 teachers will receive research kits, while 22 educators will receive funds up to $5,000 to use for resources that intend to “ignite creativity and amplify student exploration in the realm of their genuine scientific interests.” The kits are valued at about $1,000 each.
For more information on the grant program, visit www.societyforscience.org.
