Mathematics and Science Education Center

Broaden the impact of your grant and research by adding a K-12 education outreach enhancement to a STEM grant proposal.  The Mathematics and Science Education Center (MSEC) can help you significantly strengthen the project's overall impact by reaching a broader audience and fostering an early interest in STEM fields.

K-12 STEM outreach is vital for inspiring the next generation of innovators by building critical thinking and problem-solving skills, fostering scientific literacy, and promoting access in STEM fields.  This outreach has lasting effects such as:

Long-Term Impact on STEM Engagement: Early exposure to STEM can spark curiosity and foster a long-term interest in these fields. Studies show that students participating in STEM-related extracurricular activities during K-12 are more likely to pursue STEM majors in college and enter STEM careers. Investing in K-12 outreach can create a pipeline of future STEM professionals.

Building Stronger Community Partnerships: Collaborating with local schools and community organizations for K-12 outreach can build stronger relationships between academic institutions, community groups, and industry partners. These collaborations foster a shared commitment to advancing STEM education and ensure the project has a lasting, community-focused impact.

Aligning with National and Local Educational Standards: Many K-12 schools are looking to enhance their STEM curricula to align with national and state educational standards. Adding a K-12 outreach component to your STEM proposal can directly support these efforts by providing schools with resources, materials, and expertise to enrich their programs and better prepare students for future STEM challenges.

Enhancing Public Awareness and Support for STEM: Expanding STEM outreach to K-12 students not only helps the students but also educates their families and communities about the value of STEM fields. By engaging younger students and their families, you help build a culture of support for STEM education and careers, which is vital for the continued growth of these fields.

Building a STEM-Informed Society: In an increasingly technology-driven world, it's essential to ensure that all students have some level of STEM literacy, regardless of whether they pursue a STEM career. K-12 outreach helps promote a STEM-literate society that can navigate complex challenges like climate change, public health, and technological innovation, benefiting the broader community.

Fostering Early Career Awareness and Development: K-12 outreach provides opportunities for students to learn about various STEM career paths and the steps necessary to pursue them. This early exposure to STEM careers helps students understand what these careers entail, what skills they need to develop, and how to set educational goals accordingly.

Fulfills Broader Impacts Requirements:  Many major funding agencies, especially the NSF, require a "Broader Impacts" section in grant proposals. This section demonstrates how the proposed research will benefit society. An educational outreach component is a perfect way to satisfy this requirement by showing a clear, tangible plan for sharing research findings with the community. Partnering with a dedicated center like ours provides a proven, structured framework for this outreach, saving researchers time and effort while increasing the proposal's strength.

Boosts Proposal Competitiveness:  Grant proposals that include well-defined and innovative outreach plans are often seen more favorably by review panels. A strong outreach component shows that the researcher is not only focused on advancing their field but is also committed to STEM education and workforce development. The MSEC can help faculty craft a compelling and detailed plan that makes their proposal stand out from the competition.

Expands the Reach of Research:  An educational outreach enhancement extends the influence of a research project beyond the academic community. By translating complex scientific concepts into engaging activities for K-12 students and teachers, researchers can inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. This not only builds a pipeline for future talent but also increases public awareness and appreciation for the research being conducted at our university.

Provides Access to Resources and Expertise:  Partnering with the university's mathematics and science education center provides faculty with access to our established network of K-12 schools, experienced educators, and existing outreach programs. We have the expertise in developing age-appropriate curricula and the infrastructure to manage the logistical aspects of outreach activities. This collaboration allows researchers to focus on their primary work while ensuring the outreach component is executed effectively and with high quality.

Enhances the Research Narrative:  Including an outreach component allows researchers to tell a more complete and impactful story. It demonstrates a commitment to giving back to the community and to making a lasting contribution beyond the lab. It frames the research not just as a pursuit of knowledge but as a catalyst for educational and societal change.

The MSEC cultivates and sustains vibrant and innovative collaborations and scholarly investigations with partners in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education fields, leading to improved teaching and learning at P-20 levels, advocacy for broader participation, and lifelong learning for community members.  The MSEC offers a variety of services and engagement activities to educators across the region, including a lending library of STEM resources, professional development, outreach partnerships, and research support.

The MSEC helps faculty develop and implement effective K-12 outreach plans. We provide resources, guidance, and support, including:

• Curriculum development to translate research into engaging, age-appropriate educational activities.
• Connections with local schools and teachers to help find the right audience for their outreach.
• Workshops and training on best practices for science communication and teaching.
• Assessment tools to measure the effectiveness of their outreach efforts.

The MSEC has a framework for designing your K-12 outreach component. By incorporating these elements into your STEM grant proposal, you can demonstrate a thoughtful, structured approach to expanding the impact of your project through K-12 education outreach. This enhances the likelihood of receiving funding and shows the broader societal benefits of early STEM education.

MSEC Framework Outline:

1. Define Clear Objectives and Goals
2. Target Audience and Demographics
3. Activities and Approaches
4. Partnerships and Collaborations
5. Evaluation and Metrics
6. Budget and Resource Allocation
7. Sustainability Plan
8. Timeline

The MSEC is ready to collaborate with you to create a high-impact outreach plan that strengthens your grant proposal. By partnering with us, you can meet funding requirements, increase your proposal's competitiveness, and make a real difference in STEM education.

Are you ready to discuss how we can help you integrate a powerful educational outreach component into your next grant proposal?  Need help structuring your plan and making connections with K-12 schools?

At least 2 months prior to your proposal submission, complete this MSEC Educational Outreach Enhancement Form.