Conference: Equity, Innovation, and STEAM - Strengthening the R&D Connections

STEAM（科学、技术、工程、艺术和数学）在非正式的科学学习领域继续发展，研究人员和实践者有各种各样的发现。非常有必要评估这一新生领域与公平的关系，以及下一步应采取哪些关键步骤。研究表明：(1)需要在研究人员和从业人员之间建立更多相互支持的联系；(2)需要解决STEAM非正式科学学习中的公平获取、框架和设计问题；此外，(3)STEAM吸引了STEM中服务不足的人群。这可能有助于为STEM劳动力提供所需的多样性，以及对成功至关重要的创造性和创新思维技能。德克萨斯南方大学将与创新合作组织合作，召开一个为期两年、分五阶段的工作会议项目，以解决这些问题。这个会议项目坐落在HBCU（历史上的黑人学院和大学）校园里，校园里有一个博物馆研究项目和一个大学博物馆。由各种领先的STEAM非正式科学学习研究人员和实践者组成的核心小组将帮助领导该项目。他们将组建代表广泛的非正式科学学习机构的不同团队。在两年的时间里，这些参与者将沉浸在公平中，选择并构建六个最重要的主题，并通过虚拟和面对面的组件调查这些主题。这个会议项目可以作为其他领域制定与公平有关的方法和后续步骤的典范，特别是因为它结合了研究和实践。本研究的目标是发展：1)一种整合研究和实践的凝聚力方法，以解决STEAM非正式科学学习中有关公平的最突出问题；2)一个解决公平问题的STEAM非正式科学学习会议项目的有效模式。所有目标结果将使用公平的、对文化敏感的评估技术进行迭代测量。项目结果将通过传统和非传统手段传播，重点是向各种各样的受众广泛传播。在这一过程结束时，人们将对STEAM非正式科学学习领域与公平的关系有一个更有凝聚力的看法，这将为下一步工作提供信息，使广泛的服务不足人群受益。本次会议项目由推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）计划资助，该计划支持以下项目：(a)促进研究和实践，考虑非正式STEM学习在STEM公平和归属方面的作用；(b)促进个人和教育在STEM方面的成功；(c)促进公众参与科学发现；(d)培养对STEM职业的兴趣；(e)为有效的非正式STEM学习创造和加强理论和经验基础；(f)改善社区活力；及/或(g)加强科学传播和公众对STEM和STEM过程的参与和理解。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math) continues to grow in the informal science learning field, with a wide variety of findings from researchers and practitioners. There is a significant need to assess where this nascent field is in relation to equity and what are the critical next steps that should be taken. Research shows: (1) a need to develop more mutually supportive links in this work between researchers and practitioners; (2) a need to address equitable access, framing, and design in STEAM informal science learning; and additionally, (3) that STEAM engages underserved populations in STEM. This can, potentially, help provide needed diversity in the STEM workforce, along with creative and innovative thinking skills essential to success. Texas Southern University, in partnership with the Innovation Collaborative, will convene a two-year five-phase working conference project to address these issues. This conference project is housed on an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) campus that has a museum studies program and a university museum. A core group of diverse leading STEAM informal science learning researchers and practitioners will help lead the project. They will assemble diverse teams representing the broad spectrum of informal science learning institutions. During the two years, these participants will immerse themselves in equity, choose and frame the six most important topics to address, and investigate these topics through virtual and in-person components. This conference project can serve as a model for other fields to develop an approach and next steps relating to equity, especially as it integrates research and practice.The goals of this research are to develop: 1) a cohesive approach, integrating research and practice, to the most salient issues regarding equity in STEAM informal science learning; and 2) an effective model for a STEAM informal science learning conference project to address equity. All targeted outcomes will be iteratively measured using equitable, culturally responsive evaluation techniques. The project findings will be disseminated through traditional and nontraditional means with a focus on reaching a wide variety of diverse audiences. At the conclusion of this process, there will be a more cohesive view of where the STEAM informal science learning field is in relation to equity that will inform next steps that will benefit a broad spectrum of underserved populations. This conference project is funded by the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program, which supports projects that: (a) contribute to research and practice that considers informal STEM learning's role in equity and belonging in STEM; (b) promote personal and educational success in STEM; (c) advance public engagement in scientific discovery; (d) foster interest in STEM careers; (e) create and enhance the theoretical and empirical foundations for effective informal STEM learning; (f) improve community vibrancy; and/or (g) enhance science communication and the public's engagement in and understanding of STEM and STEM processes.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.