Sustaining STEM: Co-designing Culturally Sustaining STEM Learning Ecosystems in Rural Communities

Co-designing Culturally Sustaining STEM Learning Ecosystems in Rural Communities (Sustaining STEM) is an NSF-funded project that will advance the informal STEM learning field’s knowledge with a transformational approach to engaging youth, families and community partners that strengthens STEM ecosystems in rural communities. While informal STEM institutions are well suited to support family STEM learning, the field needs to have a deeper understanding of how to leverage the personal, cultural, and environmental assets in rural communities to support youth and their families’ persistence in STEM. Building on the strengths of ISIs, the High Desert Museum and researchers from the Institute for Learning Innovation, Medomak Consulting, and Reimagine Research Group have partnered with the Oregon Coast Aquarium, the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, and The Wild Center, three informal STEM institutions in geographically, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse rural communities, to conduct a research study that will define promising practices for a culturally sustaining STEM family workshop and professional development model that effectively supports diverse youths’ persistence in STEM and have the potential to strengthen rural STEM ecosystems.

Project Team: Debbie Siegel, Ph.D., Dr. Elysa Corin

View our poster here: Sustaining STEM VSA 2023 poster_final.pptx