Advancing Informal STEM Learning | 17 573

Opportunity Information: Apply for 17 573

The Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant opportunity focused on improving how people of all ages learn science, technology, engineering, and mathematics outside of traditional classrooms. The central goal is to push forward both new approaches and solid, evidence-based understanding of how to design, develop, study, and assess STEM learning experiences for the public in informal environments. In practice, this means supporting work that makes informal STEM learning more effective, more engaging, and more accessible, while also building credible research knowledge about what works, for whom, and under what conditions.

AISL emphasizes informal settings and experiences where learning happens in everyday life, such as museums, science centers, libraries, community organizations, afterschool and summer programs, media and digital platforms, maker spaces, public events, and other community-based environments. A key theme is broadening access and participation by creating multiple pathways into STEM learning, especially for audiences who have been historically underserved or less represented in STEM fields. The program also stresses innovation and rigor: it is not only about creating new programs or tools, but also about advancing research on informal STEM learning and improving assessment methods that can capture learning outcomes that may look different from school-based measures.

The opportunity supports six different project types, which provide options depending on the maturity of an idea and the kind of contribution a team intends to make. Pilots and Feasibility Studies are meant for early-stage concepts, helping teams test whether an approach is workable and worth scaling. Research in Service to Practice supports studies that directly inform real-world implementation, connecting research questions to practical decisions faced by practitioners and organizations delivering informal STEM experiences. Innovations in Development funds the design and iterative development of new learning experiences, models, or tools, typically with strong prototyping and formative evaluation. Broad Implementation supports taking a well-developed and well-tested approach to a larger scale, focusing on wider adoption and stronger evidence across contexts. Literature Reviews, Syntheses, or Meta-Analyses fund efforts to consolidate existing knowledge, identify gaps, and clarify what the broader research base indicates. Conferences support convenings that build shared understanding, partnerships, and field-wide progress around important topics in informal STEM learning.

From an administrative standpoint, this is an NSF grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, associated with CFDA number 47.076. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to different types of entities, subject to any additional clarifications in the official solicitation. The funding opportunity title is Advancing Informal STEM Learning, with opportunity number 17-573. The posting indicates an award ceiling of $3,000,000, an expectation of about 85 awards, a creation date of July 8, 2017, and an original closing date of November 6, 2017.

Overall, AISL is designed for teams seeking to strengthen informal STEM learning by combining thoughtful design with credible evidence. Competitive projects typically align with one or more of the program goals: improving the design and development of public-facing informal STEM opportunities, expanding access and engagement through multiple pathways, advancing innovative research and assessment in informal environments, and meaningfully engaging diverse publics in STEM learning throughout their lives.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Informal STEM Learning" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.076.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 08, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 06, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 85 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for 17 573

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