FY 2024 Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) STEM Innovator Award

The TEAMIIINOV opportunity seeks to broaden participation in NASA related STEM engagement experiences through the following goals: • Strengthen an institution’s capacity to serve as a local or regional NASA STEM informal education community resource.• Increase access to NASA STEM learning opportunities and materials that address the needs of a diverse set of k-12 youth in local communities or region, with priority on students of upper elementary and middle school age, in grades 5-8, with the next priority being students in grade K-4, and a special emphasis on those who are new to NASA content and those who are historically under represented and/or underserved in STEM fields and opportunities; and• Utilizing innovative methods for targeting other specific age groups such as early learners (ages 3-6) and/or high school age students. • Improve NASA connection to local and regional networks or coalitions that support learners to pursue varied pathways in STEM education and engagement, and serve to untie their communities, particularly those that are diverse organizations or agencies that offer perspectives from both traditional and non-traditional constituents. Selected projects shall: • Build the proposing IEI’s capacity to serve as a regional NASA STEM informal education resource sharing innovative practices with a broader population. Regional refers to a large geographic area of considerable extent, such as one that encompasses multiple states or larger areas within a state. • Develop an innovative project, opportunity, or product capable of reaching a diverse set of students. Share innovative approaches with the broader, regional community. • Provide experiential authentic STEM opportunities that encourage innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. • Utilize one or more regional or national networks, consortia, or associations of STEM- and STEM education-related IEIs (formal or informal STEM Ecosystems) to magnify and maximize the reach and impact of the proposed work.

Dr. Beverly Girten Activity Manager