Informal STEM Education Opportunities Newsletter
September 2023
Welcome to the Informal STEM Education Opportunities Newsletter: a collection of opportunities, funding, and other programs of interest for folks in informal STEM learning spaces, brought to you by Improved Insights.
In addition to our existing monthly newsletter (which goes in-depth on an informal STEM learning evaluation topic), this newsletter highlights a selection of upcoming opportunities of interest to those working in informal STEM education.
Here are a few things that caught our eye this month:
Funding/RFPs:
The Amplify Fund established by The M&T Bank Charitable Foundation is seeking proposals to advance community equity collaboratives. Awards will range from $25,000-$150,000 per year for up to three years, and special consideration will be given to nonprofit collaboratives promoting opportunities that enable upward mobility (including education efforts focused on upskilling and career pathways). The submission deadline is October 6, 2023.
The Chapman Prize through the Daniel and Barbara Chapman Trust will award approximately $100,000 to a charitable individual or organization that has contributed significantly to the improvement of students' long-term educational advancement and/or career preparation. Applications are open to U.S. citizens or U.S.-based nonprofits and must be submitted by October 15, 2023.
Inspire! Grants for Small Museums, through the Museums for America program and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), invite applications from small museums of all disciplines in three project categories: Lifelong Learning, Institutional Capacity, and Collections Stewardship and Access. Grants will range from $5,000-$75,000 over 1-2 years. The application deadline is November 15, 2023.
National Leadership Grants for Museums through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) are designed to support projects that address critical needs of the museum field and that have the potential to advance practice in the profession to strengthen museum services for the American public. Grants will range from $50,000-$750,000 for up to three years. Applications are open through November 15, 2023.
Jobs & Fellowships:
Mass Audubon is seeking a Regional Education Manager for both their Boston and Metro South Regions in Massachusetts. The Manager will oversee the development, marketing, and implementation of all education programs and activities within their region, and will build and maintain partnerships with leaders in education.
The Simons Foundation is seeking to fill two positions in their New York City offices: Program Coordinator - Science, Society and Culture; and Administrative Coordinator - Science, Society and Culture.
Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is hiring a Learning Exploration Manager. The Manager will lead two teams, Learning Exploration and Teen Programs, and support program development efforts.
Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA is looking for an Evaluation Specialist. The Specialist will be responsible for designing and implementing evaluation plans for zoo programs, exhibits, and experiences.
Portland Audubon is seeking an Assistant Director of Adult Learning & Engagement. This person will lead a team of 14 in building a portfolio of over two hundred birding and nature programs for adults locally, throughout the Pacific Northwest, and across the world.
Professional Development, Continuing Education, & Upcoming Webinars:
Einstein’s Incredible Universe invites leaders of out-of-school-time STEM learning spaces that are located in the path of totality for the 2024 total solar eclipse to apply for a comprehensive astronomy program that includes professional development hosted at Great Lakes Science Center ($2500 stipend to attend), equipment and supplies, ongoing training for girls to participate in the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative, opportunities to connect with notable female astrophysicists, and the potential to be included in a film for giant screen theaters and planetariums. The submission deadline is September 20, 2023.
Scientific Adventures for Girls Math Curriculum Training, presented by Million Girls Moonshot, is a three-part virtual training that will prepare you to turn your after-school program into a vibrant and engaging mathematical journey. The first session will be held on October 3, 2023, 12:00-1:00 PM EST.
The Morpho Institute is offering an Educator Academy in the Amazon Rainforest from July 1-10, 2024. The Academy will provide powerful professional development designed to transform student learning and includes specialized tracks for informal educators. The registration deadline is December 1, 2023.
Conferences:
The Future of Museums Summit, hosted by the American Alliance of Museums, will be held virtually November 1-2, 2023. Summit themes include the future workplace, the partisan divide, digital (r)evolution, and renewed efforts in repatriation and restitution. Early bird registration ends on September 15, 2023.
The 5th European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) conference will be held in Vienna, Austria April 3-6, 2024. The conference is accepting proposal submissions through September 30, 2023, and specifically is calling for submissions from communities that have been underrepresented at previous ECSA conferences, such as makers, do-it-yourself communities, and open science communities.
The 2024 Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo (taking place in Baltimore, MD) Call for Proposals is now open. Submission themes will explore thriving museums and healthy communities across four tracks: personal, organizational, community, and society. Submissions are due by October 6, 2023.
Grantmakers for Education presents their annual conference, In Pursuit of Justice: Creating Contexts to Thrive. The conference will be held October 10-12, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia, and will focus on how to develop comprehensive and inclusive systems of learning that benefit all.
Together We Thrive! is the North American Association for Environmental Education’s virtual 2023 Annual Conference and Research Symposium. The conference will take place October 17-20, 2023, and will focus on collaboration, creativity, and crossing boundaries in order to address the environmental and social issues faced locally and globally.
The 6th Annual Connected Learning Summit provides a unique focus on cross-sector connections and progressive and catalytic innovation, bringing together leading researchers, educators, and developers. The Summit will be held virtually from October 26-28, 2023.
Other opportunities we should highlight? Jot them in the comments. If you liked this newsletter, please share it with a colleague.
