Expanding STEM Education to Meet Navajo Nation Needs

Navajo Technical University, Crownpoint NM

Investigators

Abstract

A goal of the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) is to increase the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instructional and research capacities of specific institutions of higher education that serve the Nation's indigenous students. Expanding the STEM curricular offerings and research capacity at these institutions expands the opportunities of their students to pursue challenging, rewarding careers in STEM fields, provides for research studies in areas that may be culturally significant, and encourages a community and generational appreciation for the role of science and mathematics in workforce preparation and addressing quality-of-life issues. This project aligns directly with that goal, and moreover will inform the research literature on environmental engineering in several key areas of interest to and relevance to Indian country. Navajo Technical University (NTU) will position the Navajo Nation to address the monumental task of uranium mine remediation and mitigation, by developing a tiered degree program that can culminate in an accredited BS in environmental engineering, while partnering in research opportunities inherent to the remediation process. 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.