NSF INCLUDES Alliance: Cultivating Indigenous Research Communities for Leadership in Education and STEM (CIRCLES) Alliance

University Of Montana, Missoula MT

Investigators

Abstract

The Cultivating Indigenous Research Communities for Leadership in Education and STEM (CIRCLES) Alliance builds on the collaborative efforts of an existing partnership among six EPSCoR states - Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming - to develop and sustain a national model for innovation in integrating novel approaches and practices into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. The CIRCLES Alliance is establishing a system of place-based educational resources and activities, teacher professional development, and student supports to increase awareness of, and readiness for, educational practices that grow the STEM workforce. Through intentional collaboration with STEM and Native knowledge holders, the CIRCLES Alliance is addressing the epistemological conflict between many STEM educational contexts and traditional knowledge and ways of knowing. The network of experts, institutions, and communities in the partnering states participate in a Networked Improvement Community to develop an evidence-based model of working with tribal communities to enhance STEM education through the integration of Native ways of knowing. Each of the CIRCLES Alliance states has established relationships within tribal communities. This project will generate tangible resources and new partnerships by building a repository of K-12 STEM curricular materials and providing tailored supports and learning opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and professionals involved in STEM disciplines and the STEM workforce. This project is funded by the NSF INCLUDES initiative, which aims to enhance U.S. leadership in discoveries and innovations by addressing challenges to participation in STEM at scale. The Alliance is jointly funded by the NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program. 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.