Opportunity Information: Apply for 20 607
The Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant opportunity focused on improving how people of all ages engage with STEM outside of traditional classrooms. The core aim is to strengthen both the practice and the evidence base behind informal STEM learning by supporting the design, development, study, and assessment of learning experiences that happen in places like museums, science centers, libraries, community organizations, afterschool programs, media environments, online platforms, and other public-facing settings. AISL emphasizes not only creating engaging STEM experiences, but also generating credible knowledge about what works, for whom, and under what conditions, so that the field can make measurable progress over time.
A central theme of AISL is broadening access and participation. Projects are expected to provide multiple pathways that invite and sustain engagement in STEM for diverse audiences, including groups that have historically been underserved or excluded from STEM learning opportunities. In practice, this can involve culturally responsive design, partnerships with community-based organizations, accessible program formats, and research methods that pay close attention to context and equity. The program also highlights innovation in both learning experience design and in the research and evaluation approaches used to understand informal learning outcomes, such as interest development, identity, motivation, sensemaking, and ongoing participation in STEM-related activities.
AISL supports six distinct project types, allowing applicants to propose work that matches their stage of development and intended impact. Pilots and Feasibility Studies fund early-stage ideas that test whether a concept is workable and worth scaling. Research in Service to Practice supports research that directly responds to practical needs in the field, producing findings that practitioners can apply. Innovations in Development focuses on designing and refining new informal STEM learning resources, tools, or models, typically with iterative testing and improvement. Broad Implementation supports taking well-developed approaches to scale, reaching larger audiences or multiple sites while continuing to study effectiveness. Literature Reviews, Syntheses, or Meta-Analyses fund efforts to consolidate and interpret existing research to identify trends, gaps, and actionable conclusions. Conferences support convenings that build shared understanding, coordinate field-wide agendas, or accelerate collaboration and dissemination.
From the source details provided, this opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Title "Advancing Informal STEM Learning" with Funding Opportunity Number 20-607. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, listed under CFDA number 47.076. The agency is the National Science Foundation. The posted creation date is August 29, 2020, with an original closing date of January 12, 2021. The award ceiling is up to $3,000,000, and the opportunity anticipated making about 85 awards. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many entity types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full solicitation text.
Overall, AISL is designed for organizations and partners that want to build and study high-quality STEM learning experiences in informal settings, with a strong expectation that funded work will contribute to both practical improvements and generalizable knowledge. The program is structured to support everything from early feasibility testing to large-scale implementation, as well as field-building activities like evidence syntheses and convenings, all aimed at expanding public engagement with STEM and strengthening the research base behind informal STEM learning.Apply for 20 607
- 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 Aug 29, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 12, 2021. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL)
1) What is the AISL program?
The Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant opportunity that supports improving how people of all ages engage with STEM outside of traditional classrooms. It funds the design, development, study, and assessment of informal STEM learning experiences and aims to strengthen both practice and the evidence base for what works in informal learning.
2) What is the main goal of AISL funding?
AISL focuses on two connected outcomes: (1) creating strong, engaging informal STEM learning experiences, and (2) generating credible, generalizable knowledge about what works, for whom, and under what conditions. The intent is to help the field make measurable progress over time.
3) What kinds of learning settings does AISL consider "informal"?
AISL targets STEM learning experiences that occur outside traditional classrooms, including (as examples provided) museums, science centers, libraries, community organizations, afterschool programs, media environments, online platforms, and other public-facing settings.
4) Who are AISL projects intended to serve?
AISL is designed for people of all ages. A central theme is broadening access and participation, including creating pathways that invite and sustain engagement for diverse audiences and groups that have historically been underserved or excluded from STEM learning opportunities.
5) How does AISL address equity and broadening participation?
Projects are expected to provide multiple pathways into STEM engagement for diverse audiences. The opportunity description highlights approaches such as culturally responsive design, partnerships with community-based organizations, accessible program formats, and research methods that pay close attention to context and equity.
6) What outcomes or impacts does AISL expect projects to study?
AISL highlights innovation in learning experience design and in research/evaluation approaches to understand informal learning outcomes. Examples named include interest development, identity, motivation, sensemaking, and ongoing participation in STEM-related activities.
7) What project types does AISL support?
AISL supports six project types: Pilots and Feasibility Studies; Research in Service to Practice; Innovations in Development; Broad Implementation; Literature Reviews, Syntheses, or Meta-Analyses; and Conferences.
8) What are Pilots and Feasibility Studies meant to fund?
Pilots and Feasibility Studies support early-stage ideas and help teams test whether a concept is workable and worth scaling.
9) What is "Research in Service to Practice" in AISL?
Research in Service to Practice supports research designed to directly respond to practical needs in the informal STEM learning field and produce findings that practitioners can apply.
10) What does "Innovations in Development" support?
Innovations in Development focuses on designing and refining new informal STEM learning resources, tools, or models, typically using iterative testing and improvement.
11) What is the purpose of "Broad Implementation" awards?
Broad Implementation supports taking well-developed approaches to scale, reaching larger audiences or multiple sites while continuing to study effectiveness.
12) What does AISL fund under Literature Reviews, Syntheses, or Meta-Analyses?
This project type supports efforts to consolidate and interpret existing research to identify trends, gaps, and actionable conclusions for the informal STEM learning field.
13) What kinds of conference activities are supported by AISL?
Conference awards support convenings that build shared understanding, coordinate field-wide agendas, or accelerate collaboration and dissemination.
14) What kind of grant is AISL (funding instrument type)?
The funding instrument type listed for this opportunity is a grant.
15) What is the funding activity category for AISL?
The funding activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
16) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 47.076.
17) Who is the funding agency for AISL?
The agency is the National Science Foundation (NSF).
18) What is the funding opportunity title and number?
The Funding Opportunity Title is "Advancing Informal STEM Learning" and the Funding Opportunity Number is 20-607.
19) When was this opportunity posted, and what was the original closing date?
The posted creation date is August 29, 2020. The original closing date is January 12, 2021.
20) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is up to $3,000,000.
21) About how many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated making about 85 awards.
22) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is broadly open to many entity types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full solicitation text.
23) Does AISL fund both program delivery and research/evaluation?
Yes. The program description emphasizes supporting the design and development of informal STEM learning experiences as well as the study and assessment of those experiences to build credible knowledge about effectiveness and conditions for success.
24) What makes AISL different from simply running a STEM outreach program?
Based on the description provided, AISL places a strong expectation on building the evidence base, not only producing engaging activities. Projects are expected to contribute to credible knowledge about what works, for whom, and under what conditions, alongside practical improvements.
25) What kinds of organizations or partners are AISL projects designed for?
AISL is designed for organizations and partners that want to build and study high-quality STEM learning experiences in informal settings, including public-facing institutions and community-based contexts such as museums, libraries, afterschool programs, community organizations, and online or media environments.
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