Annual Report 2021
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2021 Annual Report: STEM Research Grants

STEM Research Grants - Annual Report 2021 photo collage

Through the STEM Research Grant program, the Society provided research kits to 100 middle and high school science educators during the 2020–2021 school year to help their students conduct scientific research outside the classroom. The teachers, who hailed from 38 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, were each given the opportunity to choose from a selection of 13 high-quality kits valued at $1,000 each.

Previously, educators were given grants, which they could use to buy supplies for their classrooms. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the STEM Research Grant program was adapted to provide teachers with the necessary tools for effective at-home learning. In order to better help educators adjust to their continually shifting environments and to maximize the money being spent, the Society purchased resources in bulk and developed kits that educators could choose from.

Priority consideration was given to teachers in schools that serve low-income areas or underrepresented students.

Customized Kits

Grantees had the option to choose from 13 high-quality STEM research kits. Read more about this year’s kits in our press release.

Read the Press Release
One hundred teachers will each choose from a selection of 13 high-quality kits amounting to $1,000.
Read the Press Release

Meet the 2020–2021 Grantees

Get to know the recipients of the 2020–2021 STEM Research Grants, who are working to level the educational playing field for students in their schools and communities.

Meet the Grantees
STEM Research Grantee's students showing off the STEM kit
Meet the Grantees

What the Grantees Are Saying – Jennifer Thorstenson

"Our research program will continue to provide students with authentic research experiences, and they will need high-quality equipment capable of gathering sound data to provide evidence for their hypotheses. The equipment provided in the kit was extremely valuable for any young scientist learning how to navigate the STEM field and design their own scientific experiment."

William Fremd High School (Palatine, Ill.)

What the Grantees Are Saying – Lalitha Murali

"Having the equipment in class helps students design their experiments right away and also gives them confidence to work on their project. Thirty-three of our students participated in the school and regional science fairs this year. Thanks to STEM Research Grant for providing materials and motivating students to participate in science fair."

Glen Hills Middle School (Glendale, Wis.)

What the Grantees Are Saying – Laura Johnson

"This diverse group of low-income students was thrilled to have access to equipment that allowed them so much flexibility in selecting a science project. They were more excited and motivated to learn the scientific method with such a wonderful array of hands-on projects at their fingertips."

Dunbar Middle School (Dunbar, W.Va.)

Sustaining Research Outside the Classroom

Other Outreach & Equity Programs

Educator Guide Header for SNHS - 12042021

Connecting Educators to the Latest Science Journalism

Science News in High Schools delivers world-class science journalism to classrooms across the United States. The program’s Educator Guides supply teachers with lesson plans that are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and further engage students’ curiosity. Over 5 million students and 17,000 educators have participated in the program since its founding.

Shaping the Next Generation of STEM Leaders

From bridging gender gaps in STEM fields to combating climate change, the STEM Action Grant program supports organizations doing the vital work of expanding opportunities in STEM for young people across the country.

Reunited and Reaffirmed in Supporting Students Everywhere

In the first hybrid High School Research Teachers Conference, high school teachers from around the country gathered online while those living near the Society’s home of Washington, D.C., met in person. The conference welcomed 130 teachers and included peer-led sessions that focused on topics ranging from leading students in independent scientific research to engaging students from underserved communities.
Return to 2021 Annual Report