Tribal Colleges to expand STEM Centers with $14 Million NSF grant

POSTED ON Oct 10, 2018

Four science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) centers at Tribal Colleges and Universities will improve research and outreach in their communities with a $14 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP).

According to the National Science Foundation statement on the TCUP, the centers will expand STEM instruction, supporting curricula, faculty, students, and research at tribal colleges and universities (TCU).

“When TCUP began in 2001, we couldn’t have anticipated the tremendous growth in the TCUs’ STEM programming in such a few years,” said Jody Chase, program director in National Science Foundation’s Education and Human Resources Directorate. “We anticipate these new centers will produce greater innovation and economic expansion within the communities served by the TCUP institutions.”

The newly awarded centers include the Tribal Enterprise Advancement Center for Community Marine Research at Northwest Indian College, the Navajo Technical University’s Advanced Manufacturing Center at Navajo Technical University, United Tribes Technical College’s Intertribal Research and Resource Center at United Tribes Technical College, and the Aaniiih Nakoda Nic’-Mni’ (Water) Center at Aaniiih Nakoda College.

The centers will build on existing scientific and engineering expertise to address environmental, educational and economic challenges with:

Research and educational outreach regarding marine matters of the waters of the Salish Sea off the Pacific Northwest coast of the United States
Additive manufacturing technology through education, research, and economic development on the Navajo Nation
First-time research faculty positions, employing a sustainable STEM research and outreach model and utilizing a coordinated interdisciplinary approach to research, outreach, teaching, and education
Training that will provide community members with the knowledge, skills, experience, and credentials needed to address water issues; and make informed decisions regarding the proper care and use of the reservation’s water resources.