Welcome to AFOSR STEM!

STEM Outreach and Engagement within the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

AFOSR STEM Funding In Action: Montana State University

Geospatial Skills Camp for Rural Montana Youth

MSU was awarded funding from AFOSR’s 2023 STEM Funding Announcement and began camp programming in 2024; you can read the abstract for their proposal here. For more information on funding opportunities with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, click here.

The camp hosted rising 9th and 10th graders in rural Montana communities, and included topics such as:

  • maps for analysis and navigation;

  • collecting, analyzing and disseminating imagery from terrestrial, satellite and other sources;

  • awareness of the skills and required credentials for piloting UAVs;

  • remote sensing;

  • basic electronics and circuitry related to sensor development and use; and

  • geospatial analysis tools.

Students learned about potential career pathways and fields of study related to geospatial science and engineering, particularly those connected to the Air Force and other organizations that offer employment in rural areas.

Middle- and high-school students from rural communities learn about Montana State University's high-altitude ballooning program as part of campus GIS Day activities on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Bozeman, Montana. MSU photo by Colter Peterson.

Learn more about this incredible program and its impact with this article from MSU!

Celebrating AFOSR STEM Educators:

Dr. Laurie Sullivan, Arlington Public Schools

Congratulations to our ACCESS cohort member, Dr. Laurie Sullivan, for being selected as a Virginia State Finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)! Laurie is a Project Discovery Science/STEM teacher at Barrett Elementary School in Arlington County Public Schools.

Laurie was also named Virginia’s Teacher of the Year in 2004. We are so excited for her and wish her all the best in the academic year ahead. To read more about this announcement, click here.

Dr. Sullivan is our November 2024 Teacher Feature! Be sure to read her interview with our team and learn about the incredible ways her and her colleagues are making an impact in Arlington.

Professional Learning Opportunities for K-12 STEM Educators:

Are you a K-12 STEM educator in the National Capital Region? Are you interested in collaborating with other educators on interdisciplinary projects, connecting with subject matter experts, and taking part in an immersive professional learning experience? Apply to be a part of our next cohort in 2025!

ACCESS Program members gain free access to quality educational resources for their classrooms, on-site professional learning opportunities at the National Air and Space Museum, and opportunities to connect with other educators in the D.C. area! Click the link above to learn more.

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