Opportunity Information: Apply for 21 599
The Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant opportunity focused on improving how people of all ages learn science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outside traditional classrooms. The program centers on informal learning environments such as museums, science centers, afterschool and summer programs, libraries, community organizations, media platforms, and other public-facing settings where STEM learning happens through hands-on experiences, storytelling, design challenges, exhibits, events, and community-based participation. At its core, AISL funds projects that both create stronger informal STEM learning experiences and build credible, evidence-based knowledge about what works, for whom, and under what conditions.
AISL emphasizes four interconnected goals. First, it aims to advance new approaches and deepen research-based understanding of how informal STEM learning opportunities should be designed and developed for the public. Second, it seeks to broaden access and engagement by supporting multiple pathways into STEM, with attention to reaching diverse audiences and lowering participation barriers in informal settings. Third, it promotes innovative research and improved assessment strategies that can capture learning, interest, identity development, and other outcomes that often look different in informal environments than in formal schooling. Fourth, it supports efforts that actively engage the public across the lifespan, meaning projects can target children, teens, families, adults, and older learners, depending on the context and need.
The program supports six main project types, which give applicants several entry points depending on readiness and scope. Pilots and Feasibility Studies are meant for early-stage ideas where teams need to test whether an approach is workable, attractive to the intended audience, and capable of generating useful evidence. Research in Service to Practice supports research that directly informs real-world informal STEM practice, often through close partnership with practitioners, educators, or community organizations, with results designed to be actionable rather than purely theoretical. Innovations in Development typically fund the creation and iterative refinement of new learning experiences, tools, exhibits, programs, or media, with a clear plan for design-based testing and evidence gathering. Broad Implementation supports scaling or expanding interventions that already show promise, bringing them to more sites, more audiences, or wider distribution channels while continuing to evaluate outcomes. Literature Reviews, Syntheses, or Meta-Analyses fund rigorous efforts to consolidate what is already known across studies and contexts, helping the field identify patterns, gaps, and directions for future work. Conferences support convenings that build field capacity, share knowledge, develop collaborations, and set research or practice agendas in informal STEM learning.
From an administrative standpoint, AISL is offered by the National Science Foundation under Funding Opportunity Number 21-599 and CFDA 47.076, categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development. It is a grant mechanism (not a contract), with eligibility listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply as long as they meet any specific requirements stated in the full solicitation. The opportunity was created on July 13, 2021, with an original closing date of January 18, 2022. NSF anticipated making about 99 awards, and the listed award ceiling is $3,000,000, indicating that larger, more ambitious projects may be supported when justified by scope, partnership structure, and anticipated impact.
Overall, AISL is designed for organizations and collaborations that want to strengthen informal STEM learning at both the experience level (what the public participates in) and the knowledge level (what the field can reliably say about design, engagement, equity, learning outcomes, and evaluation in informal contexts). It is especially well-suited to teams that can connect strong STEM learning design with meaningful community engagement and credible research or evaluation methods, producing results that can inform practice beyond a single site or one-time program.Apply for 21 599
- 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 Jul 13, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 18, 2022. (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 99 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) - NSF
What is the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program?
AISL is a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant program that supports projects aimed at improving how people of all ages learn science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outside of traditional classrooms. It funds both stronger informal STEM learning experiences and credible, evidence-based knowledge about what works, for whom, and under what conditions.
What does "informal STEM learning" mean in this program?
In AISL, informal STEM learning refers to STEM learning that happens in public-facing, non-classroom environments. These settings often involve hands-on experiences, storytelling, design challenges, exhibits, events, media, and community-based participation rather than formal instruction.
What kinds of learning environments does AISL focus on?
AISL centers on informal learning environments such as museums, science centers, afterschool and summer programs, libraries, community organizations, media platforms, and other settings where the public engages with STEM.
Who can be served by AISL-funded projects?
AISL supports projects that engage the public across the lifespan. Projects may focus on children, teens, families, adults, and older learners depending on the context and goals of the work.
What is the overall purpose of AISL funding?
AISL is designed to strengthen informal STEM learning in two ways: (1) improving the experiences that the public participates in, and (2) building reliable knowledge about design, engagement, equity, learning outcomes, and evaluation in informal contexts.
What are the main goals of the AISL program?
AISL emphasizes four interconnected goals: advancing new approaches and research-based understanding of design and development for informal STEM learning; broadening access and engagement through multiple pathways into STEM and lowering barriers; promoting innovative research and improved assessment strategies suitable for informal settings; and actively engaging the public across the lifespan.
How does AISL address access, equity, and participation barriers?
AISL explicitly seeks to broaden access and engagement by supporting multiple pathways into STEM, with attention to reaching diverse audiences and lowering barriers to participation in informal settings.
What kinds of outcomes does AISL consider important?
AISL supports research and assessment that can capture outcomes such as learning, interest, identity development, and other impacts that may look different in informal learning environments than in formal schooling.
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.
What are Pilots and Feasibility Studies intended for?
Pilots and Feasibility Studies are designed for early-stage ideas. They support teams that need to test whether an approach is workable, appealing to the intended audience, and capable of producing useful evidence.
What is "Research in Service to Practice" in AISL?
Research in Service to Practice supports research that directly informs real-world informal STEM practice. It often involves close collaboration with practitioners, educators, or community organizations, and is intended to produce results that are actionable rather than purely theoretical.
What does "Innovations in Development" fund?
Innovations in Development typically supports the creation and iterative refinement of new learning experiences, tools, exhibits, programs, or media. Projects are expected to include design-based testing and plans for evidence gathering.
What does "Broad Implementation" mean in AISL?
Broad Implementation supports scaling or expanding interventions that already show promise. This can include bringing an approach to more sites, reaching more audiences, or using wider distribution channels, while continuing to evaluate outcomes.
Does AISL fund literature reviews or meta-analyses?
Yes. AISL includes a project type for Literature Reviews, Syntheses, or Meta-Analyses. These awards support rigorous efforts to consolidate what is already known across studies and contexts to identify patterns, gaps, and future directions.
Does AISL support conferences?
Yes. AISL funds Conferences that convene stakeholders to build field capacity, share knowledge, develop collaborations, and set research or practice agendas in informal STEM learning.
Is AISL focused more on creating programs or on doing research?
AISL supports both. It funds projects that strengthen informal STEM learning experiences and projects that build credible, evidence-based knowledge about effectiveness, audiences, and conditions for success. Many projects combine design/development with research or evaluation.
What makes an AISL project a good fit based on the program description?
AISL is well-suited to organizations and collaborations that connect strong STEM learning design with meaningful community engagement and credible research or evaluation methods, producing results that can inform practice beyond a single site or one-time program.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency is the National Science Foundation (NSF).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA listing for AISL?
The opportunity is listed under NSF Funding Opportunity Number 21-599 and CFDA 47.076.
How is this opportunity categorized?
AISL is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
Is this funding offered as a grant or a contract?
This opportunity is offered as a grant mechanism, not a contract.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply as long as they meet any specific requirements stated in the full solicitation.
When was this opportunity created and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on July 13, 2021, and the original closing date was January 18, 2022.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making?
NSF anticipated making about 99 awards.
What is the maximum award size listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $3,000,000, indicating that larger projects may be supported when justified by scope, partnership structure, and anticipated impact.
What kinds of partnerships are encouraged by AISL?
Based on the program description, AISL is a good fit for teams that connect learning design with community engagement and credible research or evaluation. Some project types (such as Research in Service to Practice) often involve close partnerships with practitioners, educators, or community organizations.
Can AISL projects include media-based or public-platform learning experiences?
Yes. The program description includes media platforms and other public-facing settings as examples of informal environments where STEM learning happens.
What kinds of activities might AISL projects include?
Examples mentioned include hands-on experiences, storytelling, design challenges, exhibits, events, and community-based participation, among other informal learning approaches.
How does AISL view evaluation and evidence?
AISL emphasizes credible, evidence-based knowledge and supports innovative research and improved assessment strategies that are appropriate for informal learning settings, including capturing outcomes like interest and identity development.
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