Building Research, Innovation & Development Gateway for Educators

This project aims to serve the national interest by designing a year-long residency at the George Mason University’s Center for Molecular Engineering (CME) to immerse community college faculty and high school dual enrollment teachers in authentic research experiences in advanced chemical synthesis and analytical spectroscopy. This ITYC track 1 project addresses a critical national need to bridge the gap between rapid advances in chemical sciences and the limited access educators have to modern research training and instrumentation. Through hands-on participation in the full research cycle, educators will strengthen their pedagogical content knowledge, develop inquiry-based curricular materials derived directly from active research, and engage in collaborative projects with NSF-funded Fulfilling Laboratory Assistantships for Science College Students award (FLASCS) students to create a sustainable educational research network. Educators participating in the BRIDGE program are expected to gain hands-on expertise in advanced chemical synthesis and analytical spectroscopy techniques, enabling them to confidently integrate modern research practices and inquiry-based learning into their classrooms. Participants will also develop collaborative research and curricular networks that enhance their instructional effectiveness, expand student access to authentic STEM experiences, and strengthen long-term professional growth in STEM education. The program’s broader impacts include expanding access to advanced STEM training for educators serving broad student populations, strengthening the STEM workforce pipeline, improving student engagement and retention through inquiry-based instruction, disseminating open-access curricular resources, and establishing a scalable model for sustained partnerships between research universities, community colleges, and K-12 educational systems. The NSF IUSE: Innovation in Two-Year College STEM Education (ITYC) Program seeks to accelerate and advance knowledge about the impact of emerging and evidence-based practices in undergraduate STEM education at two-year colleges. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.