About the project
We are a group of researchers and practitioners dedicated to integrating anti-racism, anti-ableism, and other anti-oppressive practices in the informal STEM field. We seek to structurally and holistically affirm people as their whole selves–as women, people with disabilities, and Black, Brown, neurodivergent, queer, trans, low-income, and rural people.

We see this as a pivotal moment to disrupt our field’s constant drive for production, taking time to critically reflect on the work that has been done, identify areas for future growth, and inspire the next phase of equity and belonging work.

Our team has a range of lived experiences and expertise in areas such as accessibility, anti-ableism, anti-racism, culturally-responsive/sustaining pedagogy, healing, organizational change, and more. We are looking to expand our team with other people who share our goals and bring complementary experiences.

About the Fellowship
This Fellowship program is a chance to join a national project (funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation); learn about how informal STEM organizations are engaging with anti-racism, anti-ableism, and equity work; and inform a liberatory future for our field.

We look forward to working with selected Fellows to provide an adaptable and accessible experience that celebrates the many ways you learn and contribute. As a preliminary outline, Fellows can expect to:
  • Receive a $2,000 stipend for each year of involvement (max 2 years).
  • Participate in approximately 80 hours of activities throughout the year, including the following.
  • Attend an in-person meeting in Pittsburgh, PA on June 20, 2024. All expenses will be paid.
  • Join virtual meetings to discuss topics such as, what “counts” as authentic equity work? What does intersectionality look like in a museum, zoo, botanical garden, makerspace, etc.?
  • Review resources from the informal learning field and uncover trends and bright spots in anti-oppressive STEAM education.
  • Contribute to an ongoing research project, guiding project decisions and being involved in aspects that are most interesting to the selected Fellows.
  • Co-author products and/or presentations and engage in reflection, writing, and/or artistic representations of one’s experiences and learning.

Fellowship Eligibility
Applicants should meet each of the following three criteria:
  • Identify as Black, Brown, and/or a person with a disability.
  • Have experience working at an informal STEM organization, which might include a museum, zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, makerspace, etc.
  • Bring a perspective as an educational practitioner--whether that is an educator, teaching artist, presenter, designer, program developer, etc. (We love researchers but this is an opportunity for people who do the work, not people who primarily study the work without being involved themselves!)
How to apply
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning on April 15. To apply, please choose one of the following options:
  1. Type your responses to the questions on the next page of this online form.
  2. Make a video or audio recording of yourself answering the questions on the next page of this application and send a link to the recording to KT (ktodd@pittsburghkids.org).
  3. Talk through the applications in an interview (email KT at ktodd@pittsburghkids.org to set up a time).

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