UNM STEM-H Center for Outreach, Research & Education

Central NM Science & Engineering Research Challenge (4^th-12^th Grades)

“Science Fairs” go back to at least 1928, when the American Institute of New York City first held one for city youths at the Museum of Natural History.  In 1950, science fairs went under the auspices of Science Service, a non-profit institution.  It became international in 1960.  The Central NM STEM Research Challenge has served students, teachers, and parents since 1959.  Science fairs clearly require students to research and demonstrate scientific principles or answer propositions through the development of the scientific or engineering method.  

Central NM STEM Research Challenge is a three-division (elementary division for 4^th & 5^th grade students, junior division for middle school students and senior division for high school students), multi-category, regional student competition of STEM research projects.  The Central NM STEM Research Challenge qualifies students to participate in the NM State Science Fair and sends top qualifying students to the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest pre-college research competition.  Top middle school participants qualify to apply for the Broadcom MASTERS competition at the national level.

Central NM Science Olympiad (6^th-12^th Grades)

Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. These goals are accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state and national tournaments.

Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of individual and team events, which students prepare for during the year. The competitions follow the format of popular board games, TV shows and athletic games. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, computers and technology. There is also a balance between events requiring knowledge of science facts, concepts, processes, skills and science applications.  One of the goals of Science Olympiad is to elevate science education and learning to a level of enthusiasm and support that is normally reserved only for varsity sports programs.

SW Region Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (9^th-12^th Grades in NM, southern CO, & west TX). 

The Junior Science & Humanities Symposium is a national competition program designed to challenge and engage high school students (Grades 9-12) in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM).  Individual students compete for scholarships and recognition by presenting the results of their original research efforts before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers. Opportunities for hands-on workshops, panel discussions, career exploration, research lab visits and networking are planned. By participating in regional and national symposia, students may...

• Participate in a forum honoring individual student achievement in STEM
• Qualify for significant scholarships and other recognition
• Network to enrich understanding of STEM pursuits beyond high school
• Advance in statewide, regional, national, and international symposia
• Develop skills to help prepare for undergraduate and graduate pursuits – skills in the application of STEM content to solve a problem or gain new knowledge, writing a scientific paper, and orally communicating results

JSHS is a collaborative effort with the research arm of the Department of Defense and administered by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) in cooperation with nationwide colleges and universities. JSHS aims to prepare and support students to contribute as future scientists and engineers -- conducting STEM research on behalf of or directly for the Department of Defense, the Federal research laboratories, or for the greater good in advancing the nation's scientific and technological progress.

The UNM STEM-H Center offers annual, live (either in-person or virtual) Research Challenge Bootcamps for educators and Student Researcher Project Development Bootcamps as a kick-off to the competition season.  RC Bootcamp content is applicable to any ISEF-affiliated “science fair” and contains an additional section of information specific to schools in the Central NM region.  Additionally, a self-paced online version of RC Bootcamp and several other student research related training modules are offered through the online STEM-H Center Learning Lab (sponsored by Kupono Government Services).  All trainings are currently FREE of charge for all participants, though donations to help defray our costs are always welcome.  Certificates of completion are offered for those who are tracking their professional development hours.  Click on the following link for more detailed information, upcoming training schedules, and registration instructions.  Learn More

The STEM-H Educator Professional Development Trainings provide teachers with opportunities to engage in professional development specific to including inquiry-based science/math in their classrooms and supporting students in independent inquiry-based research projects leading to local and/or regional as well as potentially state and/or international competition.  By engaging in one or more of the workshops, STEM-H educators can prepare themselves to establish or enhance a student research program in their schools/classrooms.  

The Student Researcher Bootcamp provides 5th-8th grade student researchers with project development skills/support/ resources along with an introduction to topics like Project Development, Responsible Conduct of Research, Statistics/Data Analysis, Judging Preparation, etc. The STEM-H Student Researcher Bootcamp will be expanded over time as needs are identified and incorporated.  Workshops are conducted in collaboration with UNM and community partners who generously share their time/talent.  In the Fall of 2016, a collaboration between the STEM-H Center and Explora Science Center was created and it has continued since that time.  Explora’s amazing STEM-H educators facilitate & host the Student Researcher Bootcamps.

Middle and high school students are also encouraged to take advantage of some of the online, self-paced training modules in the STEM-H Center Learning Lab to further develop their skills as young researchers.  Teachers are encouraged to consider using these training modules as extra credit or class assignments.

The STEM-H Center is engaged in Policy & Advocacy Work focused on K-12 STEM-H education issues. The Center's director is on the board of the NM Partnership for Mathematics & Science Education as well as recently completing a four-year term as a member of the NM Public Education Department's Math & Science Advisory Council. She is also on the Mission Graduate STEM Council, the Central NM STEM-H Ecosystem Leadership Team, and the Statewide STEM Action Team.

As part of the HSC Office for Diversity, STEM-H Center leadership continued to work with the UNM Office of Government & Community Relations as well as the HSC Office of the Chancellor to support STEM-H education related strategic collaborations, policy research/development as well as with federal and state legislative and executive branch contacts (PED/HED, NM State Legislature, US Congressional offices, and NSF).  This work will expand and continue as deemed strategically appropriate and valuable.  The STEM-H Center’s Director is currently serving on several regional and statewide STEM-H education related boards/councils including the NM Partnership for Mathematics & Science Education, the Internal Advisory Committee for the UNM School of Engineering: Center for Water and the Environment – NSF CREST Grant  (2014-2024), and the STEM NM Learning Ecosystem, Leadership Team for the STEM NM Ecosystem, and the Advisory Committee for Explora/STEM NM Ecosystem’s NSF INCLUDES Grant (Math FACESS).

The UNM STEM-H Resource Center/Lending Library is a short-term small equipment & curriculum materials lending library for teachers, schools, homeschool/middle/high school students & community groups as well as University level students/ faculty.  As there is no longer ongoing funding to expand the Lending Library, the STEM-H Center is maintaining it with its current inventory and there are no plans in place currently to expand.  However, the possibility of moving the lending library to an off-campus, climate controlled facility that would be more easily accessible to everyone will be under consideration in an effort to increase the library’s usage.  Click on the following links for the equipment sign out form, lending policies, and access to our current catalog of available equipment

LENDING LIBRARY POLICIES & PROCEDURES

https://hsc.unm.edu/stem-h/_pdf/rc-policies--procedures.pdf

EQUIPMENT CATALOG

https://hsc.unm.edu/stem-h/_pdf/updated-catalog-final_11.16.23.pdf.pdf

SIGN OUT FORM

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/33c57107acb6423080b443303aa79d99

LENDING LIBRARY QUESTIONNAIRE

https://hsc.unm.edu/stem-h/_pdf/resource-center-questionaire.pdf

The UNM STEM-H Center’s staff are available to provide consulting and technical assistance in a range of areas.  Fees for services are determined on a case-by-case basis.  Initial consultations are offered at no charge (up to 1 hour).

• STEM education outreach program development/management, sustainability, competition/event management, project management for nonprofit organizations, grant writing, etc.
• Support for research faculty around development of meaningful, sustainable broader impacts plans focused on pre-college STEM-H education in research grant applications

Part of the Center’s mission is to work strategically within and outside the University to develop strategic partnerships/ collaborations create positive, lasting improvement in the pre-college STEM-H education provided to K-12 students so they enter college/career with a solid foundation of STEM-H knowledge/skills which will allow them to be better informed, productive citizens whether in STEM-H related or other career fields.