Mission
We are transforming STEM education by training educators in evidence-based scientific
teaching strategies, core to which are the principles of anti-racism, justice, equity, diversity and inclusivity.
Our in-person and online trainings and meetings, attended to date by more than 2,000 faculty from 250 educational institutions across the US and abroad, have resulted in documented increases in STEM persistence and retention.
Join our community to improve STEM teaching and better support the learning of our next generation of scientists and citizens.
Goals • Impact • Philosophy • History • Bylaws
Goals
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Engage faculty from across the US and abroad in discussions of Scientific Teaching and applications to their work in education to systematically change the status quo of large lecture, didactic, science education.
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Grow and maintain our professional network, with opportunities for sustained engagement and documented pathways for professional growth and development.
Impact
Over 350 colleges and universities from across the United States and abroad, have sent over 2,000 faculty and future faculty to a total of 56 Institutes. The majority of surveyed program alumni report that the Institute training helped them increase their use of scientific teaching practices. Data from over 70 faculty and 5,000 students indicate increased student engagement and intent to persist in science when faculty trained in scientific teaching implement at high levels. NIST/Summer Institutes programs are often referenced in the literature as making a significant impact on STEM education in the United States.
Philosophy
We draw scientific teaching principles from models supported by peer-reviewed research and support participants to directly apply these principles in their classrooms and in their course development. The curriculum includes core elements of active learning strategies, effective assessment development, and inclusive teaching practices. Institute alumni continue to actively transform STEM education on their home campuses, contribute to national STEM education initiatives, and disseminate their evidence-based teaching efforts and research through peer-reviewed publications.
History
2025: First national meeting of NIST will take place. Planning is in process!
2020: NIST became an independent nonprofit organization and greatly expands its virtual
footprint.
2014: Mobile Summer Institutes, designed to draw participants from the same department or
institution for training in evidence-based teaching, peer evaluation and facilitated strategic planning, began.
2012: Multiple regional Summer Institutes were established with support from the National
Science Foundation, National Academy of Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and
Helmsley Charitable Trust.
2004: Founded by Profs. Jo Handelsman and Bill Wood in part because of the 2003 National
Research Council Report Bio2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists. The “Summer Institute” began as an intensive series of multi-day workshops at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Read our Bylaws here.