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Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology

Archived Programs

Since its founding in 1991, CeMaST has been involved in a wide variety of programs. Although this list is by no means exhaustive, the following are some of the archived programs from recent years and some programs from further back in our center's history.

(Note: Asterisks** indicate that a program is still ongoing in some form or has curriculum/materials still available.)

Community Programs

  • CeMaST-Assisted Publications
    CeMaST and CeMaST staff have assisted with many academic publications, including the following journals: Innovations in Science Teacher Education, the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, the Journal of STEM Teacher Education, the Journal of Technology Education, and Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora.
  • Family Science Day
    Family Science Day was a public outreach event to educate and inspire K–8 students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This family-friendly event encouraged scientific discovery through hands-on activities, challenges, and demonstrations while providing the opportunity to learn about scientific careers from actual research scientists and science educators. In addition, the event helped to raise awareness of the importance of STEM in our society.
  • Green Screen Film Series
    Sponsored by CeMaST and the Office of Sustainability, The Green Screen film series focuses on the impact of the climate crisis on our planet. The goals are to inform ISU students about the critical climate crisis, engage ISU and the Bloomington-Normal community in lively discussions about the topic, and cultivate a sense of civic engagement where motivated parties would work together to call for policy and operational changes.
  • Solar Eclipse Event: 2024
    On Monday, April 8, 2024, Illinois State University had a university-wide Solar Eclipse Watch Party on the quad. CeMaST helped sponsor this event and served as a pickup and recycling location for solar eclipse glasses.
  • STEAM Talk Podcast**
    The STEAM Talk Podcast page with access to previous episodes is coming soon!

 

Faculty Programs

  • Broadening Participation in STEM Seminar Series
    The Broadening Participation in STEM Seminar Series (2023–2024 academic year) highlights research focusing on fostering equity, inclusion, full access, and diversity in STEM disciplines. This seminar series was a partnership between the STEM DEI Taskforce and STEM departments, allowing seminars to be held during regularly scheduled departmental seminars and colloquia.
  • STEM DEI Taskforce 
    ISU's STEM DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Taskforce seeks to pursue policies, procedures, and programs that contribute to establishing equity, inclusion, sense of belonging, and diverse viewpoints across the STEM units at ISU. The taskforce includes faculty or staff members from the Schools of Biological Sciences and Information Technology and the Departments of Chemistry; Geography, Geology, & the Environment; Mathematics; Physics; and Technology.
  • Inclusive Excellence STEM Fellowship Program 
    The Inclusive Excellence STEM Fellowship is a program funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute that supports STEM faculty in making the introductory STEM experience at ISU welcoming and supportive. The paid Fellowship is both an honor that recognizes commitment to broadening representation in STEM disciplines as well as support for faculty who wish to provide more equitable and inclusive instruction in courses that are foundational to one or more STEM degree program(s). 

 

Teacher Programs

  • Illinois Mathematics and Science Partnership Programs
    CeMaST assisted in the implementation of numerous grants that were part of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Partnership (IMSP) program funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the Illinois State Board of Education. This included four Master's degree programs for in-service teachers in chemistry, elementary school mathematics and science, middle school mathematics and science, and integrated STEM. Later years of the IMSP program included numerous different summer workshops/institutes offering professional development in various STEM fields to in-service teachers.
  • IMaST and Other CeMaST-Developed Curricula**
    CeMaST has had a long history of creating K–12 curriculum materials. CeMaST-developed curriculum materials include the Integrated Mathematics, Science, and Technology (IMaST) curriculum materials, the Creative Core Curriculum materials, and the Real Science and Real Mathematics curricula.
  • Midwest Regional Noyce Conference
    CeMaST hosts the Midwest Regional Noyce Conference, which invites all Noyce program affiliates to network and engage in professional development each October.
  • Muscle Karts, Redbird Choppers, and Other Programs
    CeMaST also offered a number of different programs that offered workshops and delivered materials to K–12 teachers across Illinois. Muscle Kart racing seeks to revive the sport of push car racing as a means to teach valuable knowledge and skills in STEM. Each team consists of one driver and six runners. Teams start with a preassembled chassis, which includes steering, brakes, a seat, and safety considerations (groups may choose to start with a disassembled kit). Teams research, design, and build a body for their cars from cardboard and other inexpensive materials, and then race their cars. The Redbird Chopper is a kit that allows K–12 students and adults to build a full-size motorcycle that can then be customized. Although it does not roll, the Redbird Chopper is an exciting and engaging vehicle to teach communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills as well as specific STEM content.
  • Project EDDIE**
    Project EDDIE (Environmental Data-Driven Inquiry and Exploration) is a community of STEM instructors and educational researchers who develop and teach using flexible classroom modules that utilize large, publicly available datasets to engage students in STEM and improve their quantitative reasoning. Teaching modules span topics such as ecology, limnology, geology, hydrology, environmental sciences, and macrosystems ecology.
  • Smart Grid for All**
    Smart Grid for All  is a program designed to help K–12 students and adults learn about the smart electrical grid. The program includes hands-on offerings such as grid construction sets, smart homes, solar farm simulators, and solar community kits. Although we are no longer able to ship physical smart grid materials throughout the state, you can borrow the materials from a partner site near you. Other offerings include virtual grid construction and smart homes, the From Plant to Product picture book, and the Entertainment Emporium board game.

 

Student Programs

College Students

  • NexSTEM Scholarship Program 
    The NexSTEM Program provides scholarships and academic supports to academically successful, low-income students from McLean County and the greater Central Illinois region who are pursuing STEM degrees at Illinois State or Illinois Wesleyan.
  • SCI-STEMA
    ISU is a member institution in the Southern & Central Illinois STEM Alliance (SCI-STEMA). SCI-STEMA seeks to increase retention, graduation, and success of all STEM students. This program offers holistic support and individualized mentoring to guide students through the completion of their bachelor's degree and into graduate degree programs or careers in STEM. The program also offers summer research experiences hosted by the Alliance institutions.
  • STEM Alliance
    STEM Alliance seeks to support STEM majors who identify with a group that is marginalized in and minoritized by mainstream STEM. STEM Alliance events include career days, field trips, mentoring by STEM faculty, financial assistance, and support for engaging in undergraduate research.

K–12 Students

  • Artificial Intelligence in Autonomous Vehicles STEM Camp
    Learn to build and program a robot, then apply artificial intelligence to help the robot solve problems on the fly. This is a week-long day camp for students entering 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th grades.
  • Collaboratory Scientists Camp
    Be a part of a collaborative team, build your creativity, create scientific crafts, solve real-world problems with science, explore, discover, and experiment with the fascinating world of science.
  • Dungeons & Dragonflies: A STEM-Themed Dungeons & Dragons Club
    Build your STEM skills by playing Dungeons & Dragonflies in our afterschool club! Our Dungeon Master, Kate Evans, creates unique D&D storylines for our clubs so that you have fun and learn a bit of math and science along the way.
  • Girls in STEM Camp
    This is an opportunity open to girls in 6th–8th grade who want to build their creativity, explore, discover, and learn about STEM careers.  
  • Numberphiles Math Camp
    Be a part of a collaborative team, learn to use the language of logic, create mathematical crafts, learn while solving math problems, explore and discover the fascinating world of mathematics.