UCSD Black Studies Project Travel Grant – Final Report
NSF AISL Grant #2314092: STEAM ISL Working Conference Project
Conference Project Planning Meeting Overview
The Conference Goal is to advance Equity, Well-being, and Belonging (EWB) through collaboration and research in the Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Math (STEAM) Informal Science Learning (ISL) field.
I am excited to share that, thanks to the generous support of the University of California San Diego Black Studies Project Travel Grant, I was able to attend the planning meeting for the NSF AISL Grant STEAM Educators Conference on October 18-19, 2023 at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas. TSU, one of the most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation, is the lead institution on this grant and host site for the Conference Project in July 2024. It also has a museum studies department and an art museum on campus, which we visited for inspiration for ways to document this STEAM Educators Conference Project. For more inspiration on combining STEM with arts, we also visited the James Turrell Twilight Epiphany Skyspace on the Rice University campus.

Advisor Participation
As an advisor with the Innovation Collaborative, I will participate in planning the two-year project by:
- Identifying diverse participants: I will recommend colleagues from my network to join as virtual or polled participants, ensuring a variety of perspectives in the project.
- Contributing to cohort discussions: I joined a topic-based cohort (Increasing Professional Capacity for Informal Educators) and will actively engage in its discussions throughout the project.
- Sharing knowledge and expertise: I will contribute my experience and insights to the project, helping to develop effective strategies for advancing EWB in STEAM ISL.
- Attending the in-person conference: I will receive a stipend to attend the culminating conference at TSU in July 2024, where I will share learnings and network with other participants.
Research Advancement
My Dissertation Title is “How to Design a Professional Learning Community (PLC) to Advance Informal STEM Learning (AISL) for Black Girls”.
Participating in the NSF AISL Grant STEAM Educators Conference Planning Meeting enriched my dissertation research by:
- Providing practical insights and resources for designing an effective PLC.
- Connecting with a supportive community of researchers and educators.
- Staying informed about current trends and best practices in EWB and ISL.
- Sharing research articles and literature review specifically focused on Black girls’ STEM education.
- Gaining valuable knowledge and tools to design a transformative PLC that truly advances informal STEM learning for Black girls.
My participation in this conference planning meeting was made possible by the Black Studies Project Travel Grant, and I am grateful for the support in advancing this critical work. My dissertation is a valuable contribution to the field, and this conference project provides a platform to learn from others, share my insights, and ultimately make a positive impact on the lives of Black girls in STEM. Thank you!