Arecibo Center for STEM Education and Research (ACSER)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) hereby solicits proposals for the establishment of the Arecibo Center for STEM Education and Research (ACSER) at the original site of the Arecibo Observatory (AO). NSF seeks to evaluate proposals that would transition the existing AO site to the new ACSER, shifting the disciplinary focus from primarily on the astronomical sciences to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research more broadly [1]. ACSER would serve as a hub for STEM discovery and exploration by building upon existing programs and opportunities currently in place at the AO site, while also creating and implementing new STEM education, research, and outreach programs and initiatives.
The goals of ACSER would be to:
- promote STEM education, learning, and teaching,
- support fundamental and applied STEM and STEM education research,
- broaden participation in STEM, and
- build and leverage existing and new collaborations and partnerships.